Last visit was: 20 Nov 2025, 06:30 It is currently 20 Nov 2025, 06:30
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Hovkial
Joined: 23 Apr 2019
Last visit: 24 Nov 2022
Posts: 803
Own Kudos:
2,409
 [23]
Given Kudos: 202
Status:PhD trained. Education research, management.
Posts: 803
Kudos: 2,409
 [23]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
17
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
TarPhi
Joined: 24 Sep 2019
Last visit: 18 Mar 2021
Posts: 125
Own Kudos:
106
 [5]
Given Kudos: 171
Location: India
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V36
Products:
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V36
Posts: 125
Kudos: 106
 [5]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Saasingh
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 11 Apr 2020
Last visit: 06 Aug 2022
Posts: 407
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 820
Status:Working hard
Location: India
GPA: 3.93
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Products:
Posts: 407
Kudos: 258
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
Gknight5603
Joined: 26 Oct 2019
Last visit: 03 Apr 2022
Posts: 131
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 292
Location: India
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
GPA: 4
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
Posts: 131
Kudos: 55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
D for me....

author is trying to negate
"something like it must be present in those species most closely related to humans, such as chimpanzees"
D is perfect match against this line of reasoning

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
sonalgmat123
Joined: 04 Feb 2020
Last visit: 21 Apr 2023
Posts: 57
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 5
Posts: 57
Kudos: 24
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Anthropologist: Many people think that if human language evolved, then something like it must be present in those species most closely related to humans, such as chimpanzees. They reason that since new traits evolve gradually, something like human language, albeit cruder, must exist in some species from which humans evolved. This general line of argument may be reasonable, but it simply does not follow that chimpanzees have anything like human language, because humans did not evolve from chimpanzees. While chimpanzees are indeed closely related to humans, this is because both evolved from a common ancestor. The evolution of human language might easily have begun after the extinction of that common ancestor.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the anthropologist's argument?

B seems to more accurately describe the main conclusion .

(A) Humans did not evolve from chimpanzees, but rather from some extinct species.

(B) The assumption that something like human language must exist in some species from which humans evolved has no clearcut linguistic implications for chimpanzees.

(C) The communicative systems of chimpanzees are cruder than human language.

(D) Human language is a by-product of human intelligence, which chimpanzees lack.

(E) The evolution of human language began after the disappearance of an extinct species from which both humans and chimpanzees evolved.
User avatar
TarPhi
Joined: 24 Sep 2019
Last visit: 18 Mar 2021
Posts: 125
Own Kudos:
106
 [4]
Given Kudos: 171
Location: India
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V36
Products:
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V36
Posts: 125
Kudos: 106
 [4]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
It's between E & B. I chose B.


(E) The evolution of human language began after the disappearance of an extinct species from which both humans and chimpanzees evolved.
I eliminated E cause it saysin the passage that the evolution MIGHT have begun after disappearance of the extinct species.
User avatar
Saasingh
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 11 Apr 2020
Last visit: 06 Aug 2022
Posts: 407
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 820
Status:Working hard
Location: India
GPA: 3.93
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Products:
Posts: 407
Kudos: 258
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
TarPhi
It's between E & B. I chose B.


(E) The evolution of human language began after the disappearance of an extinct species from which both humans and chimpanzees evolved.
I eliminated E cause it saysin the passage that the evolution MIGHT have begun after disappearance of the extinct species.


Nice catch. And in B assumption indicates the "might", now I see that.

Can you explain what B means? The language is beyond my comprehension.
User avatar
Saasingh
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 11 Apr 2020
Last visit: 06 Aug 2022
Posts: 407
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 820
Status:Working hard
Location: India
GPA: 3.93
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Products:
Posts: 407
Kudos: 258
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
TarPhi
Saasingh
TarPhi
It's between E & B. I chose B.


(E) The evolution of human language began after the disappearance of an extinct species from which both humans and chimpanzees evolved.
I eliminated E cause it saysin the passage that the evolution MIGHT have begun after disappearance of the extinct species.


Nice catch. And in B assumption indicates the "might", now I see that.

Can you explain what B means? The language is beyond my comprehension.


Not a problem - Break it down

This general line of argument may be reasonable, but it simply does not follow that chimpanzees have anything like human language, because humans did not evolve from chimpanzees. While chimpanzees are indeed closely related to humans, this is because both evolved from a common ancestor.

The evolution of human language might easily have begun after the extinction of that common ancestor.



(B) The assumption that something like human language must exist in some species from which humans evolved has no clearcut linguistic implications for chimpanzees

It's mentioned that the evolution of humans might have begun after the extinction of the common ancestor, right? So let's say the common ancestor had 2 offsprings - a human and a chimp. If the ancestor died and the human developed on his own, the chimp might not have learnt it or have contributed to it in any way. That's kinda what this statement means.

LMK if this helps! Please kudos if it does.

And GOOD LUCK! :D

Thank you and good luck. Good stuff :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
User avatar
KeyurJoshi
Joined: 28 Aug 2019
Last visit: 30 Aug 2023
Posts: 147
Own Kudos:
153
 [2]
Given Kudos: 405
Location: India
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38
GPA: 3.6
WE:Business Development (Computer Software)
Products:
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
IMO B

Seeing other options except E are out of scope
E states that "evolution began" whereas in the argument it says "might have begun" and for me it sort of restates the premise as well
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,833
Own Kudos:
Posts: 18,833
Kudos: 986
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
189 posts