The bond between the domestic dog and humans is such that the dog exis

OE:

1. The question asks for the main idea of the passage. The passage focuses on the evolution of the dog from the wolf, with emphasis on the characteristics of the wolf
that allowed the transformation. The correct answer must take the entirety of the passage into account without misrepresenting this focus.

(A) This choice does not address the evolution of the dog from the wolf.

(B) This choice misrepresents the focus of the passage. The passage is broader than this choice would suggest. Moreover, the passage never stated or implied that no other animal has had a similar path to domestication; this is an extreme claim.

(C) CORRECT. This choice takes the entirety of the passage into account without misrepresenting its focus.

(D) This choice misrepresents the focus of the passage. While the author appears to approve of this domestication, it is only one small part of the overall passage. In addition, the word "unquestionably" is extreme.

(E) This choice misrepresents the focus of the passage. While similarities between humans and wolves are mentioned in one paragraph, this is only a small piece of the overall passage.


2. The question asks us to infer something about the modern dog on the basis of the information contained in the passage. This inference must be based only on the information presented, without any additional assumptions or information necessary.

(A) The passage does not provide any information about the "best" social companion. In addition "best" is an extreme word.

(B) The passage does not provide any information about which household animal is most intelligent. In addition "unsurpassed" is an extreme word.

(C) The passage does not provide any information about the dog's ability to survive outside a social environment. In addition "cannot survive" is extreme.

(D) The passage does not imply anything universal about the dog's body type and breeding. In addition "always" is extreme.

(E) CORRECT. In the second paragraph, the author discusses the fact that domesticated wolf cubs were raised to be submissive to humans. The modern dog, a descendant of the domesticated wolf, would share this quality, and would perceive humans as superior to itself.


3. The question asks us which of the choices cannot be inferred from the passage. We will go through the choices and eliminate any that can be inferred. The True / False technique is useful for EXCEPT questions: those statements which can be supported are labeled True and the one which cannot be supported is labeled False.

(A) True. In the first paragraph, sheep are given as an example of animals that have not been integrated (i.e., accepted socially) into human life.

(B) CORRECT. False. The passage offers no information on whether it is possible to domesticate the jackal or fox. Paragraph 1 states that among the jackals, foxes, et al, only the wolf possessed the characteristics that allowed for the integration into human life, however, the other animals might be able to be domesticated.

(C) True. In the second paragraph, the passage states that wolf cubs were raised to be submissive.

(D) True. In the second paragraph, the passage states that the wolf was domesticated for its intelligence and other animals for their milk, meat, or wool.

(E) True. This statement is implied by the last paragraph.