Investigators of monkeys social behavior have always been struck by

Question

Investigators of monkeys’ social behavior have always been struck by monkeys’ aggressive potential and the consequent need for social control of their aggressive behavior. Studies directed at describing aggressive behavior and the situations that elicit it, as well as the social mechanisms that control it, were therefore among the first investigations of monkeys’ social behavior.

Investigators initially believed that monkeys would compete for any resource in the environment: hungry monkeys would fight over food, thirsty monkeys would fight over water, and, in general, any time more than one monkey in a group sought the same incentive simultaneously, a dispute would result and would be resolved through some form of aggression. However, the motivating force of competition for incentives began to be doubted when experiments like Southwick’s on the reduction of space or the withholding of food failed to produce more than temporary increases in intragroup aggression. Indeed, food deprivation not only failed to increase aggression but in some cases actually resulted in decreased frequencies of aggression.

Studies of animals in the wild under conditions of extreme food deprivation likewise revealed that starving monkeys devoted almost all available energy to foraging, with little energy remaining for aggressive interaction. Furthermore, accumulating evidence from later studies of a variety of primate groups, for example, the study conducted by Bernstein, indicates that one of the most potent stimuli for eliciting aggression is the introduction of an intruder into an organized group. Such introductions result in far more serious aggression than that produced in any other types of experiments contrived to produce competition.

These studies of intruders suggest that adult members of the same species introduced to one another for the first time show considerable hostility because, in the absence of a social order, one must be established to control interanimal relationships. When a single new animal is introduced into an existing social organization, the newcomer meets even more serious aggression. Whereas in the first case aggression establishes a social order, in the second case resident animals mob the intruder, thereby initially excluding the new animal from the existing social unit. The simultaneous introduction of several animals lessens the effect, if only because the group divides its attention among the multiple targets. If, however, the several animals introduced to a group constitute their own social unit, each group may fight the opposing group as a unit; but, again, no individual is subjected to mass attack, and the very cohesion of the groups precludes prolonged individual combat. The submission of the defeated group, rather than unleashing unchecked aggression on the part of the victorious group, reduces both the intensity and frequency of further attack. Monkey groups therefore see to be organized primarily to maintain their established social order rather than to engage in hostilities per se.    1 
 1. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with

(A) advancing a new methodology for changing a monkey’s social behavior
(B) comparing the methods of several research studies on aggression among monkeys
(C) explaining the reasons for researchers’ interest in monkeys’ social behavior
(D) discussing the development of investigators’ theories about aggression among monkeys
(E) examining the effects of competition on monkeys’ social behavior

2 
 2. Which of the following best summarizes the findings reported in the passage about the effects of food deprivation on monkeys’ behavior?

(A) Food deprivation has no effect on aggression among monkeys.
(B) Food deprivation increases aggression among monkeys because one of the most potent stimuli for eliciting aggression is the competition for incentives.
(C) Food deprivation may increase long-term aggression among monkeys in a laboratory setting, but it produces only temporary increases among monkeys in the wild.
(D) Food deprivation may temporarily increase aggression among monkeys, but it also leads to a decrease in conflict.
(E) Food deprivation decreases the intensity but not the frequency of aggressive incidents among monkey.

3 
 3. According to the author, studies such as Southwick’s had which of the following effects on investigators’ theories about monkeys’ social behavior?

(A) They suggested that existing theories about the role of aggression among monkeys did not fully account for the monkeys’ ability to maintain an established social order.
(B) They confirmed investigators’ theories about monkeys’ aggressive response to competition for food and water.
(C) They confirmed investigators’ beliefs about the motivation for continued aggression among monkeys in the same social group.
(D) They disproved investigators’ theory that the introduction of intruders in an organized monkey group elicits intragroup aggressive behavior.
(E) They cast doubt on investigators’ theories that could account for observed patterns of aggression among monkeys.

4 
 4. The passage suggests that investigators of monkeys social behavior have been especially interested in aggressive behavior among monkeys because

(A) aggression is the most common social behavior among monkeys
(B) successful competition for incentives determines the social order in a monkey group
(C) situations that elicit aggressive behavior can be studied in a laboratory
(D) most monkeys are potentially aggressive, yet they live in social units that could not function without control of their aggressive impulses
(E) most monkeys are social, yet they frequently respond to newcomers entering existing social units by attacking them

5 
 5. It can be inferred from the passage that the establishment and preservation of social order among a group of monkeys is essential in order to

(A) keep the monkeys from straying and joining other groups
(B) control aggressive behavior among group members
(C) prevent the domination of that group by another
(D) protect individuals seeking to become members of that group from mass attack
(E) prevent aggressive competition for incentives between that group and another

6 
 6. The passage supplies information to answer which of the following questions?

(A) How does the reduction of space affect intragroup aggression among monkeys in an experimental setting?
(B) Do family units within a monkey social group compete with other family units for food?
(C) What are the mechanisms by which the social order of an established group of monkeys controls aggression within that group?
(D) How do monkeys engaged in aggression with other monkeys signal submission?
(E) Do monkeys of different species engage in aggression with each other over food?

7 
 7. Which of the following best describes the organization of the second paragraph?

(A) A hypothesis is explained and counter evidence is described.
(B) A theory is advanced and specific evidence supporting it is cited.
(C) Field observations are described and a conclusion about their significance is drawn.
(D) Two theories are explained and evidence supporting each of them is detailed.
(E) An explanation of a general principle is stated and specific examples of its operation are given.

RakshithTN · Answer

Can you please post the OE for Q5?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

OE is not available, here is the text which leads to the answer of question five.

"in the absence of a social order, one must be established to control interanimal relationships. When a single new animal is introduced into an existing social organization, the newcomer meets even more serious aggression."

And

"If, however, the several animals introduced to a group constitute their own social unit, each group may fight the opposing group as a unit; but, again, no individual is subjected to mass attack, and the very cohesion of the groups precludes prolonged individual combat."

Answer  option A  and  E  are not related at all, Answer  option B  is tricky but it didn't fulfills the demand of the question, it mentions something discussed in the passage but not related to the question. In my opinion only  C  and  D  are close calls but the above quoted text leads towards the  answer D.

HASTOWINGMAT · Answer

Can you please share the explanation for Q7.
I selected option C as the last para provides the explanation of the studies and significance of the monkey's behaviour( Line "Monkey groups therefore see to be organized primarily to maintain their established social order rather than to engage in hostilities per see.")

Sajjad1994 · Answer

The statement of question number 7 explicitly ask about the organization of the second paragraph then why we even read the last paragraph? According to the second paragraph the answer is clearly A. Read it again

Investigators initially believed that monkeys would compete for any resource in the environment: hungry monkeys would fight over food, thirsty monkeys would fight over water, and, in general, any time more than one monkey in a group sought the same incentive simultaneously, a dispute would result and would be resolved through some form of aggression.    However,  the motivating force of competition for incentives began to be doubted when experiments like Southwick’s on the reduction of space or the withholding of food failed to produce more than temporary increases in intragroup aggression. Indeed, food deprivation not only failed to increase aggression but in some cases actually resulted in decreased frequencies of aggression.

The text in blue  = A hypothesis is explained
 The text in Red  = counter evidence is described.

Answer: A

Sajjad1994 · Answer

For  question number 3  read the second paragraph:

Investigators initially believed  that monkeys would compete for any resource in the environment: hungry monkeys would fight over food, thirsty monkeys would fight over water, and, in general, any time more than one monkey in a group sought the same incentive simultaneously, a dispute would result and would be resolved through some form of aggression.  However, the motivating force of competition for incentives began to be doubted  when experiments like Southwick’s on the reduction of space or the withholding of food failed to produce more than temporary increases in intragroup aggression.  Indeed, food deprivation not only failed to increase aggression but in some cases actually resulted in decreased frequencies of aggression.

Now read the answer choices

(A)  They suggested that existing theories about the role of aggression among monkeys  did not fully account for the monkeys’ ability to maintain an established social order.

The text in Red in  option A  is not inline with the second paragraph

(B)   They confirmed investigators’ theories about monkeys’ aggressive response to competition for food and water.

This is totally opposite what is stated in the second paragraph.

(C)  They  confirmed investigators’ beliefs  about the motivation for continued aggression among monkeys in the same social group.

This is also opposite.

(D)   They disproved investigators’ theory  that the introduction of intruders in an organized monkey group  elicits intragroup aggressive behavior.

This option looks cool in the start but went on in the wrong direction.

(E)  They cast doubt on investigators’ theories that could account for observed patterns of aggression among monkeys.

This is correct!

Answer: E

For  question number 6  read the below text from the passage:

However, the motivating force of competition for incentives began to be doubted when experiments like Southwick’s on the reduction of space or the withholding of food failed to produce more than temporary increases in intragroup aggression.

Only  A  is correct,  B, D  and  E  are nowhere near and  C  is a trap answer. Lets read  option C

(C) What are the mechanisms by which the social order of an established group of monkeys  controls aggression  within that group?

The answer to how to control the aggression is nowhere given in the passage.

Answer: A

kntombat · Answer

Sajjad1994 , what's the OE for question 4?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

No OE is available of any of the newly posted passages from 1000-series, here is I am sharing my approach for question #4

(A) aggression is the most common social behavior among monkeys 
 Trap:  Do the passage states that the aggression is the most common social behavior among monkeys? Do the passage states that this is the reason of research on monkey's behavior? Not at all, We have to find the logical support from the passage not the universal truth from the world.

(B) successful competition for incentives determines the social order in a monkey group 
successful competition for incentives determines= This was find during the research not this is something the research was looking for before. This choice interchanging the position of the text.

(C) situations that elicit aggressive behavior can be studied in a laboratory 
Out of context

(D) most monkeys are potentially aggressive, yet they live in social units that could not function without control of their aggressive impulses 
Just read the first three lines of the passage:

"Investigators of monkeys’ social behavior have always been struck by monkeys’ aggressive potential and the consequent need for social control of their aggressive behavior."

(E) most monkeys are social, yet they frequently respond to newcomers entering existing social units by attacking them 
This is same as  (B)  as this was found during the research but was not motive of the research.

Answer: D

VerbalBot · Answer

Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot: 

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

 This post was generated automatically.

Investigators of monkeys social behavior have always been struck by

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Investigators of monkeys social behavior have always been struck by

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards