The evolution of intelligence among early large mammals of the

Question

The evolution of intelligence among early large mammals of the grasslands was due in great measure to the interaction between two ecologically synchronized groups of these animals, the hunting carnivores and the herbivores that they hunted. The interaction resulting from the differences between predator and prey led to a general improvement in brain functions; however, certain components of intelligence were; improved far more than others.

The kind of intelligence favored by the interplay of increasingly smarter catchers and increasingly keener escapers is defined by attention—that aspect of mind carrying consciousness forward from one moment to the next. It ranges from a passive, free-floating awareness to a highly focused, active fixation. The range through these states is mediated by the arousal system, a network of tracts converging from sensory systems to integrating centers in the brain stem. From the more relaxed to the more vigorous levels, sensitivity to novelty is increased. The organism is more awake, more vigilant; this increased vigilance results in the apprehension of ever more subtle signals as the organism becomes more sensitive to its surroundings. The processes of arousal and concentration give attention its direction. Arousal is at first general, with a flooding of impulses in the brain stem; then gradually the activation is channeled. Thus begins concentration, the holding of consistent images. One meaning of intelligence is the way in which these images and other alertly searched information are used in the context of previous experience. Consciousness links past attention to the present and permits the integration of details with perceived ends and purposes.

The elements of intelligence and consciousness come together marvelously to produce different styles in predator and prey. Herbivores and carnivores develop different kinds of attention related to escaping or chasing. Although in both kinds of animal, arousal stimulates the production of adrenaline and norepinephrine by the adrenal glands, the effect in herbivores is primarily fear, whereas in carnivores the effect is primarily aggression. For both, arousal attunes the animal to what is ahead. Perhaps it does not experience forethought as we know it, but the animal does experience something like it. The predator is searchingly aggressive, inner-directed, tuned by the nervous system and the adrenal hormones, but aware in a sense closer to human consciousness than, say, a  hungry lizard's  instinctive snap at a passing beetle. Using past events as a framework, the large mammal predator is working out a relationship between movement and food, sensitive to possibilities-in cold trails and distant sounds—and yesterday's unforgotten lessons. The herbivore prey is of a different mind. Its mood of wariness rather than searching and its attitude of general expectancy instead of anticipating are silk-thin veils of tranquility over an explosive endocrine system.   1 
 1. The author is primarily concerned with

(A) disproving the view that herbivores are less intelligent than carnivores
(B) describing a relationship between animals intelligence and their ecological roles
(C) establishing a direct link between early large mammals and their modern counterparts
(D) analyzing the ecological basis for the dominance of some carnivores over other carnivores
(E) demonstrating the importance of hormones in mental activity

2 
 2. The author refers to a hungry lizard ( Highlighted ) primarily in order to

(A) demonstrate the similarity between the hunting methods of mammals and those of nonmammals
(B) broaden the application of his argument by including an insectivore as an example
(C) make a distinction between higher and lower levels of consciousness
(D) provide an additional illustration of the brutality characteristic of predators
(E) offer an objection to suggestions that all animals lack consciousness

3 
 3. It can be inferred from the passage that in animals less intelligent than the mammals discussed in the passage

(A) past experience is less helpful in ensuring the survival
(B) attention is more highly focused
(C) muscular coordination is less highly developed
(D) there is less need for competition among species
(E) environment is more important in establishing the proper ratio of prey to predator

4 
 4. The author's attitude toward the mammals discussed in the passage is best described as

(A) superior and condescending
(B) lighthearted and jocular
(C) apologetic and conciliatory
(D) wistful and tender
(E) respectful and admiring

5 
 5. The author provides information that would answer which of the following questions?

I. Why is an aroused herbivore usually fearful?
II. What are some of the degrees of attention in large mammals?
III. What occurs when the stimulus that causes arousal of a mammal is removed?

(A) I only
(B) III only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

6 
 6. According to the passage, improvement in brain function among early large mammals resulted primarily from which of the following?

(A) The interplay of predator and prey
(B) Persistence of free-floating awareness in animals of the grasslands
(C) Gradual dominance of warm-blooded mammals over cold-blooded reptiles
(D) Interaction of early large mammals with less intelligent species
(E) Improvement of the capacity for memory among herbivores and carnivores

7 
 7. According to the passage, as the process of arousal in an organism continues, all of the following may occur EXCEPT

(A) the production of adrenaline
(B) the production of norepinephrine
(C) a heightening of sensitivity to stimuli
(D) an increase in selectivity with respect to stimuli
(E) an expansion of the range of states mediated by the brain stem

Sajjad1994 · Answer

OE Question #7

This question asks you what does NOT occur during arousal. To answer the question, you must first determine what does occur. According to the passage, arousal does stimulate the production of adrenaline and norepinephrine; does increase sensitivity to stimuli; and does increase concentration on specific stimuli.

Thus  choices A  through  D  all describe consequences of arousal. Only  choice E  is correct. There is no indication in the passage that the range of states mediated by the brain stem expands during arousal.

davidbeckham · Answer

Hi  SajjadAhmad  - please could you clarify where option D in Question 7 occurs in the passage?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

A heightening of sensitivity to stimuli increases the selectivity with respect to stimuli, C & D are related with each other and are the consequences of the arousal system. D is present in the example given in the passage in the lines:

a hungry lizard's instinctive snap at a passing beetle.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

OE of Question #2

The  “hungry lizard’s instinctive snap”  is contrasted with the mammal’s higher level of awareness.  Choices A and B  are incorrect. The example of the hungry lizard provides a contrast; it does not demonstrate a similarity or extend the author’s argument.  Choices D and E  are incorrect. Brutality is not mentioned in the passage as a characteristic of predators, and there is no suggestion that all animals lack consciousness.

Choice C is correct.

I don't have access to last three questions so no OE is available.

Thanks

bM22 · Answer

4. The author's attitude toward the mammals discussed in the passage is best described as

(A) superior and condescending
(B) lighthearted and jocular
(C) apologetic and conciliatory
(D) wistful and tender
 (E) respectful and admiring

Correct Answer: E,
 Explanation: can be inferred from the lines: The kind of intelligence favored by the interplay of increasingly smarter catchers and increasingly keener escapers is defined by attention." and similar lines : "The elements of intelligence and consciousness come together marvelously to produce different styles in predator and prey.", suggests that the author respects and admires at least some of their characteristics.

Hope This Helps.
Thanks.

bM22 · Answer

5. The author provides information that would answer which of the following questions?

Can be answered through the lines: " Although in both kinds of animal, arousal stimulates the production of adrenaline and norepinephrine by the adrenal glands,  the effect in herbivores is primarily fear , whereas in carnivores the effect is primarily aggression. For both, arousal attunes the animal to what is ahead."

Can be answered through: "The kind of intelligence favored by the interplay of increasingly smarter catchers and increasingly keener escapers is defined by  attention—that aspect of mind carrying consciousness forward from one moment to the next. It ranges from a passive, free-floating awareness to a highly focused, active fixation.  The range through these states is mediated by the arousal system, a network of tracts converging from sensory systems to integrating centers in the brain stem."

Not discussed, cannot be answered. The author discusses animal intelligence and how its related to their environment. The never mentions what occurs when the stimulus that causes arousal of a mammal is removed.

Thus Answer is: (C) I and II only.

Hope This Helps.
Thanks.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

3. It can be inferred from the passage that in animals less intelligent than the mammals discussed in the passage

Explanation

(A)  This is the correct answer. The passage suggests that intelligence involves linking past attention to the present, and intelligent animals, like the large mammal predator, use past events as a framework to navigate their environment and improve survival strategies.

(B)  The passage does not suggest that attention is more highly focused in less intelligent animals. In fact, it describes the range of attention from passive, free-floating awareness to highly focused, active fixation. It doesn't make a direct comparison with less intelligent animals in terms of attention focus.

(C)  The passage does not provide information about the muscular coordination of less intelligent animals. The focus is on attention, arousal, and consciousness rather than muscular coordination.

(D)  The passage does not discuss the need for competition among species in the context of intelligence. The emphasis is on attention, arousal, and the different styles in predators and prey.

(E)  The passage does not make a direct comparison regarding the importance of the environment in establishing the prey-to-predator ratio between more and less intelligent animals. The emphasis is on attention, arousal, and consciousness in the development of intelligence.

In summary, option (A) is the correct answer based on the information provided in the passage. The other options do not have clear support or are not directly addressed in the passage.

Answer: A

Rishab2409 · Answer

3. It can be inferred from the passage that in animals less intelligent than the mammals discussed in the passage

(A) past experience is less helpful in ensuring the survival
(B) attention is more highly focused
(C) muscular coordination is less highly developed
(D) there is less need for competition among species
(E) environment is more important in establishing the proper ratio of prey to predator

(A) as the passage says “a hungry lizard’s instinctive snap at a passing beetle. Using past events as a framework, the large mammal predator is working out a relationship between movement and food, sensitive to possibilities in cold trails and distant sounds — and yesterday’s unforgotten lessons. The herbivore prey is of a different mind. Its mood of wariness rather than searching and its attitude of general expectancy instead of anticipating are silk-thin veils of tranquility over an explosive endocrine system.” It implies that past events are used by large mammal predators in catching prey (animals with less intelligence): attributed to their survival.

6. According to the passage, improvement in brain function among early large mammals resulted primarily from which of the following?

(A) The interplay of predator and prey
(B) Persistence of free-floating awareness in animals of the grasslands
(C) Gradual dominance of warm-blooded mammals over cold-blooded reptiles
(D) Interaction of early large mammals with less intelligent species
(E) Improvement of the capacity for memory among herbivores and carnivores

(A) as the passages states “The interaction resulting from the differences between predator and prey led to a general improvement in brain functions..” helps us to infer that the interplay between predator and prey helped improved the brain function.

riyachaudhari · Answer

4. The author's attitude toward the mammals discussed in the passage is best described as

(A) superior and condescending
(B) lighthearted and jocular
(C) apologetic and conciliatory
(D) wistful and tender
(E) respectful and admiring

Can you please explain how the answer is E? I think I might have misunderstood the question. Does it ask how the author perceives these mammals in the passage?

guddo · Answer

4. The author's attitude toward the mammals discussed in the passage is best described as

The passage describes predator and prey mammals in elevated, appreciative language. The author emphasizes their complex attention, memory, awareness, and adaptive intelligence.  The tone is clearly admiring , especially when describing how the elements of intelligence and consciousness “come together marvelously.”

(A) superior and condescending

This is incorrect. The author does not look down on the mammals. The passage treats their mental abilities as impressive.

(B) lighthearted and jocular

This is incorrect. The tone is serious and analytical, not humorous.

(C) apologetic and conciliatory

This is unsupported. The author is not apologizing for or mediating between positions.

(D) wistful and tender

This is too emotional. The author’s tone is appreciative, but not nostalgic or sentimental.

(E) respectful and admiring

This is correct. The author discusses these mammals’ intelligence with respect and admiration, using phrases such as “come together marvelously” and describing their awareness in complex, almost  human-like  terms.

Answer: (E)

egmat · Answer

Hi riyachaudhari,

Good instinct to double-check what the question is asking, because that's exactly the key here.

What Q4 asks:  yes, an "attitude" question asks how the author  feels about  or  regards  the mammals - the emotional coloring behind the writing. You don't find this stated outright; you pick it up from the author's  word choices . So your reading of the question is correct.

Why E fits.  Look at the language the author uses to describe these animals - the same lines an earlier reply pointed to:

- "The elements of intelligence and consciousness come together  marvelously ..."
- the predator is " searchingly aggressive ... sensitive to possibilities in cold trails and distant sounds - and  yesterday's unforgotten lessons "
- the prey's calm is a " silk-thin veil of tranquility over an explosive endocrine system "

This is rich, appreciative, almost poetic praise for how sophisticated these animals' minds are. That admiration is exactly what  respectful and admiring  captures.

Why the others fail  - each clashes with that positive diction:

-  (A) superior and condescending  - the opposite; the author elevates the animals, doesn't look down on them.
-  (B) lighthearted and jocular  - the tone is serious and earnest, not joking.
-  (C) apologetic and conciliatory  - nothing is being apologized for or smoothed over.
-  (D) wistful and tender  - there's no nostalgia or longing here.

A quick way to feel this: imagine a friend describing their dog. "It just barks and eats" is flat and dismissive; "the way she reads a room and remembers every face is remarkable" is admiring. This passage is firmly the second kind - so the answer is  E .

Answer: E

The evolution of intelligence among early large mammals of the

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The evolution of intelligence among early large mammals of the

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