In some ill-considered popularizations of interesting current research

Question

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In some ill-considered popularizations of interesting current research, it is argued that higher apes have the capacity for language but have never put it to use—a remarkable biological miracle, given the enormous selectional advantage of even minimal linguistic skills. It is rather like claiming that some animal has wings adequate for flight but has never thought to fly.

Which one of the following is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above?

Which one of the following is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above?

(A) Arguing that there are some humans who never sleep is rather like discovering a species of lion that does not eat meat.

(B) Arguing that Earth has been visited by aliens from outer space is rather like claiming that early explorers had visited North American but never founded cities.

(C) Arguing that the human brain has telekinetic powers that no humans have ever exercised is rather like arguing that some insect has legs but never uses them to walk.

(D) Claiming that some people raised tobacco but did not smoke it is rather like claiming that a society that knew how to brew alcohol never drink it.

(E) Arguing that not all people with cars will drive them is rather like claiming that humans invented gasoline long before they used it as fuel for transportation.

fiftyoneverbal · Answer

The original statement compares two arguments which both claim that their subjects have a certain ability that they don't use, stating that to argue one is like arguing the other.

(c) is the only answer choice that follows a similar line of reasoning, and is the right answer.

MrSengupta · Answer

Is the answer C ? It kind of matches with the tone of the argument

ArunSharma12 · Answer

Passages states the apes have the ability but have not used it.
Example: some animal has wings but has never used it to fly.
any option stating the presence of ability and not being used will be most similar to the reasoning in the argument

(A) Arguing that there are some humans who never sleep is rather like discovering a species of lion that does not eat meat.

(B) Arguing that Earth has been visited by aliens from outer space is rather like claiming that early explorers had visited North American but never founded cities.

(C) Arguing that the human brain has telekinetic powers that no humans have ever exercised is rather like arguing that some insect has legs but never uses them to walk.
 This correctly states an ability possessed by humans that they have not used.

(D) Claiming that some people raised tobacco but did not smoke it is rather like claiming that a society that knew how to brew alcohol never drink it.

(E) Arguing that not all people with cars will drive them is rather like claiming that humans invented gasoline long before they used it as fuel for transportation.
Ans: C

TarPhi · Answer

I think the answer should be C since it is talking about a skill

exc4libur · Answer

argument
= apes have ability to communicate, but never have
= this is the same as saying that
= some animals have wings able to fly, but never have

similar
ans (C)

chaitralirr · Answer

In some ill-considered popularizations of interesting current research, it is argued that higher apes have the capacity for language but have never put it to use—a remarkable biological miracle, given the enormous selectional advantage of even minimal linguistic skills. It is rather like claiming that some animal has wings adequate for flight but has never thought to fly.

Which one of the following is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above?

Stimulus: The ill considered popularizations of interesting current research it is argued that higher apes had the capacity for language but have never put it to use even minimal linguistic skills. It is like an animal has wings to fly but never thought to fly.

IMO C. Similar line of reasoning

Which one of the following is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above?

(A) Arguing that there are some humans who never sleep is rather like discovering a species of lion that does not eat meat.

(B) Arguing that Earth has been visited by aliens from outer space is rather like claiming that early explorers had visited North American but never founded cities.

(C) Arguing that the human brain has telekinetic powers that no humans have ever exercised is rather like arguing that some insect has legs but never uses them to walk.

(D) Claiming that some people raised tobacco but did not smoke it is rather like claiming that a society that knew how to brew alcohol never drink it.

(E) Arguing that not all people with cars will drive them is rather like claiming that humans invented gasoline long before they used it as fuel for transportation.

jaisonsunny77 · Answer

In some ill-considered popularizations of interesting current research, it is argued that higher apes have the capacity for language but have never put it to use—a remarkable biological miracle, given the enormous selectional advantage of even minimal linguistic skills. It is rather like claiming that some animal has wings adequate for flight but has never thought to fly.

Which one of the following is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above?

This passage can be simplified as follows:

Some people believe that higher apes have capacity for language but never us it. 
The author of this passage believes that making this ind of a claim is similar to the idea that some animals has wings adequate for flight but has never thought to fly.

The author hints that if animals have some sort of biological feature incorporated into them, such a feature is obviously present for a reason - the animal must have some good use of it. 
 
We must find an answer choice that matches  this style  of reasoning.

Which one of the following is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above?

(A)  Arguing that there are some humans who never sleep is rather like discovering a species of lion that does not eat meat.  - This is an observation that does not reflect or mention any sort of 'capability'. The correct answer here must reflect a biological capability of some sort. Since (A) does not have this,  eliminate (A)

(B)  Arguing that Earth has been visited by aliens from outer space is rather like claiming that early explorers had visited North American but never founded cities.  - Has the same error as in (A). In (B), the comparison that is cited does not involve any 'biological capability'. Hence,  eliminate (B).

(C)  Arguing that the human brain has telekinetic powers that no humans have ever exercised is rather like arguing that some insect has legs but never uses them to walk.  - Here, we do have  two biological capabilities mentioned : Human brain having telekinetic powers and some insects having legs. The comparison drawn in (C) is similar to what's mentioned in the passage. Hence,   (C) is the right answer choice here . 
 
(D)  Claiming that some people raised tobacco but did not smoke it is rather like claiming that a society that knew how to brew alcohol never drink it.  - This is only an observation. (D) does not deal with any sort of innate biological capability. Hence,  eliminate (D).

(E)  Arguing that not all people with cars will drive them is rather like claiming that humans invented gasoline long before they used it as fuel for transportation.  - (E) deals with activities that humans engage in. (E) does not deal with any innate human capabilities. Hence,  eliminate (E) .

In some ill-considered popularizations of interesting current research

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