Events & Promotions
|
|
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
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Apr 2301:30 AM EDT
-02:30 AM EDT
Struggling with GMAT Verbal as a non-native speaker? Harsh improved his score from 595 to 695 in just 45 days—and scored a 99 %ile in Verbal (V88)! Learn how smart strategy, clarity, and guided prep helped him gain 100 points.
Apr 2308:00 PM PDT
-09:00 PM PDT
Video explanations + diagnosis of 10 weakest areas + 150+ short videos + study plan!
Apr 2212:30 AM EDT
-01:30 AM EDT
At one point, she believed GMAT wasn’t for her. After scoring 595, self-doubt crept in and she questioned her potential. But instead of quitting, she made the right strategic changes. The result? A remarkable comeback to 695. Check out how Saakshi did it.
Apr 2610:00 AM EDT
-11:00 AM EDT
The Target Test Prep course represents a quantum leap forward in GMAT preparation, a radical reinterpretation of the way that students should study. Try before you buy with a 5-day, full-access trial of the course for FREE!
Apr 2711:00 AM EDT
-12:00 PM EDT
Prefer video-based learning? The Target Test Prep OnDemand course is a one-of-a-kind video masterclass featuring 400 hours of lecture-style teaching by Scott Woodbury-Stewart, founder of Target Test Prep and one of the most accomplished GMAT instructors
Apr 2808:00 AM PDT
-11:00 AM PDT
Whether you are just beginning your MBA journey or fine-tuning your path to a 700+ score, GMAT Day is designed to give you a competitive edge.
06 Mar 2026, 23:54
Kudos
Bookmarks
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
78% (01:40) correct
22%
(01:54)
wrong
based on 139
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Linguists have long debated the origins of human language. One popular theory suggests that language developed primarily as a tool for coordinating group activities, such as hunting or defense. Another theory emphasizes language as a vehicle for social bonding, helping individuals maintain alliances and signal trustworthiness.
However, recent evidence indicates that neither explanation fully accounts for the rapid diversification and complexity of language. For instance, even in small, tightly knit groups, humans have consistently developed elaborate vocabularies, intricate grammar, and stylistic variation. This suggests that language evolution cannot be explained solely by practical utility or social cohesion; instead, it appears that humans are intrinsically motivated to develop and experiment with linguistic structures, independent of immediate social or survival needs.
Which of the following best captures the author’s point about the evolution of language?
A. Language originated primarily as a tool for hunting and defense, though social bonding played a secondary role.
B. Humans are innately driven to create complex language, beyond purely practical or social purposes.
C. Linguists have overemphasized the importance of small groups in explaining language diversity.
D. Social bonding explains the stylistic variation observed in early human languages.
E. The complexity of language is proportional to the size and needs of the community.
However, recent evidence indicates that neither explanation fully accounts for the rapid diversification and complexity of language. For instance, even in small, tightly knit groups, humans have consistently developed elaborate vocabularies, intricate grammar, and stylistic variation. This suggests that language evolution cannot be explained solely by practical utility or social cohesion; instead, it appears that humans are intrinsically motivated to develop and experiment with linguistic structures, independent of immediate social or survival needs.
Which of the following best captures the author’s point about the evolution of language?
A. Language originated primarily as a tool for hunting and defense, though social bonding played a secondary role.
B. Humans are innately driven to create complex language, beyond purely practical or social purposes.
C. Linguists have overemphasized the importance of small groups in explaining language diversity.
D. Social bonding explains the stylistic variation observed in early human languages.
E. The complexity of language is proportional to the size and needs of the community.
30 Mar 2026, 06:21
Kudos
Bookmarks
Easy question: Here is the quick elimination of it.
A. Language originated primarily as a tool for hunting and defense, though social bonding played a secondary role.
This goes against the spirit of the author's argument, she clearly wanted to show that language exists without serving any special function. WRONG.
B. Humans are innately driven to create complex language, beyond purely practical or social purposes.
YES! Exactly what the contradictory evidence seems to point towards + the author also mentions that language creation is an innate desire.
C. Linguists have overemphasized the importance of small groups in explaining language diversity.
How can we say that? There is no evidence for the overemphasis. WRONG.
D. Social bonding explains the stylistic variation observed in early human languages.
No, because such variation existed both in huge and smaller groups - meaning that even if the bonding levels are variable, there will still be stylistic variation in language. WRONG.
E. The complexity of language is proportional to the size and needs of the community.
Just like answer choice D, complex languages were observed in both huge and small communities. Hence there is no strong correlation. WRONG.
_________________________
Aakkash Singh V90 Tutor
Making GMAT tutoring affordable: Book a demo session at www.calendly.com/aakkashgmat
A. Language originated primarily as a tool for hunting and defense, though social bonding played a secondary role.
This goes against the spirit of the author's argument, she clearly wanted to show that language exists without serving any special function. WRONG.
B. Humans are innately driven to create complex language, beyond purely practical or social purposes.
YES! Exactly what the contradictory evidence seems to point towards + the author also mentions that language creation is an innate desire.
C. Linguists have overemphasized the importance of small groups in explaining language diversity.
How can we say that? There is no evidence for the overemphasis. WRONG.
D. Social bonding explains the stylistic variation observed in early human languages.
No, because such variation existed both in huge and smaller groups - meaning that even if the bonding levels are variable, there will still be stylistic variation in language. WRONG.
E. The complexity of language is proportional to the size and needs of the community.
Just like answer choice D, complex languages were observed in both huge and small communities. Hence there is no strong correlation. WRONG.
_________________________
Aakkash Singh V90 Tutor
Making GMAT tutoring affordable: Book a demo session at www.calendly.com/aakkashgmat
04 Apr 2026, 20:14
Kudos
Bookmarks
The author rejects both main theories (practical use and social bonding) as complete explanations. The key point is that language became complex even when those needs don’t fully justify it, so humans must have an inherent drive to create and expand language.
Thus, B is correct.
Here is the quick elimination of it.
A. Language originated primarily as a tool for hunting and defense, though social bonding played a secondary role.
This contradicts the author’s main point. The author argues that language cannot be explained mainly by practical or social functions. WRONG.
B. Humans are innately driven to create complex language, beyond purely practical or social purposes.
Correct. The passage concludes that humans are intrinsically motivated to develop and experiment with language, beyond utility or social cohesion. RIGHT.
C. Linguists have overemphasized the importance of small groups in explaining language diversity.
No support for this. The passage does not claim overemphasis by linguists. WRONG.
D. Social bonding explains the stylistic variation observed in early human languages.
Opposite of the argument. The author says social bonding alone cannot explain variation. WRONG.
E. The complexity of language is proportional to the size and needs of the community.
Directly contradicted. Complexity appears even in small groups, so no such relationship is established. WRONG.
Thus, B is correct.
Here is the quick elimination of it.
A. Language originated primarily as a tool for hunting and defense, though social bonding played a secondary role.
This contradicts the author’s main point. The author argues that language cannot be explained mainly by practical or social functions. WRONG.
B. Humans are innately driven to create complex language, beyond purely practical or social purposes.
Correct. The passage concludes that humans are intrinsically motivated to develop and experiment with language, beyond utility or social cohesion. RIGHT.
C. Linguists have overemphasized the importance of small groups in explaining language diversity.
No support for this. The passage does not claim overemphasis by linguists. WRONG.
D. Social bonding explains the stylistic variation observed in early human languages.
Opposite of the argument. The author says social bonding alone cannot explain variation. WRONG.
E. The complexity of language is proportional to the size and needs of the community.
Directly contradicted. Complexity appears even in small groups, so no such relationship is established. WRONG.
