It might reasonably have been expected that the adoption of cooking by early humans would not have led to any changes in human digestive anatomy. βββββ ββββ βββββββ βββββ ββββ ββββββ ββ ββββ βββββ βββββ ββββ ββ βββββββ βββββββββββ βββ ββββββββ ββ βββββββ ββββββ βββββ βββ
Other Peopleβs Argument Β·Cooking didnβt lead to changes in human digestive anatomy
Author's Hypothesis Β·Cooking evolutionarily changed human digestion
We evolved to efficiently digest high and densely caloric foods thanks to cooking. Now we are reliant on cooked foods and cannot survive on raw food alone.
Cooking resulted in decrease in tooth and jaw size. Evidence of cooking techniques developing and decreases in tooth and jaw size support the cooking hypothesis.
Future Research Β·More testing required to better understand raw v. cooked
Passage Style
Critique or debate
Phenomenon-hypothesis
27.
The authors' primary purpose in βββ βββββββ ββ ββ
Question Type
Implied
Purpose of passage
In a Phenomenon-Hypothesis passage, if the author presents a hypothesis, then the primary purpose is to present that hypothesis (and her opinion about it, if any). Here, the author presents her hypothesis that the practice of eating cooked food caused biological adaptations in humans. She also provides evidence that can support this hypothesis in P2 and P3.
a
describe a scientific ββββββ
This doesnβt capture the authorβs hypothesis. Even if you think the fact humans canβt survive on only raw food is a puzzle, since she provides a potential answer to the puzzle, her primary purpose should involve the authorβs answer β that humans are biologically adapted to eating cooked food as a result of cooking. Notice that the author also provides some specific aspects of human evolution that she believes limit our ability to eat raw food. This shows that her purpose isnβt mainly to describe a puzzle; itβs to provide answers to the puzzle.
b
identify a common ββββββββββ βββββββββββββ
You might think that the view that cooking would not have led to changes in human digestive anatomy is a βcommon scientific misconception.β This isnβt supported, because the author never suggests that itβs βcommonβ to hold this view. In any case, even if we accept that this is a a common scientific misconception (which is not clear), this is too narrow. (B) ignores the fact that in P2 and P3, the author discusses specific ways in which humans might have adapted biologically and the evidence that shows a potential causal relationship between human evolution and cooking.
c
elucidate the meaning ββ β ββββββββββ ββββββββββ
(C) asserts that the primary purpose is to explain the meaning of a hypothesis. This doesnβt capture the authorβs opinion. She isnβt merely trying to explain what a hypothesis means. She supports a hypothesis and is trying to convince the reader that the hypothesis is plausible.
d
propose a scientific ββββββββββ
This best captures the purpose, which is to present her hypothesis that humans biologically adapated to cooked foods as a result of cooking, and to discuss some evidence that might support that hypothesis.
e
undermine the support βββ β ββββββββββ βββββββββ
Thereβs no scientific principle that the author criticizes. Although the author does criticize the view that cooking couldnβt have affected human evolution because itβs too recent, that isnβt a scientific principle.
Difficulty
52% of people who answer get this correct
This is a very difficult question.
It is slightly harder than the average question in this passage.
CURVE
Score of students with a 50% chance of getting this right
25%150
162
75%174
Analysis
Implied
Purpose of passage
Critique or debate
Phenomenon-hypothesis
Science
Answer Popularity
PopularityAvg. score
a
22%
161
b
12%
158
c
10%
160
d
52%
164
e
4%
157
Question history
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