In a study, infant monkeys given a choice between two surrogate mothers—a bare wire structure equipped with a milk bottle, or a soft, suede-covered wire structure equipped with a milk bottle—unhesitatingly chose the latter. When given a choice between a bare wire structure equipped with a milk bottle and a soft, suede-covered wire structure lacking a milk bottle, they unhesitatingly chose the former.
Summary
A study examined monkeys given a choice between a bare wire structure with a milk bottle or a soft, suede-covered structure with a milk bottle as surrogate mothers. The monkeys chose the soft, suede-covered structure. In a separate experiment where the suede-covered structure did NOT have the milk bottle, the monkeys preferred the bare wire structure that still had the milk bottle.
Strongly Supported Conclusions
Monkeys prefer a milk bottle over softness of texture when choosing a fake surrogate mother.
A
Infant monkeys’ desire for warmth and comfort is nearly as strong as their desire for food.
This is anti-supported because the experiment shows that the infant monkeys rejected the comforting structure in favor of one that had food. This does not indicate a near equality in desires.
B
For infant monkeys, suede is a less convincing substitute for their mother’s touch than animal fur would be.
This is unsupported because the experiment never tested suede against real animal fur.
C
For infant monkeys, a milk bottle is a less convincing substitute for their mother’s teat than suede is for their mother’s touch.
This is anti-supported because the monkeys tended to prefer the bare structure with the milk bottle over the suede structure that had no milk. We also don’t know how convincing each structure was at replicating the real thing.
D
For infant monkeys, a milk bottle is an equally convincing substitute for their mother’s teat as suede is for their mother’s touch.
This is anti-supported because the infant monkeys tended to choose the bare structure with the milk bottle more than the suede structure without the milk, indicating an inequality in how convincing each substitute is.
E
Infant monkeys’ desire for food is stronger than their desire for warmth and comfort.
This is strongly supported because when the monkeys had to choose between a bare wire structure with food versus a soft structure that had no food, the monkeys chose the uncovered structure with food.
Max: We would lose money if we started processing orders electronically. Most people prefer to interact with human beings when placing orders. If we switch to electronic order processing, our business will appear cold and inhuman, and we will attract fewer customers.
A
electronic order processing is faster and more accurate than is manual order processing
B
faster and more accurate order processing would be financially beneficial to their business
C
switching to electronic order processing would be financially beneficial to their business
D
their business has an obligation to be as profitable as possible
E
electronic order processing would appear cold and inhuman to most of their customers
Commentator: In the new century, only nations with all the latest electronic technology will experience great economic prosperity. The people in these nations will be constantly bombarded with images of how people in other countries live. This will increase their tendency to question their own customs and traditions, leading to a dissolution of those customs and traditions. Hence, in the new century, the stability of a nation’s cultural identity will likely _______.
Summary
In the future, only nations with the newest technology will experience economic prosperity. The people in these nations will be bombarded with images showing how people in other nations live. This will cause people in prosperous nations to question their own traditions, which will lead to a dissolution of those traditions.
Strongly Supported Conclusions
Hence, the stability of a nation’s cultural identity will likely decrease if that nation is economically prosperous.
A
depend on a just distribution of electronic technology among all nations
A just or equitable distribution of technology plays no role in our causal chain of events. We only know that a nation generally possessing the latest technology will set off the causal chain of events.
B
decrease if that nation comes to have a high level of economic wealth
A nation having a high level of economic wealth results in a causal chain of events leading to dissolution of that nation’s customs and traditions.
C
be ensured by laws that protect the customs and traditions of that culture
We don’t know if laws will be enacted to protect the traditions of these nations.
D
be threatened only if the people of that culture fail to acquire the latest technical skills
We don’t know whether there’s only one way in which a nation’s cultural identity is threatened. We know possessing the latest technology is one way, but there could be various other ways as well.
E
be best maintained by ensuring gradual assimilation of new technical knowledge and skills
We don’t know if this is the best way to maintain a nation’s cultural identity. We also don’t know whether gradual introduction of technology will lessen its effects.