Summarize Argument: Counter-Position
Chimpanzees do not necessarily have human-like language because, contrary to popular belief, humans did not evolve directly from chimpanzees. Instead, both species evolved from a common ancestor. As a result, the development of language in humans could have occurred after the extinction of this common ancestor, which means chimpanzees would not have developed the same language as humans.
Identify Conclusion
Chimpanzees may not have a human-like language.
A
Humans did not evolve from chimpanzees, but rather from some extinct species.
This statement is a premise that counters the misconception that humans evolved from chimpanzees. It supports the author’s argument that because humans and chimpanzees did not evolve directly from one another, chimpanzees do not necessarily have human-like language.
B
The assumption that something like human language must exist in some species from which humans evolved has no clearcut linguistic implications for chimpanzees.
This correctly states the conclusion: people assume that species from which humans evolved have human-like language, but this assumption doesn’t apply to chimpanzees since humans didn’t evolve from them. Thus, this assumption doesn’t tell us anything about chimpanzees’ language.
C
The communicative systems of chimpanzees are cruder than human language.
The stimulus does not make this claim. The anthropologist argues that chimpanzees do not necessarily have human-like language but doesn’t describe their language or compare it to human language. Since this claim is not made, it cannot be the main conclusion.
D
Human language is a by-product of human intelligence, which chimpanzees lack.
The stimulus doesn’t make this claim. The anthropologist argues that chimpanzees don’t necessarily have human-like language because humans didn’t evolve from chimpanzees, not because chimpanzees lack human intelligence. As this claim isn’t made, it can’t be the main conclusion.
E
The evolution of human language began after the disappearance of an extinct species from which both humans and chimpanzees evolved.
The stimulus does not make this claim. The anthropologist suggests that human language might have developed after the extinction of a common ancestor but does not assert this as a certainty. Additionally, this idea is part of the argument’s premise, not its main conclusion.
Editor Z: It’s very pretty, but it’s a bad photograph. It doesn’t make a statement; there’s no obvious reason for the smoke to be there.
Speaker 1 Summary
Y concludes that the photograph is good. This is based on the fact it’s attractive.
Speaker 2 Summary
Z concludes that it’s a bad photograph. This is based on the fact it doesn’t make a statement.
Objective
We’re looking for a point of disagreement. They disagree on whether the photograph is good.
A
a photograph’s composition should be related to a statement that it makes
Neither speaker has an opinion. Although Y mentions composition, and Z mentions making a statement, neither discusses the relationship between composition and making a statement.
B
a photograph that is not attractive can still be a good photograph
Y doesn’t have an opinion. He assumes that attractiveness is sufficient to make a photograph good. But he doesn’t discuss whether attractiveness is necessary to be a good photograph.
C
a photograph that makes no statement can still be attractive
Y doesn’t have an opinion. He doesn’t note whether the photograph makes a statement or not, and doesn’t discuss any relationship between making a statement and being an attractive photograph.
D
attractiveness by itself can make a photograph a good photograph
This is a point of disagreement. Y believes attractiveness is sufficient to make a photograph good (this is Y’s assumption). Z believes it’s not sufficient, because if it doesn’t make a statement, it still wouldn’t be good.
E
attractive composition and prettiness are the same feature
Neither has an opinion. Neither discusses a relationship between an attractive composition and prettiness.