Question

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
Language is an autapomorphy found only in our lineage, and not shared with other branches of our group such as primates. We also have no definitive evidence that any species other than Homo sapiens ever had language. However, it must be noted straightaway that ‘language’ is not a monolithic entity, but rather a complex bundle of traits that must have evolved over a significant time frame…. Moreover, language crucially draws on aspects of cognition that are long established in the primate lineage, such as memory: the language faculty as a whole comprises more than just the uniquely linguistic features.

• A. Language, a derived trait found only in humans, has evolved over time and involves memory.
• B. Language evolved with linguistic features building on features of cognition such as memory.
• C. Language is not a single, uniform entity but the end result of a long and complex process of linguistic evolution.
• D. Language is a distinctively human feature as there is no evidence of the existence of language in any other species.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Eliminating option 1 is justified since the paragraph does not assert that language is a derived trait; instead, it emphasizes it as a human trait without the derived trait aspect.
Option 2 is considered correct as it accurately represents the information without distortion or omission.
Option 3, although close to option 2, lacks the crucial point about language drawing on aspects of cognition such as memory.
Option 4 is eliminated due to missing two essential points: the evolution of language over time and the emphasis on language drawing on aspects of cognition like memory.
While options 2 and 3 are close, the distinctions lie in the coverage of crucial details. Since option 2 accurately captures the main points without missing key information, it remains the best choice.