LSAT 134 | Section 4 | Reading Comprehension: Q13

RC Question 13 Explanation

DISCUSSION: The first passage uses evolutionary psychology to explain altruism. We evolved in small groups, and when we helped our relatives we helped our genes (because we share genes with relatives). Groups that did this were successful, and grew larger. Their genes for altruism spread. We kept the genes for altruism, even though we are no longer helping relatives when we help strangers in large groups.

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1. Lines 9-10 said we have to use energy to help others, but the passage never said we have less chance of reproducing if we help people.
2. There’s no new evidence. The passage describes evolutionary psychology by showing how it explains a puzzling situation. The explanation is not new; it’s just unfamiliar to many people.
3. This is true, but it’s not the main point. This answer doesn’t even mention evolutionary psychology.
4. The author doesn’t mention critics, and the author also never claims that most behavior is due to selfish genes.
5. CORRECT. Lines 15-16 mention cues that made early humans altruistic. Lines 18-21 mention psychological states and how helping others allowed early humans’ genes to be more successful. So our genes cause us to feel altruistic (a psychological state) when see people that look like us (cues).