LSAT 134 | Section 4 | Reading Comprehension: Q18

RC Question 18 Explanation

DISCUSSION: Be careful on this question. The author of passage B doesn’t think evolutionary psychologists are conspiring against us.

Instead, the author of passage B argues that evolutionary psychologists believe our genes are secretly conspiring to control our behavior. We aren’t aware they are making us altruistic, but they do make us altruistic.

The answers are all taken directly from passage A. You should read the answer you choose in context, and make sure it makes sense according to passage B’s description of a conspiracy theory.

Common sense can do much to answer this, even if you didn’t understand what the author meant by conspiracy in this case. None of the wrong answers describe a secret situation, while conspiracies involve hidden motives.

___________

1. This sounds nice and open. A conspiracy theory involves secrecy.
2. There’s not even a whiff of secrecy in that statement. Evolutionary psychologists are being open and honest by saying that they find altruism difficult to explain.
3. This is a description of altruism. There’s nothing that seems secret.
4. CORRECT. Here’s the secrecy we need. Genes appear altruistic, but really they’re just plotting in secret to spread themselves.
5. There’s not necessarily anything secret about a small group of humans.