Cruel to be kind
1. Would you let another driver into your lane in heavy traffic? Or arc you the sort of driver who slows to a crawl when someone is tailgating or driving much too close behind you? If you do either, it’s OK: you're only being human.
2. To date, no evidence either of altruism or spite has been found in any other animal except Homo sapiens. Being nice or nasty at a cost to you reel f could be part of what makes you human. But now scientists arc investigating our closest genetic relative, the chimpanzee. Somewhere in the 99.7 per cent of DNA that the two species share, perhaps there are genes for charity and malice.
3. In a study carried out at Germany's Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, which was published in the British journal Proceedings of the Royal Society in 2006, researchers tested whether chimpanzees would help or hinder a hungry neighbour. A chimpanzee in a testing room had two choices: it could either deliver food to a chimpanzee in a room next door, or to an empty room. In both cases, the chimpanzee controlling the food could not get any itself. The study found the chimpanzee controlling the food would do nothing for half the time, then give food to the other chimpanzee only a quarter of the time - which demonstrates neither altruism nor spite. 'I was predicting chimps would be spiteful; says Keith Jensen, a doctoral student who led the study. 'I mean, they're chimpanzees. I get spat on all the time. But though they knew they couldn’t get the food, sometimes they gave it to the other guy anyway.'
4. In contrast, humans frequently perform selfless acts. We donate blood, give money to charities and help old ladies cross the street. Altruism is among the very foundations of our society. Banking, government, and health services all depend on people working for the benefit of complete strangers.
5. And we can be spiteful too. In the famous Ultimatum Game, $10 is to be shared by two people. Person 1 decides how the $10 is to be split between them, and Person 2 chooses to accept or reject the offer. If the offer is rejected, neither gets anything. Economists predicted Person 1 would offer a $9/$l split and that Person 2 would accept it because $1 is better than nothing. Surprisingly, Person 1 generally offers a kind and fair S5/S5 split, which is accepted. If anything less even is offered, Person 2 generally rejects the offer, docking their own pay as punishment for the other person's selfishness.
6. What happens if chimpanzees are rewarded? In a similar study published in Nature in October 2005, the chimpanzee controlling the food received food regardless of whether or not it chose to deliver food to a neighbour or an empty room. Again, the chimpanzee in control gave food to the neighbour only about a quarter of the time - even when the other chimpanzee was begging frantically.
7. I am able to help others at no cost to themselves, most humans will do so. This is called 'other-regarding', which means humans are considerate to each other. Chimps, it seems, are not. ‘I don’t know why chimps are not other-regarding/ says Joan Silk from the University of California at Los Angeles, who led the study. 'It might be they are unaware of others' needs. It might be they are aware, but unconcerned: The findings may come as a surprise to field primatologists who often observe chimpanzees sharing food in the wild, even precious sources of protein like meat. 'Food sharing among adults in the wild might be based on self-interest; says Silk. 'Males might share meat with other males because they anticipate receiving meat in return in the future. Alternatively, males might share meat because it is more costly to monopolise it than to allow others to share it.’
8. But for now it appears humans are the only animals known to think considerately and inconsiderately about others even when they are strangers. Chimpanzees do not appear to have either the ability or the inclination. Perhaps somewhere along the split with our common ancestor, the selfless gene and the mean gene evolved.
9. So next time someone cuts into your lane, relax - it's higher evolution at work.
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Question Focus: Detail question - asks what the passage says about research on genetics
Correct Answer: being studied.
Why this is correct: This is correct because the passage clearly says scientists are investigating chimpanzees to understand genes linked to behaviour. That shows the genetic differences are still being studied, not fully known.
Passage Reference: But now scientists arc investigating our closest genetic relative, the chimpanzee. Somewhere in the 99.7 per cent of DNA that the two species share, perhaps there are genes for charity and malice.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'scientists arc investigating' = Option: 'being studied'
Tips: When an option sounds confident, check if the passage uses cautious language like investigating or perhaps.
Why the other options are wrong:
- well-understood.: Students may choose this because the passage mentions 99.7 per cent of DNA. However, the writer says scientists are investigating, which means it is not fully understood. This is a Partial truth trap.
- 99.7% understood.: This option copies the number 99.7 per cent, which is tempting. But the passage says the species share 99.7 per cent of DNA, not that it is understood. This is a Paraphrase trap.
- not measurable.: Students might think genetics is abstract, but the passage gives a precise percentage and talks about research. This directly contradicts the idea that it cannot be measured. This is a Contradiction trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- investigating = studying
- genetic relative = species with similar DNA
Question Focus: Inference question - asks why the researcher felt surprised
Correct Answer: he has experienced chimpanzees being unfriendly to him.
Passage Reference: 'I was predicting chimps would be spiteful; says Keith Jensen, a doctoral student who led the study. 'I mean, they're chimpanzees. I get spat on all the time.'
Why this is correct: This is correct because Keith Jensen says 'I get spat on all the time', which shows his personal experience made him expect bad behaviour. That is why he was surprised by the results.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'I get spat on all the time' = Option: 'experienced chimpanzees being unfriendly'
Tips: For inference questions, look for quotes that reveal opinions or expectations.
Why the other options are wrong:
- chimpanzees are known to be kindly creatures.: Students might guess this from general ideas about animals, but the passage shows Jensen expected the opposite. This is a Contradiction trap.
- chimpanzees usually share food with each other.: Food sharing in the wild is discussed later by another researcher, not as Jensen's reason. This is a Wrong section trap.
- he predicted that the hungry chimpanzee would get the food.: The passage says he predicted spite, not generosity. This reverses his expectation. This is a Reverse meaning trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- spiteful = deliberately unkind
- doctoral student = PhD student
Question Focus: Main idea question - asks what social institutions show about humans
Correct Answer: generosity.
Passage Reference: In contrast, humans frequently perform selfless acts. We donate blood, give money to charities and help old ladies cross the street. Altruism is among the very foundations of our society. Banking, government, and health services all depend on people working for the benefit of complete strangers.
Why this is correct: This is correct because the writer links social institutions to selfless acts and altruism. That clearly matches the idea of generosity.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'selfless acts' and 'altruism' = Option: 'generosity'
Tips: When a question asks about examples, focus on the abstract idea the examples support.
Why the other options are wrong:
- foolishness.: Nothing in the passage suggests these institutions are stupid or unwise. This is a Not Given trap.
- welfare.: Although welfare is related to society, the writer focuses on altruism and helping others, not welfare systems specifically. This is a Context shift trap.
- selfishness.: The passage says the opposite, using words like selfless and benefit of complete strangers. This is a Contradiction trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- altruism = caring about others
- selfless = not selfish
Question Focus: Inference question - asks what behaviour the experiment shows
Correct Answer: penalize unjust treatment.
Passage Reference: If anything less even is offered, Person 2 generally rejects the offer, docking their own pay as punishment for the other person's selfishness.
Why this is correct: This is correct because people reject the offer and lose money themselves in order to punish unfairness. That means they penalize unjust treatment.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'rejects the offer' and 'punishment' = Option: 'penalize unjust treatment'
Tips: Look carefully at cause and reaction in experiments to see what behaviour is demonstrated.
Why the other options are wrong:
- accept unjust treatment.: Economists predicted this, but the experiment showed the opposite. This is a Contradiction trap.
- expect unjust treatment.: The passage does not talk about expectations, only reactions. This is a Not Given trap.
- enjoy unjust treatment.: There is no suggestion of enjoyment. People actually lose money to punish unfairness. This is a Not Given trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- dock = take away
- unjust = unfair
Question Focus: Inference question - asks what Joan Silk suggests about normal behaviour
Correct Answer: meet each other's needs.
Passage Reference: The findings may come as a surprise to field primatologists who often observe chimpanzees sharing food in the wild, even precious sources of protein like meat.
Why this is correct: This is correct because sharing food in the wild means chimpanzees do provide for each other in normal circumstances. That shows they meet each other's needs, even if it is based on self-interest.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'sharing food in the wild' = Option: 'meet each other's needs'
Tips: When answers feel indirect, ask yourself what behaviour proves in action, not intention.
Why the other options are wrong:
- understand each other's needs.: Joan Silk says 'It might be they are unaware of others' needs', so understanding is uncertain. This is a Qualification trap.
- feel concern about each other's needs.: The passage suggests they may be unconcerned, not caring. This is a Contradiction trap.
- ignore each other's needs.: Food sharing in the wild shows they do not simply ignore others. This is a Contradiction trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- field primatologists = scientists who study primates in nature
- protein = nutrient from food like meat
General Tips:
- MCQ questions follow passage order, so use the previous answer location to find the next.
- Do not choose an option just because it uses the same word as the passage.
- Always read all options before deciding. The first good one may not be the best.
- Focus on what the passage says, not what you believe in real life.
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