Anthropologist: Violence is an extreme form of aggression, and is distinct from the self-expression sufficient for survival under normal conditions. Human beings in certain situations react to unpleasant stimuli with violence—but only because they are conditioned by their culture to react in this manner.
Summary
Violence is a type of aggression—an extreme type. Violence is different from self-expression. Violent reactions are a result of cultural conditioning.
Notable Valid Inferences
This is a MBT Except question. This means all the wrong answers can be logically inferred from the stimulus. The right answer cannot be logically inferred from the stimulus.
Some examples of valid logical inferences from the stimulus are: under normal conditions, it is not necessary for humans to react with violence; there are forms of aggression that are not violent; and there are no causes for violent reactions other than cultural conditioning.
A
Not all aggression is violent.
This must be true. We are told that violence is an extreme type of aggression, which implies there are other types of aggression that are not violent. Violence is only one manifestation of aggression.
B
The self-expression required for survival is generally nonaggressive.
This could be false. We know violence is a type of aggression and violence is different from the self-expression humans need. We don’t know that aggression and the necessary self-expression are distinct. The required self-expression may be a form of aggression that isn’t violent.
C
Some behaviors are influenced by the cultures in which human beings live.
This must be true. The stimulus tells us that cultural conditioning is the reason people react violently. “Some” implies one or more—we have one example given to us in the stimulus, which means this must be true.
D
In normal circumstances, human beings can survive by responding nonviolently.
This must be true. The stimulus tells us that self-expression is enough for survival under normal conditions, and we know that self-expression is distinct from violence.
E
Violent behavior is a product of one’s cultural environment.
This must be true. The stimulus tells us the only cause of violent behavior is cultural conditioning.
A
The threshold can be lowered by lowering the dietary consumption of cholesterol and fat.
B
People who consume an average North American diet cannot increase their consumption of cholesterol and fat without dramatically increasing their serum cholesterol levels.
C
People who consume half as much cholesterol and fat as in the average North American diet will not necessarily have half the average serum cholesterol level.
D
Serum cholesterol levels cannot be affected by nondietary modifications in behavior, such as exercising more or smoking less.
E
People who consume less cholesterol and fat than the threshold cannot reduce their serum cholesterol levels.
The Levant—the area that borders the eastern Mediterranean—was heavily populated in prehistoric times. The southern Levant was abandoned about 6,000 years ago, although the northern Levant, which shared the same climate, remained heavily populated. Recently archaeologists have hypothesized that the sudden depopulation in the southern Levant was due to an economic collapse resulting from deforestation.
Summary
The Levant has a northern and a southern part, and both used to have high populations. The northern part still has a high population, but the southern part does not. This is because of a sudden economic collapse resulting from deforestation more than 6,000 years ago.
Notable Valid Inferences
The northern Levant did not face economic collapse about 6,000 years ago. Climate must not be part of the reason why the southern Levant is abandoned. The economic collapse is what caused the depopulation of the southern Levant, as opposed to some other factor.
A
The sheep and goats herded by the peoples of the southern Levant until 6,000 years ago grazed extensively on the seedlings and saplings of indigenous tree species.
This could be true. No information in the stimulus suggests the goats and sheep that existed prior to the deforestation and depopulation of the southern Levant did not graze on indigenous tree species’ seedlings and saplings.
B
Trees were used in the production of lime plaster, a building material used extensively throughout the southern Levant until 6,000 years ago.
This could be true. No information in the stimulus suggests trees were not used to produce lime plaster prior to the deforestation and depopulation of the southern Levant.
C
Organic remains from the northern Levant reliably indicate that tree species flourished there without interruption during the period when the southern Levant was being abandoned.
This could be true. No information in the stimulus suggests the northern Levant had any issues with deforestation.
D
Carbon dating of organic remains from the southern Levant reliably demonstrates that there were no forests present in that area prior to 6,000 years ago.
This must be false. We know the southern Levant faced economic collapse due to deforestation. Such deforestation could not have occurred if there were no forests in the region in the first place.
E
Since there are few traces of either quarried stone or of mud brick in buildings excavated in the southern Levant, it is likely that the buildings built there prior to 6,000 years ago were made almost entirely of timber.
This could be true. No information in the stimulus suggests the southern Levant’s buildings were not made solely from timber.
A
More than half of the school’s students came from jobs in journalism to improve their skills.
B
Some newspaper editors do not regard journalism school as a necessary part of the training of a journalist.
C
The number of cities with more than one major newspaper has declined sharply over the last 25 years.
D
The program offered by the Hyperion School of Journalism is similar in quality and content to those offered by its peer institutions.
E
The proportion of applicants to the Hyperion School of Journalism that are admitted is lower than it was ten years ago.
A
taking drugs has the same effect on aging as does a lack of exercise
B
people who do not exercise are likely to need drugs to sustain their health
C
appropriate exercise can prevent the physical changes associated with aging
D
people who do not exercise when they are young will gain few benefits from beginning to exercise at a later age
E
if the physical changes of aging are to be slowed, it is more practical to rely on exercise than on drugs
A
assumes what it is trying to prove
B
too hastily reaches a general conclusion on the basis of a few examples
C
equivocates with respect to a central concept
D
too readily accepts a claim by appeal to inappropriate authority
E
ignores the fact that some people are mature at age sixteen
The overarching flaw is that the commissioner relies too much on a single, unverified report by an organization of unknown reliability.