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.

Updated On: Jul 26, 2025
  • Language, a derived trait found only in humans, has evolved over time and involves memory.
  • Language evolved with linguistic features building on features of cognition such as memory. 

  • Language is not a single, uniform entity but the end result of a long and complex process of linguistic evolution.
  • Language is a distinctively human feature as there is no evidence of the existence of language in any other species. 

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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

To identify the best summary of the passage, we need to analyze the key points discussed:
  • The passage emphasizes that language is unique to humans (an autapomorphy) and is not found in other branches like primates.
  • There is no definitive evidence of language in species other than Homo sapiens.
  • Language is not a singular or monolithic trait but comprises a complex array of features developed over time.
  • The evolution of language is tied to existing cognitive abilities, such as memory, which are present in the primate lineage.
Given these observations, let's evaluate the options:
  • Option 1: "Language, a derived trait found only in humans, has evolved over time and involves memory." - This option partially captures the essence by mentioning the uniqueness to humans and evolution, but it does not emphasize the cognitive building blocks of language.
  • Option 2: "Language evolved with linguistic features building on features of cognition such as memory." - This option highlights the evolutionary process and connection to cognitive features like memory, aligning well with the passage's details.
  • Option 3: "Language is not a single, uniform entity but the end result of a long and complex process of linguistic evolution." - This mirrors the complexity and evolution but misses the emphasis on cognitive aspects, especially memory.
  • Option 4: "Language is a distinctively human feature as there is no evidence of the existence of language in any other species." - This option focuses only on the uniqueness to humans without addressing its evolutionary and cognitive developments.
The most comprehensive summary, aligning well with the passage, is Option 2: "Language evolved with linguistic features building on features of cognition such as memory."
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