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RC Passage
Direction for the questions 1 to 4: The passage below is accompanied by a set of four questions. Choose the best answer to each question.
Starting in 1957, [Noam Chomsky] proclaimed a new doctrine: Language, that most human of all attributes, was innate. The grammatical faculty was built into the infant brain, and your average 3-year-old was not a mere apprentice in the great enterprise of absorbing English from his or her parents, but a âlinguistic genius.â
Since this message was couched in terms of Chomskyan theoretical linguistics, in discourse so opaque that it was nearly incomprehensible even to some scholars, many people did not hear it. Now, in a brilliant, witty and altogether satisfying book, Mr. Chomsky's colleague Steven Pinker . . . has brought Mr. Chomsky's findings to everyman. In âThe Language Instinctâ he has gathered persuasive data from such diverse fields as cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology and speech therapy to make his points, and when he disagrees with Mr. Chomsky he tells you so. . . .
For Mr. Chomsky and Mr. Pinker, somewhere in the human brain there is a complex set of neural circuits that have been programmed with âsuper-rulesâ (making up what Mr. Chomsky calls âuniversal grammarâ), and that these rules are unconscious and instinctive. A half-century ago, this would have been pooh-poohed as a âblack boxâ theory, since one could not actually pinpoint this grammatical faculty in a specific part of the brain, or describe its functioning. But now things are different. Neurosurgeons [have now found that this] âblack boxâ is situated in and around Brocaâs area, on the left side of the forebrain. . . .
Unlike Mr. Chomsky, Mr. Pinker firmly places the wiring of the brain for language within the framework of Darwinian natural selection and evolution. He effectively disposes of all claims that intelligent nonhuman primates like chimps have any abilities to learn and use language. It is not that chimps lack the vocal apparatus to speak; it is just that their brains are unable to produce or use grammar. On the other hand, the âlanguage instinct,â when it first appeared among our most distant hominid ancestors, must have given them a selective reproductive advantage over their competitors (including the ancestral chimps). . . .
So according to Mr. Pinker, the roots of language must be in the genes, but there cannot be a âgrammar geneâ any more than there can be a gene for the heart or any other complex body structure. This proposition will undoubtedly raise the hackles of some behavioral psychologists and anthropologists, for it apparently contradicts the liberal idea that human behavior may be changed for the better by improvements in culture and environment, and it might seem to invite the twin bugaboos of biological determinism and racism. Yet Mr. Pinker stresses one point that should allay such fears. Even though there are 4,000 to 6,000 languages today, they are all sufficiently alike to be considered one language by an extraterrestrial observer. In other words, most of the diversity of the worldâs cultures, so beloved to anthropologists, is superficial and minor compared to the similarities. Racial differences are literally only âskin deep.â The fundamental unity of humanity is the theme of Mr. Chomsky's universal grammar, and of this exciting book.
RC Line-wise Explanation
Paragraph 1
"Starting in 1957, [Noam Chomsky] proclaimed a new doctrine: Language, that most human of all attributes, was innate."
Explanation: Chomsky introduced the idea in 1957 that the ability to use language is an inborn human trait.
"The grammatical faculty was built into the infant brain, and your average 3-year-old was not a mere apprentice in the great enterprise of absorbing English from his or her parents, but a âlinguistic genius.â"
Explanation: He believed that children aren't just learning language from scratchâthey're born with a natural ability to grasp grammar quickly and effectively.
Paragraph 2
"Since this message was couched in terms of Chomskyan theoretical linguistics, in discourse so opaque that it was nearly incomprehensible even to some scholars, many people did not hear it."
Explanation: Chomsky's ideas were presented in such complex language that even some experts struggled to understand them, so the general public remained unaware.
"Now, in a brilliant, witty and altogether satisfying book, Mr. Chomsky's colleague Steven Pinker . . . has brought Mr. Chomsky's findings to everyman."
Explanation: Steven Pinker wrote a book that explains Chomskyâs theories in an engaging and accessible way for everyone.
"In âThe Language Instinctâ he has gathered persuasive data from such diverse fields as cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology and speech therapy to make his points, and when he disagrees with Mr. Chomsky he tells you so."
Explanation: In his book, Pinker supports his arguments with evidence from various scientific disciplines and openly shares where he differs from Chomskyâs views.
Paragraph 3
"For Mr. Chomsky and Mr. Pinker, somewhere in the human brain there is a complex set of neural circuits that have been programmed with âsuper-rulesâ (making up what Mr. Chomsky calls âuniversal grammarâ), and that these rules are unconscious and instinctive."
Explanation: Both believe that the brain contains instinctive, unconscious structures that form a universal grammar shared across all languages.
"A half-century ago, this would have been pooh-poohed as a âblack boxâ theory, since one could not actually pinpoint this grammatical faculty in a specific part of the brain, or describe its functioning."
Explanation: Previously, critics dismissed this idea because the brainâs grammar function couldnât be located or explained scientifically.
"But now things are different. Neurosurgeons [have now found that this] âblack boxâ is situated in and around Brocaâs area, on the left side of the forebrain."
Explanation: Modern science has identified Brocaâs area in the brain as the region responsible for grammar and language processing.
Paragraph 4
"Unlike Mr. Chomsky, Mr. Pinker firmly places the wiring of the brain for language within the framework of Darwinian natural selection and evolution."
Explanation: Pinker connects the brainâs language ability to evolutionary theory, unlike Chomsky.
"He effectively disposes of all claims that intelligent nonhuman primates like chimps have any abilities to learn and use language."
Explanation: Pinker argues convincingly that animals like chimpanzees cannot truly learn or use language.
"It is not that chimps lack the vocal apparatus to speak; it is just that their brains are unable to produce or use grammar."
Explanation: Chimpsâ failure to use language isnât due to physical limitations, but to a lack of grammatical capacity in their brains.
"On the other hand, the âlanguage instinct,â when it first appeared among our most distant hominid ancestors, must have given them a selective reproductive advantage over their competitors (including the ancestral chimps)."
Explanation: The development of language likely helped early humans survive and reproduce more effectively than their primate relatives.
Paragraph 5
"So according to Mr. Pinker, the roots of language must be in the genes, but there cannot be a âgrammar geneâ any more than there can be a gene for the heart or any other complex body structure."
Explanation: Pinker believes language is genetically based, but it's too complex to be tied to a single gene, like other organs.
"This proposition will undoubtedly raise the hackles of some behavioral psychologists and anthropologists, for it apparently contradicts the liberal idea that human behavior may be changed for the better by improvements in culture and environmentâŚ"
Explanation: Some experts may object to this theory because it challenges the belief that culture and environment can fully shape behavior.
"âŚand it might seem to invite the twin bugaboos of biological determinism and racism."
Explanation: The theory might be misunderstood as promoting the controversial ideas that biology strictly controls behavior, or supports racial superiority.
"Yet Mr. Pinker stresses one point that should allay such fears."
Explanation: However, Pinker offers a reassurance to ease these concerns.
"Even though there are 4,000 to 6,000 languages today, they are all sufficiently alike to be considered one language by an extraterrestrial observer."
Explanation: Despite language diversity, all human languages are fundamentally similarâso much so that outsiders would see them as variations of a single language.
"In other words, most of the diversity of the worldâs cultures, so beloved to anthropologists, is superficial and minor compared to the similarities."
Explanation: Cultural differences are relatively small when compared to the deep similarities among humans.
"Racial differences are literally only âskin deep.â"
Explanation: Race-based differences are superficial and not biologically significant.
"The fundamental unity of humanity is the theme of Mr. Chomsky's universal grammar, and of this exciting book."
Explanation: Both Chomskyâs theory and Pinkerâs book emphasize the idea that all humans share a common linguistic foundation.
RC Paragraph Explanation
Paragraph 1 Summary
In 1957, Noam Chomsky proposed that language is innate and that young children are naturally gifted in language, challenging the belief that language is solely learned.
Paragraph 2 Summary
Chomskyâs complex theories were inaccessible to many, but Steven Pinker popularized them through his book âThe Language Instinct,â using evidence from multiple fields and occasionally differing with Chomsky.
Paragraph 3 Summary
Chomsky and Pinker believe humans are born with a neural system for grammar called universal grammar, which scientists now link to Brocaâs area in the brain.
Paragraph 4 Summary
Pinker connects language development to evolution, arguing that while chimps lack grammatical ability, early humans gained evolutionary advantages through their language instinct.
Paragraph 5 Summary
Though language has genetic roots, there is no single âgrammar gene.â Pinker acknowledges the concern that this idea challenges cultural theories, but stresses that human language and behavior reveal deep underlying unity.
RC Quick Table Summary
| Paragraph Number | Main Idea |
|---|---|
| Paragraph 1 | Chomsky introduced the idea that language is innate and children are naturally skilled in it. |
| Paragraph 2 | Pinker made Chomskyâs theories accessible to the public through his book and scientific support. |
| Paragraph 3 | Language ability is instinctive and now linked to Brocaâs area in the brain. |
| Paragraph 4 | Pinker ties language to evolution and disproves animal language abilities. |
| Paragraph 5 | Pinker asserts genetic roots of language while emphasizing shared human traits over differences. |
RC Questions
Ques 1. Which one of the following statements best summarises the authorâs position about Pinkerâs book?
Ques 2. According to the passage, all of the following are true about the language instinct EXCEPT that:
Ques 3. On the basis of the information in the passage, Pinker and Chomsky may disagree with each other on which one of the following points?
Ques 4. From the passage, it can be inferred that all of the following are true about Pinkerâs book, âThe Language Instinctâ, EXCEPT that Pinker:
