Text 1In a study of insect behavior, Samadi Galpayage and colleagues presented bumblebees with small wooden balls and observed many...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
In a study of insect behavior, Samadi Galpayage and colleagues presented bumblebees with small wooden balls and observed many of the bees clinging to, rolling, and dragging the objects. The researchers provided no external rewards (such as food) to encourage these interactions. The bees simply appeared to be playing—and for no other reason than because they were having fun.
Text 2
Insects do not have cortexes or other brain areas associated with emotions in humans. Still, Galpayage and her team have shown that bumblebees may engage in play, possibly experiencing some kind of positive emotional state. Other studies have suggested that bees experience negative emotional states (for example, stress), but as Galpayage and her team have acknowledged, emotions in insects, if they do indeed exist, are likely very rudimentary.
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the underlined portion of Text 1?
By objecting that the bees were actually experiencing a negative feeling akin to stress rather than a positive feeling
By arguing that some insects other than bumblebees may be capable of experiencing complex emotional states
By pointing out that even humans sometimes struggle to have fun while engaging in play
By noting that if the bees were truly playing, any positive feelings they may have experienced were probably quite basic
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'In a study of insect behavior, Samadi Galpayage and colleagues presented bumblebees with small wooden balls and observed many of the bees clinging to, rolling, and dragging the objects.' |
|
| 'The researchers provided no external rewards (such as food) to encourage these interactions.' |
|
| 'The bees simply appeared to be playing—and for no other reason than because they were having fun.' |
|
| 'Insects do not have cortexes or other brain areas associated with emotions in humans.' |
|
| 'Still, Galpayage and her team have shown that bumblebees may engage in play, possibly experiencing some kind of positive emotional state.' |
|
| 'Other studies have suggested that bees experience negative emotional states (for example, stress), but as Galpayage and her team have acknowledged, emotions in insects, if they do indeed exist, are likely very rudimentary.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: While bumblebees may engage in play-like behavior that could involve positive emotions, any such emotions would be fundamentally different from and much more basic than human emotions.
Argument Flow: Text 1 presents straightforward research findings suggesting bees play for enjoyment. Text 2 provides a more nuanced scientific perspective, acknowledging the possibility of bee emotions while emphasizing important biological limitations that would make such emotions very rudimentary compared to human experiences.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? How the author of Text 2 would most likely respond to the specific claim in Text 1 that bees were 'having fun'
What type of answer do we need? We need to find Text 2's author's perspective on the 'having fun' interpretation from Text 1
Any limiting keywords? 'most likely respond' and the focus on the underlined portion specifically about bees having fun
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Text 2's author would likely respond to the 'having fun' claim by acknowledging that bees might indeed be experiencing positive emotions during play, but would emphasize the crucial caveat that any such emotions are 'very rudimentary' compared to what we typically understand as 'fun'
- Text 2 specifically states that 'emotions in insects, if they do indeed exist, are likely very rudimentary'
- The author would not dismiss the possibility entirely (since they acknowledge bees 'may engage in play, possibly experiencing some kind of positive emotional state'), but would want to qualify the sophistication level of any such experience
- The right answer should acknowledge the possibility of positive bee emotions while emphasizing their basic, rudimentary nature
By objecting that the bees were actually experiencing a negative feeling akin to stress rather than a positive feeling
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests Text 2's author would say bees were experiencing stress instead of fun
- Text 2 mentions that bees can experience negative emotions like stress, but this is presented as additional information, not as a contradiction to the positive emotions during play
By arguing that some insects other than bumblebees may be capable of experiencing complex emotional states
✗ Incorrect
- This focuses on 'some insects other than bumblebees' experiencing complex emotions
- Text 2 specifically discusses bumblebees and actually emphasizes that insect emotions are 'very rudimentary,' not complex
By pointing out that even humans sometimes struggle to have fun while engaging in play
✗ Incorrect
- This brings up humans struggling to have fun during play
- Text 2 makes no comparison between human and insect play experiences
- This choice introduces an irrelevant human psychology element not present in Text 2
By noting that if the bees were truly playing, any positive feelings they may have experienced were probably quite basic
✓ Correct
- This directly reflects Text 2's key point that 'emotions in insects, if they do indeed exist, are likely very rudimentary'
- The author acknowledges that bees might be 'truly playing' (consistent with Text 2's statement that 'bumblebees may engage in play')
- The phrase 'probably quite basic' perfectly captures Text 2's 'very rudimentary' characterization