Comprehension: Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions.…
2026
Comprehension:
Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions.
Some people believe that insect behaviour shows signs of intelligence. However, when we look
more closely, we see that most insect actions are ingrained, automatic, and hard to change.
The female Sphex wasp is a good example that challenges the idea of insect intelligence and
shows how their behaviour is more like a fixed routine than true thinking. The wasp follows a
specific pattern: she paralyses a grasshopper, places it near her burrow, checks the burrow, and
then pulls the grasshopper inside by its antennae. This may seem smart and careful, but
experiments show that her actions are not flexible. Darwin found that if the grasshopper’s
antennae were removed, the wasp could not finish her task — even though she could have used
the legs instead. This shows she cannot adjust her behaviour when something small
changes.
Another naturalist, Fabre, tried to disrupt the wasp’s routine by moving the grasshopper slightly
while she was inside the burrow. Each time, the wasp brought it back and started the inspection
all over again. He repeated this forty times, and the wasp reacted the same way every time.
This kind of repetitive behaviour suggests that she is not thinking but simply following a set
pattern triggered by certain signals. Some might say that the wasp’s behaviour is efficient and
helps her survive, so it must be intelligent. But being efficient is not the same as being
adaptable.
What is the structure of the passage?
Answer: A. argumentative — ConceptA passage is argumentative when it advances a viewpoint and supports it with reasons, evidence, counterpoints, and rebuttal. Its organizing purpose is…
- A.
argumentative
- B.
chronological
- C.
cause and effect
- D.
descriptive
Attempted by 1 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
A passage is argumentative when it advances a viewpoint and supports it with reasons, evidence, counterpoints, and rebuttal. Its organizing purpose is to persuade the reader toward a conclusion, even when examples contain description, sequence, or cause and effect.
Application
The passage opens with the belief that insect behaviour may show intelligence, then challenges that belief. It uses the Sphex wasp, Darwin’s antenna experiment, and Fabre’s repeated-disruption experiment as evidence that the behaviour is rigid rather than adaptable. It also states a counterpoint—that efficient survival behaviour may look intelligent—and answers it by distinguishing efficiency from adaptability.
Contrast
Argumentative organization develops a claim through reasons, evidence, counterpoints, and rebuttal; these elements frame the whole passage.
Chronological organization primarily arranges events by time; the experimental sequences here serve as evidence rather than as the passage’s main organizing purpose.
Cause-and-effect organization primarily explains causes and consequences; the passage mentions effects, but they support a broader position about intelligence.
Descriptive organization primarily builds an impression through characteristics or sensory detail; the wasp’s actions are described to support an argument.
Result
Therefore, the passage has an argumentative structure.