IELTS Reading Practice: Human Nature
The Unselfish Gene
A psychologist gives his view on how humans became self-centred
There has long been a general assumption that human beings are essentially selfish… (Q27) This Bleak view of human nature is closely associated with Richard Dawkins… whose book The Selfish Gene (Q28) became popular because it fitted so well with the competitive ethos of late 20th-century societies.
Prehistory is usually seen as a period of intense competition… But, in fact, the assumption that prehistoric life was a desperate struggle for survival is false. (Q29) With such small population densities, it seems unlikely that prehistoric groups had to compete for resources.
As the anthropologist (Q30) Bruce Knauft has remarked, hunter-gatherers are characterized by (Q31) egalitarianism. They have an ethical obligation to share everything. They ensure disparities of (Q32) status don’t arise.
The !Kung swap arrows before (Q33) hunting. If a person becomes too (Q34) domineering, they are ostracised. Women benefit from high levels of (Q35) autonomy in choices.
In view of the above, (Q37) there seems little reason to assume that traits such as racism and warfare should have been selected by evolution – as they would have been of little benefit.
It makes more sense to see traits such as cooperation as (Q38) innate characteristics of human beings.
(Q40) Research has shown repeatedly that when natural habitats of primates are disrupted, they tend to become more violent.
27. What is the writer doing in the first paragraph?
28. What point is made about Richard Dawkins’ book The Selfish Gene?
29. What does the writer suggest about the prehistoric era in paragraph 4?
30. The writer refers to Bruce Knauft’s work to support the idea that
Hunter-gatherer societies exhibit a high level of 31. .
They employ strategies to prevent differences in 32. occurring.
Credit for one person’s success at 33. is given to another.
Individuals who behave in a 34. manner are punished.
Women have a considerable amount of 35. in choices.
36. Anthropologists are mistaken about the point !Kung began to decline.
37. Humans with warlike traits in prehistory had an advantage.
38. Being peaceful and cooperative is a natural way to behave.
39. Negative traits are more apparent in some modern cultures than others.
40. Animal research failed to link environment and aggression.
20 Useful Vocabulary (The Unselfish Gene)
1. Assumption (Noun)
Giả định, điều được mặc nhiên công nhận (dù chưa có bằng chứng).
"There has long been a general assumption that human beings are essentially selfish..."
2. Bleak (Adjective)
Ảm đạm, bi quan, trống vắng.
"This Bleak view of human nature is closely associated with Richard Dawkins..."
3. Ethos (Noun)
Đặc trưng văn hóa, hệ tư tưởng, tinh thần cốt lõi.
"...because it fitted so well with the competitive ethos of late 20th-century societies."
4. Desperate (Adjective)
Tuyệt vọng, liều lĩnh, dữ dội.
"...the assumption that prehistoric life was a desperate struggle for survival is false."
5. Density (Noun)
Mật độ (dân số).
"With such small population densities, it seems unlikely that prehistoric groups had to compete..."
6. Anthropologist (Noun)
Nhà nhân chủng học.
"As the anthropologist Bruce Knauft has remarked..."
7. Egalitarianism (Noun)
Chủ nghĩa bình đẳng.
"...hunter-gatherers are characterized by egalitarianism."
8. Ethical (Adjective)
Thuộc về đạo đức, hợp luân lý.
"They have an ethical obligation to share everything."
9. Obligation (Noun)
Nghĩa vụ, bổn phận, trách nhiệm.
"They have an ethical obligation to share everything."
10. Disparity (Noun)
Sự chênh lệch, sự khác biệt, sự không bình đẳng.
"They ensure disparities of status don’t arise."
11. Status (Noun)
Địa vị, thân phận, danh phận xã hội.
"They ensure disparities of status don’t arise."
12. Swap (Verb)
Trao đổi, hoán đổi.
"The !Kung swap arrows before hunting."
13. Domineering (Adjective)
Độc đoán, áp bức, thích kiểm soát người khác.
"If a person becomes too domineering, they are ostracised."
14. Ostracise (Verb)
Tẩy chay, loại ra khỏi cộng đồng.
"If a person becomes too domineering, they are ostracised."
15. Autonomy (Noun)
Quyền tự quyết, sự tự chủ.
"Women benefit from high levels of autonomy in choices."
16. Trait (Noun)
Đặc điểm, nét tiêu biểu (về tính cách).
"...there seems little reason to assume that traits such as racism and warfare should have been selected..."
17. Warfare (Noun)
Chiến tranh, xung đột vũ trang.
"...traits such as racism and warfare should have been selected by evolution..."
18. Innate (Adjective)
Bẩm sinh, thiên phú.
"It makes more sense to see traits such as cooperation as innate characteristics of human beings."
19. Primate (Noun)
Linh trưởng (bộ động vật gồm khỉ, vượn, con người).
"Research has shown repeatedly that when natural habitats of primates are disrupted..."
20. Disrupt (Verb)
Làm gián đoạn, phá vỡ, gây xáo trộn.
"...when natural habitats of primates are disrupted, they tend to become more violent."