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Difficulty: Very hardMain Point

Linguist: Many philosophers of language assume that complex syntactic structures evolved primarily because of a cognitive imperative to facilitate precise propositional thought. Admittedly, the strong correlation between grammatical complexity and communicative precision in modern formal discourses, such as law, appears to substantiate this view. However, anthropological studies reveal that several languages lacking strict syntactic hierarchies are used to navigate complex environmental realities with complete informational fidelity. This demonstrates that structural rigidity is not fundamentally necessary for complex information exchange. Furthermore, the historical emergence of rigid syntax correlates far more reliably with the centralization of political authority than with any increase in populations' cognitive demands. Therefore, complex syntax likely evolved primarily to serve the administrative needs of expanding bureaucratic domains, rather than to fulfill an inherent communicative deficit.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the linguist's argument?

  1. A
    Structural rigidity in a language is not a fundamentally necessary condition for the accurate and faithful exchange of complex information.
  2. B
    As political authorities centralize, languages that lack strict syntactic hierarchies will inevitably develop complex grammatical structures.
  3. C
    Philosophers of language have largely misunderstood the environmental and social realities that heavily influence the evolution of linguistic structures.
  4. Complex syntactic structures probably developed as a response to the administrative requirements of growing political entities, not from an underlying need to enhance communicative precision.Answer
  5. E
    The strong correlation between grammatical complexity and communicative precision in formal settings proves that cognitive imperatives drove the evolution of complex syntax.

Answer

Complex syntactic structures probably developed as a response to the administrative requirements of growing political entities, not from an underlying need to enhance communicative precision.
The correct answer accurately paraphrases the final sentence of the stimulus, which serves as the ultimate conclusion. The author builds to the claim that complex syntax evolved for administrative (sociopolitical) reasons rather than to fix a communicative (cognitive) deficit. All other claims in the argument—such as the findings from anthropological studies and the lack of necessity for structural rigidity—serve as premises or intermediate conclusions leading up to this final point.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the beginning of the stimulus to identify the context and opposing viewpoint.
The author introduces a common view held by philosophers of language (syntax evolved for precise propositional thought) and concedes a point to them (it correlates with precision in formal discourse).
Recognizing the opposing view prevents confusing the author's actual conclusion with the viewpoint they are challenging.
2
Locate the structural pivot and trace the author's primary evidence.
The word 'However' signals the pivot. The author uses anthropological studies to draw an intermediate conclusion: 'This demonstrates that structural rigidity is not fundamentally necessary for complex information exchange.'
Identifying intermediate conclusions is crucial because they are the most common trap answers in Main Point questions.
3
Identify the final deduction derived from all the preceding premises and intermediate conclusions.
Introduced by 'Therefore', the final claim asserts that complex syntax evolved to serve bureaucratic administrative needs, rather than to fulfill a communicative deficit.
The main conclusion must be the statement that is supported by other statements in the argument but does not support any other statement itself.
4
Evaluate the answer choices to find the one that accurately paraphrases this ultimate conclusion.
The correct option perfectly mirrors the 'Therefore' clause, contrasting the administrative driver of syntax with the rejected cognitive/communicative driver.
A correct Main Point answer must capture the full scope of the ultimate conclusion without stopping at a subsidiary premise.

Key Concept

Argument Structure and Main Conclusion Identification
Estimated Time:1m 45s
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Topics

Main Point

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