Demonstration and comprehension of a language are the two functions for which some elements of the brain have matured over a period of time, according to Howard Gardner, Noam Chomsky and others who subscribe to this idea. Darwinian Theory is the base for this school of thought, referred to as the nature school; on the other hand, the nurture school of thought believes that humans do not possess inherited linguistic faculty and that it was a consequence of learning and cultural evolution.

Another controversy that revolves around this debate is that the advocates of the nature school of thought believe that the language skill is an unconnected ability while nurture proponents believe that it exists along with the other perceptive abilities. Both the schools of thought agree that there is some biological difference in the components of the brain of humans that differentiates men from animals, while the extent of difference and the role of genetics are still debated.

Careful examination of the debate reveals that the proponents of both the theories agree on all the basic concepts but disagree on the specific argument that actually synthesizes the debate. Proponents like Gardner and Chomsky believe that infants have the innate ability to acquire language, while nurture proponents like Clark, Skinner, and Piaget believe that this ability is actually nurtured and developed by the environment. To support their rationale, they mention that with proper training even rats and pigeons can perform seemingly complex tasks.

The nature proponents argue that if a human and a chimpanzee are nurtured under similar environmental conditions, then the human behavior will still be profoundly different from that of the animal. They further assert that this is possible only because of genetic differences. On the other hand, if two genetically identical twins are brought up under different environmental conditions, their behavioral difference will be significant and this is due to nurturing, claim the nurture proponents.

1. Which of the following titles best summarizes the content of the passage?

(A) Darwinian Theory vs Nature School of Thought.
(B) Genetics vs Evolution.
(C) Nature vs Nurture.
(D) Gardner vs Chomsky.
(E) Linguistics vs Behaviorists.



2. What is the one basic tenet that the proponents of both the schools do not agree on?

(A) Language acquisition is innate in human beings.
(B) Biological components of human brain are different from animals.
(C) Language is an autonomous ability of humans.
(D) Animals can learn human language if proper conditions are provided.
(E) Darwinian theory is the base for nurture school of thought.



3. According to the passage, the phrase 'inherited linguistic faculty' means

(A) Acquired information.
(B) An aptitude.
(C) Ideas learnt from ancestors.
(D) A nurtured trait.
(E) An imitation.