Question

The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.
For nearly a century most psychologists have embraced one view of intelligence. Individuals are born with more or less intelligence potential (I.Q.); this potential is heavily influenced by heredity and difficult to alter; experts in measurement can determine a person’s intelligence early in life, currently from paper-and-pencil measures, perhaps eventually from examining the brain in action or even scrutinizing his/her genome. Recently, criticism of this conventional wisdom has mounted. Biologists ask if speaking of a single entity called “intelligence” is coherent and question the validity of measures used to estimate heritability of a trait in humans, who, unlike plants or animals, are not conceived and bred under controlled conditions.

• A. Biologists have questioned the long-standing view that ‘intelligence’ is a single entity and the attempts to estimate its heritability.
• B. Biologists have started questioning psychologists' view of 'intelligence' as a measurable immutable characteristic of an individual.
• C. Biologists have questioned the view that ‘intelligence’ is a single entity and the ways in which what is inherited.
• D. Biologists have criticised that conventional wisdom that individuals are born with more or less intelligence potential.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The paragraph emphasizes the following points:

1. The traditional belief among psychologists that intelligence is a fixed, hereditary trait is now being challenged by biologists.
2. There is uncertainty about intelligence being solely hereditary, especially considering that humans, unlike plants or animals, are not bred under controlled conditions.

Therefore, a suitable statement would encapsulate these aspects, making Option A the appropriate choice.
Option B: While it touches on the first point, it overlooks the second part of the discussion.
Option C: Although it covers both key elements, it lacks specificity and sounds somewhat awkward ("in ways in which what is inherited doesn't make sense"). Between Options A and C, Option A is clearly the better option.
Option D: Describing the widely held perspective as conventional wisdom would not be accurate. Additionally, this statement does not address point (2).

So, the correct option is (A): Biologists have questioned the long-standing view that ‘intelligence’ is a single entity and the attempts to estimate its heritability.