TOEFL essay samples: Altruism or the act of selflessness

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The passage talks about altruism or the act of selflessness. The meerkat was cited as an example possessing such behavior. However the lecturer provided insights contradicting the passage.

First, the lecturer pointed out that the sentinel meerkat is not at all hungry when watching guard for predators for the fact that before it stands guard, it eats first thus it’s already full when other meerkats are looking for food or eating food.

Second, in the passage it has been pointed out that the meerkat on guard is more prone to danger which is opposed by the speaker, according to her the sentinel meerkat is the first one to escape in the sense that it’s the first to see the predator and it’s usually positioned near a burrow wherein it can quickly go to in times of danger. Moreover, the alarm emitted by the sentinel would cause the meerkats to either quickly separate or gather in groups which will catch the attention of the predator making them the target.

Lastly, the passage also talks about altruistic acts of humans, one of which by being donors. A point being contradicted again by the lecturer, pointing out that when humans do this, they receive appreciation and recognition from the people which can be a boost to self worth thus this cannot be an act of pure altruism since they received something in return.
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