 #1 (permalink) Sun Mar 20, 2011 17:28 pm TOEFL Integrated (Audio Added) |
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Reading Passage:
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Altruism is a type of behaviour in which an animal sacrifices its own interest for that of another animal or group of animals. Altruism is the opposite of selfishness; individuals performing altruistic acts gain nothing for themselves.
Examples of altruism abound, both among humans and among other mammals. Unselfish acts among humans range from the sharing of food with strangers to the donation of body organs to family members, and even to strangers. Such acts are altruistic in that they benefit another, yet provide little reward to the one performing the act.
ln fact, many species of animals appear willing to sacrince food, or even their life, to assist other members of their group. The meerkat, which is a mammal that dwells in burrows in grassland areas of Africa, is often cited as an example. ln groups of meerkats, an individual acts as a sentinel, standing guard and looking out for predators while the others hunt for food or eat food they have obtained. lf the sentinel meerkat sees a predator such as a hawk approaching the group, it gives an alarm cry alerting the other meerkats to run and seek shelter. By standing guard, the sentinel meerkat gains nothing-it goes without food while the others eat, and it places itself in grave danger. After it issues an alarm, it has to flee alone, which might make it more at risk to a predator, since animals in groups are often able to work together to fend off a predator. So the altruistic sentinel behavior helps ensure the survival of other members of the meerkat’s group.
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Listening Passage:
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Response:
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Altruism is a type of behavior in which an animal or group of animals sacrifies its own interest for that of another animal or group of animals. This type of behaviour is also observed in human, as per example mentioned in reading passage. However, in reading information and lecture information contradicts some points as per recent study discussed in lecture.
First, the meerkat has nature to act as a guard for others to save from hunters during searching for food as mentioned in reading. However, as mentioned in lecture, as per recent study, it revealed that the meerkat who stands as a guard to protect others from being hunted who may have already eaten food before standing as a guard. Therefore, it does not need to search or to have food. Also, it has an advantage to run first because it can see coming hunter toward it by standing above and it tries to escape first and make alram sound later. It may put other's lives in danger.
Second, as mentioned in reading, altruism has also obeserved in human. He donates food or organ to relative or sometimes to stranger which is unselfish act. For that, donor gets rewarded. However, in lecture, as per recent study, donor does not get any reward or even any appriciation from a person who gets a organ or food.
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Acc1444
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