Difficulty: Hard

Average Score: 17%

Passage 1: I have always been wary of cats, and now, walking alongside a 500-pound African black-maned lion, I know why. They remind me there is something higher than I am on the food chain. Josef, the lion beside me, is trained- 'the best lion in the business,' his owner says, beaming. Josef has starred in movies and posed for film animators. Josef is a big-time Hollywood cat. But Josef is not tame. No big cat ever is- a difficult fact to ignore as we climb the hills near the ranch Josef calls home. He strides with the fluidity of unfurling silk, deliberately- not an ounce of tentativeness in each footfall. 'Cats don't rent; they own,' it is said. Lions own everything in sight. Passage 2: From Cathy Newman, 'Nature's Masterwork: CATS.' ©1997 by National Geographic Society. While packs of cave bears and saber-toothed tigers may once have terrorized early humanity, most regions of our planet have since been stripped of their descendants. And due to a variety of factors, many other 'man-eating' species now face the possibility of extinction. Their disappearance from Earth is a sobering prospect, not least because of the role they play in keeping us humble. The possibility of being prey, rather than agents of planetary dominion, keeps us acutely aware of our membership within the natural world. The emotions inspired by such possibilities remind us that the world is a dangerous, yet beautiful, place.

Which point do both of the passages make?

Rationale

That human beings can be prey.

Both passages emphasize the concept of humans as part of a broader food chain, where they can be vulnerable and not solely dominant. The first passage highlights the author's fear of a lion, reinforcing the idea that humans can be prey, while the second passage discusses the importance of recognizing our place within the natural world, where we are not the apex predators.

A (That human beings can be prey) CORRECT

This point is directly supported by both passages. The first passage illustrates the author's wariness of lions, suggesting a recognition of humans as potential prey, while the second passage discusses the historical context of humans being threatened by large predators and the humbling realization of their vulnerability in nature.

B (That human beings have a duty to protect large predatory animals) YOUR ANSWER

While the second passage hints at the importance of these species, it does not explicitly state that humans have a duty to protect them. Instead, it focuses on the broader implications of their potential extinction and the humility it brings, which does not directly connect to a duty to protect.

C (That large predatory animals are vanishing from the planet) YOUR ANSWER

Although the second passage mentions the extinction of certain species, the first passage does not address this theme. Therefore, it does not serve as a common point between the two passages, as it is not a focus in the first.

D (That big cats can never be tamed) YOUR ANSWER

The first passage discusses the nature of big cats and their untamed essence, but this theme is not present in the second passage. Thus, it cannot be considered a shared point between the two texts.

Conclusion

Both passages highlight the idea that humans can experience vulnerability and be prey within the natural world. This perspective encourages a humbling awareness of our place in the ecosystem, contrasting with the common belief of human dominance. By recognizing our potential as prey, both passages invite reflection on the intricacies of nature and our relationship with other species.

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