I’m Chen Wei, an IELTS Reading expert with a background in evolutionary psychology. My aim is to help learners interpret academic arguments clearly and apply evidence-based reasoning to achieve higher Reading band scores.
Cambridge 19 Reading Test 4 Passage 3 – The Unselfish Gene challenges the common belief that humans are naturally selfish. The writer argues that cooperation and altruism, rather than aggression and competition, defined our prehistoric ancestors, and that modern self-centred behaviour developed only after farming and social hierarchies emerged.
Cambridge 19 Reading Test 4 Passage 3
🔹 Questions 27–30 | Multiple Choice
Practise this task type 👉 Multiple Choice Questions
27) C – describing a commonly held belief about people’s behaviour
- Keywords: assumption, selfish, ruthless
- Location: Paragraph 1 (whole)
- Locator: “general assumption that human beings are essentially selfish.”
- Explanation: The first paragraph outlines a widely held view, not the writer’s opinion. → C
28) C – It presented a view that was in line with the attitudes of its time.
- Keywords: The Selfish Gene, Dawkins
- Location: Paragraph 2 (mid)
- Locator: “became popular because it fitted so well with … the individualistic ethos of late 20th-century societies.”
- Explanation: The book’s success reflected prevailing attitudes. → C
29) B – Supplies of natural resources were probably relatively plentiful.
- Keywords: resources, competition
- Location: Paragraph 4 (mid)
- Locator: “small population densities … unlikely that groups had to compete for resources.”
- Explanation: Resources were sufficient; little competition existed. → B
30) A – selfishness is a relatively recent development in human societies.
- Keywords: Bruce Knauft, egalitarianism
- Location: Paragraph 5 (whole)
- Locator: “hunter-gatherers are characterised by ‘extreme political and sexual egalitarianism’.”
- Explanation: Evidence from Knauft shows early societies were cooperative, so selfishness arose later. → A
🔹 Questions 31–35 | Summary Completion (ONE WORD ONLY)
Learn this task with 👉 Summary Completion
31) egalitarianism
- Keywords: high level of ___
- Location: Paragraph 5 (opening)
- Locator: “characterised by ‘extreme political and sexual egalitarianism’.”
- Explanation: They show egalitarianism in every aspect of life.
32) status
- Keywords: prevent differences in ___
- Location: Paragraph 5 (end)
- Locator: “methods of preserving egalitarianism by ensuring that disparities of status don’t arise.”
- Explanation: They stop status differences.
33) hunting
- Keywords: credit for success at ___
- Location: Paragraph 6 (opening)
- Locator: “when an animal is killed … the acclaim does not go to the person who fired the arrow.”
- Explanation: Refers to success at hunting.
34) domineering
- Keywords: punished by exclusion
- Location: Paragraph 6 (mid)
- Locator: “if a person becomes too domineering, … ostracise them.”
- Explanation: Those who act domineering are expelled.
35) autonomy
- Keywords: women … choices regarding work and marriage
- Location: Paragraph 6 (end)
- Locator: “Women … benefit from a high level of autonomy.”
- Explanation: Women possess considerable autonomy.
🔹 Questions 36–40 | Yes / No / Not Given
Practise logical reading 👉 Yes No Not Given
36) NOT GIVEN
- No reference to anthropologists being wrong about when hunter-gatherer societies declined.
37) NO
- Keywords: warlike traits advantageous
- Location: Paragraph 7 (end)
- Locator: “Individuals who behaved selfishly and ruthlessly would be less likely to survive.”
- Explanation: Such traits were a disadvantage → NO
38) YES
- Keywords: peaceful, cooperative natural
- Location: Paragraph 8 (opening)
- Locator: “cooperation, egalitarianism, altruism and peacefulness … innate characteristics.”
- Explanation: Peace and cooperation are natural → YES
39) NOT GIVEN
- No comparison of modern cultures provided. → NOT GIVEN
40) NO
- Keywords: animal research, environment, aggression
- Location: Paragraph 9 (mid)
- Locator: “Research has shown … when habitats of primates are disrupted, they become more violent.”
- Explanation: The link was found, so statement contradicts the text → NO
Practice & Further Resources
You’ve finished Cambridge 19 Reading Test 4 Passage 3 – The Unselfish Gene!
Now continue learning with:
Tips for Success
- Always distinguish between beliefs, evidence, and writer’s opinion.
- Anthropology passages test logical reasoning – follow chronology closely.
- Watch for phrases like “so presumably,” “it makes more sense” – they reveal the author’s view.
- Practise identifying tone: supportive, critical, or neutral.
New Vocabulary
Egalitarianism – belief in equal rights and status. (Hunter-gatherers lived in egalitarian communities.)
Domineering – behaving in an overbearing way. (Domineering individuals were ostracised.)
Autonomy – independence or freedom of choice. (Women had autonomy in work and marriage.)
Altruism – selfless concern for others. (Altruism was essential for group survival.)
Patriarchy – male-dominated social system. (Patriarchy developed with agriculture.)
Ostracise – exclude from a group. (A selfish hunter might be ostracised by his tribe.)
Explore more in 👉 IELTS Vocabulary in Context.
FAQ
Q1. What is the main argument of the passage?
That humans were originally cooperative and that selfishness developed later with social change.
Q2. How does the writer use anthropological evidence?
He uses modern hunter-gatherer societies to illustrate how our ancestors lived peacefully.
Q3. What event changed human psychology according to the writer?
The shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture and settlement.
Q4. What traits does the writer consider innate to humans?
Cooperation, altruism, peacefulness and egalitarianism.
External References
For official IELTS guidance and materials, visit the British Council, IDP IELTS, and IELTS.org. To improve your academic reading and test strategy, explore expert-led IELTS Preparation Courses on Course Line, designed to build skills across Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
Final Thoughts
The Cambridge 19 Reading Test 4 Passage 3 – The Unselfish Gene shows that cooperation, not competition, shaped human evolution. Understanding how evidence supports a central argument is crucial for IELTS Reading success. Use this passage to practise identifying author opinions and distinguishing evidence from assumption.
Ready to move forward? Continue your journey with the next test in the Cambridge series
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