The passage given below is followed by four alternate summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage.

The dominant hypotheses in modern science believe that language evolved to allow humans to exchange factual information about the physical world. But an alternative view is that language evolved, in modern humans at least, to facilitate social bonding. It increased our ancestors’ chances of survival by enabling them to hunt more successfully or to cooperate more extensively. Language meant that things could be explained and that plans and past experiences could be shared efficiently.

The correct option is: "Most believe that language originated from a need to articulate facts, but others think it emerged from the need to promote social cohesion and cooperation, thus enabling human survival."

Step-by-Step Explanation:

1. Analyze the passage's structure and core arguments:
The passage presents two contrasting viewpoints regarding the evolutionary purpose of human language:
• The Dominant View: Modern science's dominant hypotheses state that language evolved to allow humans to exchange factual information about the physical world (i.e., articulating facts).
• The Alternative View: An alternative perspective suggests that language evolved to facilitate social bonding, cooperation, and survival (i.e., social cohesion and cooperation enabling survival).

2. Evaluate the correct option:
The option "Most believe that language originated from a need to articulate facts, but others think it emerged from the need to promote social cohesion and cooperation, thus enabling human survival" perfectly captures both sides of the debate. It correctly attributes the fact-exchange theory to the majority ("Most believe") and the social bonding/survival theory to the alternative school of thought ("others think"), matching the essence of the passage without adding unsupported assumptions.

3. Why the other options are incorrect:
• Option 1: It states that scholars "now think" language was the outcome of social cohesion, implying a complete paradigm shift. The passage, however, says the fact-based hypothesis is still the "dominant" one, while the social-bonding theory is simply an "alternative view."
• Option 2: It introduces ideas not present in the passage, such as language "continuously evolving to higher forms."
• Option 4: It focuses on experts "challenging the narrow view," which misrepresents the text's neutral presentation of the two hypotheses and omits the key element of human survival.