The Best-Known Method of Classifying Living Things, Linnaean taxonomy GMAT Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage Question

The best-known method of classifying living things, Linnaean taxonomy, denotes species using a hierarchical structure, starting at the general level of kingdom, then phyla, order, family, genus, and, finally, species. Remarkably, Linnaeus’s system has proven robust, despite the fact that he devised it in the mid-1700s, long before Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution drastically altered our understanding of the natural world. That doesn’t mean, however, that Linnaean taxonomy has gone unchanged in the subsequent 250 years. Most oddly, Linnaeus began with three kingdoms, one each for plants, animals, and minerals. Not only has the mineral grouping been eliminated, but several new kingdoms—for bacteria, protozoans, and fungi— have been added. More seriously, the taxonomy has required vast numbers of additional levels of classification, especially in species-rich fields such as entomology. Even in zoology, the categories of “subspecies” and “morph” further delineate subgroups of individual species, and cladistics— the classification of species based on evolutionary ancestry— has brought about a parallel hierarchy that sometimes, but certainly not always, overlaps with the traditional Linnaean divisions. As scientists in these fields understand finer-grained distinctions between groups of living things, this 250-year-old methodology is likely to be stretched even further.

“The Best-Known Method of Classifying Living Things, Linnaean taxonomy” is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates must have a solid grip in English GMAT reading comprehension. There are 5 multiple choice questions in the above GMAT Reading Comprehension passages. GMAT Reading Comprehension Questions are delineated to evaluate candidates’ abilities to analyze and be conceptual for the answers. Candidates can brace up and take preparation by answering GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation:

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) describe a scientific model and the ways it has accommodated advances in its field
(B) discuss ways of updating a classification structure that has remained in use for too long
(C) explain the process by which a taxonomy is expanded to re‡ect new scientific discoveries
(D) detail the adjustments made to a traditional hierarchy
(E) report the current state of a taxonomy commonly used in the fields of entomology and zoology

2. According to the passage, cladistics differs from Linnaean taxonomy in that cladistics

(A) allows for more subtle distinctions between categories of beings
(B) rarely classifies species in the same hierarchies that Linnaean taxonomy does
(C) does not distinguish between the levels of “subspecies” and “morph”
(D) includes several new kingdoms classifying life that Linnaeus was not aware of
(E) represents hierarchies based on evolutionary relationships

3. It can be inferred that the author describes Linnaean taxonomy as “robust” in order to emphasize which of the following?

(A) The number of levels Linnaeus included in his initial classification system
(B) The mistake Linnaeus made in considering minerals one of his three kingdoms
(C) The difference in scientific understanding of species relationships before and after the discovery of the theory of evolution
(D) The small number of scientific claims made in the mid-1700s that are still in use today
(E) The many ways in which the classification system has had to be altered to accommodate scientific discoveries in the 250 years since

4. The passage suggests which of the following about entomology?

(A) Since the Linnaean kingdoms do not include “insect life,” entomologists must classify species using a parallel system.
(B) It caused the addition of the category of “subspecies” to the Linnaean system.
(C) 250 years ago, it was not even considered by Linnaeus when he devised his initial taxonomy.
(D) It is a field that is better understood by relying on cladistics-based taxonomies.
(E) The demands of classifying living beings within the field have placed particular stress on the Linnaean system.

5. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

(A) A method is described, challenges to that method are detailed, and an alternative is offered.
(B) Competing methods are presented, and challenges are offered that suggest the need for a third method.
(C) A traditional approach is described, supported with specific evidence, and then reaffirmed.
(D) Evidence is offered to support the position that a centuries-old method ought to be replaced.
(E) After alternative approaches are described, a reconciliation is attempted but not successful.

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