Humans often tell a flattering story about themselves: that language, tools, and culture place us outside the rest of nature. That story feels natural because we are the ones writing it. Yet many traits once called uniquely human appear, in different forms, across other species—communication, planning, social learning, even forms of grief.
Questioning human exceptionalism is not an insult; it is a reading skill. It asks us to separate evidence from pride, and to notice when “we are special” is doing the work of an argument without doing the work of proof.
Multiple choice
1. What does the passage suggest about the story that humans stand apart from nature?
It is proven by all scientists
It may be flattering and incomplete
It is only about tools, not language
It applies only to ancient history
Multiple choice
2. “Questioning human exceptionalism” is described as…
An insult to readers
A reading skill that separates evidence from pride
A way to reject all science
A marketing slogan
Short answer
3. How does the text challenge the assumption that humans stand completely apart from other living beings? Use one detail from the passage.