Passage Summary: A biologist argues that because genetic variety helps a group but doesn't help the individual, the reason we see so much sexual reproduction is that nature picks winning species rather than winning individuals.

Conclusion: The prevalence of sexual reproduction in plants and animals is solely due to natural selection favoring entire species over others.

Reasoning: While sexual reproduction increases genetic variation and benefits a species, this variation provides no benefit to individual members of that species.

Analysis: This is a Role in the Argument question, so we need to focus on the blueprint of the biologist's logic. The statement in question acts as a premise that eliminates a competing explanation—specifically, the idea that sexual reproduction evolved because it helped individuals. By dismissing the individual benefit, the biologist clears the path to conclude that the benefit must exist at the species level. Notice how the word 'however' signals a transition into this supporting evidence.