Answer:
(A) Downplays earlier attempts to explain the origins of a social prohibition.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the given passage, the author presents a hypothesis concerning the various taboos regarding eating in front of someone who isn't. And in this hypothesis, the main emphasis was the limited nature of the food available for people.
The passage also reveals the author's belief that the attempts to explain in the past years regarding the taboos of eating are incomplete. If we are to consider the passage as valid, then we can safely assume that this taboo is mainly around where people have plenty, sometimes more than enough, to eat. And in developing the main idea of the passage, the author seems to downplay previous/ earlier attempts to provide any explanation of the origins of a social prohibition.
Thus, the correct answer is option A.