gmatFalcon wrote:
Divers have discovered the wreckage of an unidentified ship about thirty miles from the shore near Boston. Scholars believe that the ship sank during a devastating hurricane that swept through the northeastern United States and down the coast in 1872, but there are no records of the ship available to confirm this hypothesis.
The scholars’ hypothesis is most strongly supported by which of the following, if true?
A. Among the cargo found on board the wreckage of the ship were several trunks of woodworking tools of a kind that were popular from about 1850 to 1890.
B. Among the munitions discovered on board the wreckage were several trunks of guns of varieties that were popular in the late 1860s; no munitions manufactured subsequent to 1870 were discovered.
C. It is widely accepted that Hurricane Bridie caused significant damage in the northeastern United States in 1872.
D. Ceramics and pottery glazed in a style that was popular during the latter half of the 19th century were found among the wreckage of the ship, along with assorted items of cutlery.
E. Divers found clay pipes in the cargo hold that were of a kind sold in tobacco shops in the early 1900s.
The answer is B.Logically, what will most significantly strengthen the hypothesis that the ship sank due to the 1872 hurricane is something tying it to that storm or that year. Tying it to that year could mean proving that it definitely wasn't active
after the hurricane - which is exactly what (B) does.
Another way to solve is USING THE ANSWERS and weighing the affect of each one on the hypothesis:
A. Among the cargo found on board the wreckage of the ship were several trunks of woodworking tools of a kind that were popular from about 1850 to 1890.
This means it's possible that it sank in 1872, but doesn't strengthen it much - it could still have sunk after B. Among the munitions discovered on board the wreckage were several trunks of guns of varieties that were popular in the late 1860s; no munitions manufactured subsequent to 1870 were discovered.
This narrows it down, making more likely the possibility that the ship did not sail after 1872 - strengthens!C. It is widely accepted that Hurricane Bridie caused significant damage in the northeastern United States in 1872.
WE already knew thatD. Ceramics and pottery glazed in a style that was popular during the latter half of the 19th century were found among the wreckage of the ship, along with assorted items of cutlery.
This is just like A - this means sinking in 1872 is possible, but still only one option out of many E. Divers found clay pipes in the cargo hold that were of a kind sold in tobacco shops in the early 1900s.
This means it's impossible it sank in 1872 -
greatly weakens