An archaeological team has been excavating three ancient village sites

Official Explanation

Question #1
Assume that any increase of 5% or more from one century to the next in the amount of a given food consumed by Barras residents is due primarily to a corresponding increase in imports of that food into Barras from other villages. Given this assumption and the information provided, for each of the following, select Yes if it describes a food likely imported by Barras during times of increased food consumption. Otherwise select No.

The passage on the Village Sites tab says Agna was not established until around AD 800. Therefore, Barras could not have imported meat from Agna in the AD 600s.

The correct answer is No.

The table on the Food Consumption tab shows that per-capita amount of meat consumed in Barras more than doubled from 70 pounds per 4-person family in the AD 800s to 172 pounds per 4-person family in the AD 900s. The passage on the Village Sites tab suggests that Agna and Cussaia were likely the only villages trading with Barras. It also says that Agna traded meat to Barras and suggests that Cussaia probably did not. Therefore, given the assumption that any increase of 5% or more in the amount of a given food consumed by Barras's residents was primarily the result of a corresponding increase in imports of that food into Barras from other villages, Barras probably imported meat from Agna during the AD 900s.

The correct answer is Yes.

The table on the Food Variety tab shows that the amount of grain consumed per capita as a percent of the total amount of food consumed per-capita in Barras increased from 10% in the AD 600s to 15% in the AD 700s. To determine whether this percent increase corresponds to an increase of 5% or more in the amount of grain consumed, we can use the information provided about seafood consumed per capita. The table on the Food Variety tab shows that seafood constituted 65% of the total amount of food consumed per capita in Barras for both the AD 600s and the AD 700s. The Food Consumption tab shows that the amount of seafood consumed per capita increased from 60 pounds (240/4) in the AD 600s to 62.5 pounds (250/4) in the AD 700s. Therefore, the total amount of food consumed per capita in Barras was 60/0.65 (approximately 92) pounds in the AD 600s and 62.5/0.65 (approximately 96) pounds in the AD 700s, and so the approximate amount of grain consumed per capita in Barras was (0.10)(92) = 9.2 pounds in the AD 600s and (0.15)(96) = 14.4 pounds in the AD 700s, for an increase of approximately 14.4 − 9.2 = 5.2 pounds; an increase of greater than 50%.

The preceding shows that the period from the AD 600s through the AD 700s was indeed a time of increased food consumption (particularly with respect to grain), and the passage on the Village Sites tab indicates that Agna and Cussaia were likely the only villages trading with Barras. Agna did not exist until around AD 800, but Cussaia predated Agna and depended heavily on raising grain crops, which it could have exported to Barras. Given the assumption that any increase of 5% or more in the amount of a given food consumed by Barras's residents was primarily the result of a corresponding increase in imports of that food into Barras from other villages—Barras likely imported grain from Cussaia during the AD 700s.

The correct answer is Yes.

Question #2
For each of the following, select Yes if the statement is separately supported by the passage and separately supported by each of the two tables. Otherwise select No.

Although the passage on the Village Sites tab says that Barras's population increased from the AD 600s to the AD 1200s, and the tables on the Food Variety and Food Consumption tabs both imply that Barras was inhabited throughout this period, neither table alone says or implies anything about whether Barras's population increased or decreased.

The correct answer is No.

The passage says that Agna grew no grain, but the table on the Food Variety tab does not mention Agna at all, and the table on the Food Consumption tab does not mention grain at all.

The correct answer is No.

The passage on the Village Sites tab supports the statement that Cussaia traded directly only with Barras, but neither table mentions Cussaia at all.

The correct answer is No.