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To solve this question, let us deploy IMS's four-step technique.
STEP #1 -> IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE
Let us read the question stem to identify the question type.
STEP #2 -> X-RAY THE ARGUMENT
In a strengthening question, it is a must to x-ray the argument and deconstruct it. In this question, the hypothesis we are to strengthen itself will be the conclusion while the evidence(s) that provide(s) support to the hypothesis will be the premise(s). Let us therefore read the argument first and deconstruct it soon after.
PREMISES: (i) Its first 80 pages are by a single copyist, but the remaining 20 pages are by three different copyists, which indicates some significant disruption.
(ii) A letter in handwriting identified as that of the fourth copyist mentions a plague that killed many people in Florence in 1148.
STEP #3 -> FRAME A SHADOW ANSWER
To frame a shadow answer, we need to know what the correct answer should do. In this question, the correct answer must be an extra premise that validates the conclusion that Codex Berinensis was probably produced in 1148.
SHADOW ANSWER: Any situation that leads us to believe, after having taken the already stated premises into consideration, that Codex Berinensis was indeed probably produced in 1148.
STEP #4 -> ELIMINATE INCORRECT ANSWERS
Options that do not match the shadow answer can be eliminated.
(A) Other than Codex Berinensis, there are no known samples of the handwriting of the first three copyists. | NOT A MATCH | If there are no known samples of the handwriting of the first three copyists other than Codex Berinensis, we will not be able to support the hypothesis; remember, we are looking for an option that actually gives us a reason to believe that Codex Berinensis was indeed probably produced in 1148. | ELIMINATE
(B) According to the account by the fourth copyist, the plague went on for 10 months. | NOT A MATCH | If the fourth copyist actually indicated that the plague went on for 10 months, we have a reason to believe that Codex Berinensis could as well have been produced AFTER 1148. | ELIMINATE
(C) A scribe would be able to copy a page of text the size and style of Codex Berinensis in a day. | NOT A MATCH | If a scribe would be able to copy a page of text the size and style of Codex Berinensis in a day, why were there 4 different copyists in the first place? This option does not suggest anything about the year of Codex Berinensis's production. | ELIMINATE
(D) There was only one outbreak of plague in Florence in the 1100s. | MATCHES THE SHADOW ANSWER | If there was only one outbreak of plague in Florence in the 1100s and if a letter in handwriting identified as that of the fourth copyist did mention a plague that killed many people in Florence in 1148, we have a reason to believe that the significant disruption that happened while Codex Berinensis was being worked on was more likely than not on account of the plague. Also, let us not forget that the fourth copyist apparently worked on less than 20 pages, meaning he did not have a lot of work to do, and he was also the last copyist, meaning no other copyists worked on Codex Berinensis after the fourth copyist. We now have a pretty good reason to believe that the copy was indeed probably produced in 1148. | KEEP
(E) The number of pages of Codex Berinensis produced by a single scribe becomes smaller with each successive change of copyist. | NOT A MATCH | Even if what is stated in this option happens to be true, we will still not have any reason to believe that Codex Berinensis was probably produced in 1148. | ELIMINATE
Hence, (D) is the correct answer.
STEP #1 -> IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE
Let us read the question stem to identify the question type.
Quote:
The stem indicates a strengthening question.
STEP #2 -> X-RAY THE ARGUMENT
In a strengthening question, it is a must to x-ray the argument and deconstruct it. In this question, the hypothesis we are to strengthen itself will be the conclusion while the evidence(s) that provide(s) support to the hypothesis will be the premise(s). Let us therefore read the argument first and deconstruct it soon after.
Quote:
CONCLUSION: Codex Berinensis, a Florentine copy of an ancient Roman medical treatise, was probably produced in 1148.
PREMISES: (i) Its first 80 pages are by a single copyist, but the remaining 20 pages are by three different copyists, which indicates some significant disruption.
(ii) A letter in handwriting identified as that of the fourth copyist mentions a plague that killed many people in Florence in 1148.
STEP #3 -> FRAME A SHADOW ANSWER
To frame a shadow answer, we need to know what the correct answer should do. In this question, the correct answer must be an extra premise that validates the conclusion that Codex Berinensis was probably produced in 1148.
SHADOW ANSWER: Any situation that leads us to believe, after having taken the already stated premises into consideration, that Codex Berinensis was indeed probably produced in 1148.
STEP #4 -> ELIMINATE INCORRECT ANSWERS
Options that do not match the shadow answer can be eliminated.
(A) Other than Codex Berinensis, there are no known samples of the handwriting of the first three copyists. | NOT A MATCH | If there are no known samples of the handwriting of the first three copyists other than Codex Berinensis, we will not be able to support the hypothesis; remember, we are looking for an option that actually gives us a reason to believe that Codex Berinensis was indeed probably produced in 1148. | ELIMINATE
(B) According to the account by the fourth copyist, the plague went on for 10 months. | NOT A MATCH | If the fourth copyist actually indicated that the plague went on for 10 months, we have a reason to believe that Codex Berinensis could as well have been produced AFTER 1148. | ELIMINATE
(C) A scribe would be able to copy a page of text the size and style of Codex Berinensis in a day. | NOT A MATCH | If a scribe would be able to copy a page of text the size and style of Codex Berinensis in a day, why were there 4 different copyists in the first place? This option does not suggest anything about the year of Codex Berinensis's production. | ELIMINATE
(D) There was only one outbreak of plague in Florence in the 1100s. | MATCHES THE SHADOW ANSWER | If there was only one outbreak of plague in Florence in the 1100s and if a letter in handwriting identified as that of the fourth copyist did mention a plague that killed many people in Florence in 1148, we have a reason to believe that the significant disruption that happened while Codex Berinensis was being worked on was more likely than not on account of the plague. Also, let us not forget that the fourth copyist apparently worked on less than 20 pages, meaning he did not have a lot of work to do, and he was also the last copyist, meaning no other copyists worked on Codex Berinensis after the fourth copyist. We now have a pretty good reason to believe that the copy was indeed probably produced in 1148. | KEEP
(E) The number of pages of Codex Berinensis produced by a single scribe becomes smaller with each successive change of copyist. | NOT A MATCH | Even if what is stated in this option happens to be true, we will still not have any reason to believe that Codex Berinensis was probably produced in 1148. | ELIMINATE
Hence, (D) is the correct answer.
16 Sep 2025, 06:46
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I was confused between A and D and went with A. My reasoning was the last written record by the 4th copyist is dated at around 1148 and we know that their were only 4 copyists who completed CB hence we can safely say that yeah this was probably completed in 1148 itself considering the 4th guy was also wiped out in the plague?
And lets say you have only one plague in 1148 thats true, but the letter can be written by the fourth copyist in 1149 who survived the plague and continued working on CB accounting for the fourth plague in his notes as well! Which doesnt really strengthen our 1148 argument
@GMATNinja @KarishmaB
And lets say you have only one plague in 1148 thats true, but the letter can be written by the fourth copyist in 1149 who survived the plague and continued working on CB accounting for the fourth plague in his notes as well! Which doesnt really strengthen our 1148 argument
@GMATNinja @KarishmaB
