Connections between events described in the folk tales that formed the

Question

Connections between events described in the folk tales that formed the foundation for the biblical story of Noah's Ark and the actual events that occurred due to the collapse of the Laurentide Ice Sheet 8,000 years ago have led scientists to investigate the effects of rising sea levels in the Fertile Crescent at that time. Researchers constructed models of the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea shorelines before the ice sheet collapsed and after, when sea levels rose. The researchers estimated that the flood could have displaced nearly 145,000 people, and that this displacement may have had societal effects. The agrarian peoples on the coasts moved farther inland and likely shared their farming practices with the hunter-gatherer communities in those areas. In fact, this migration may have been a major factor in the sudden expansion of farming—an event long thought significant by historians, who traditionally use the rapid adoption of agriculture in this area to mark the end of the Mesolithic era and the beginning of the Neolithic era. According to the researchers, these findings clearly demonstrate that sea level shifts have the potential to affect massive social change far from the coastline.    1 
 1. The author’s primary purpose in this passage is to

A. prove that events that relate to the story of Noah’s Ark actually occurred
B. connect the collapse of the Laurentide Ice Sheet to the agricultural development of the Fertile Crescent
C. relate the findings of scientists who believe that changes in sea levels can precipitate major societal change
D. describe events that could occur if climate change causes sea levels to rise in the future
E. show that social changes generally occur due to natural events that cause massive displacement

2 
 2. According to the passage, which of the following was likely a direct result of the rising sea levels caused by the collapse of the Laurentide Ice Sheet?

A. Hunter-gatherer communities were displaced by farming communities from the coast.
B. The Mesolithic era ended, and the Neolithic era began.
C. Thousands of displaced people shared maritime farming methods with inland farmers.
D. Coastal communities were decimated, and displaced farmers had to find new places to live.
E. Witnesses who observed the rising sea levels created new folk tales describing a large flood.

RC Butler 2023  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 287 Date: 21 Aug-2023
 This question is part of RC Butler 2023 .  Click here for Details

pudu · Answer

1. in the conclusion it is said that sea level shifts have the potential to affect massive social change far from the coastline.Answer which contain this idea is the correct answer. Option C (relate the findings of scientists who believe that changes in sea levels can precipitate major societal change) contain this. Hence C.

2. D because in the passage it is said Coastal farmers shifted to farther inalnd and taught their farming practices to the the local communities .

2. D because in the passage it is said Coastal farmers shifted to farther inalnd and taught their farming practices to the the local communities .

SH160703 · Answer

decimated word means destroy or kill large part of group ...... we dnt get any information regarding decimation of shoreline communities except displacement

siripirii · Answer

Why not option B? for 1st question? i am confused between b and c

PriyanshuR · Answer

For question 2, I thought the answer was B, because "rapid adoption of agriculture in this area to mark the end of the Mesolithic era and the beginning of the Neolithic era."
also option D starts with "Coastal communities were  decimated ", delimitation is not really mentioned any where

egmat · Answer

Great question! You've correctly narrowed it down to the two most tempting choices.  This shows strong comprehension - let me help you see why C is the primary purpose rather than B.

Key Distinction: Primary Purpose vs. Supporting Example
 
Think of the passage structure like this:
 
 Opening: Scientists are investigating sea level effects 
 Middle:  Example  of their research (the Ice Sheet/agriculture connection) 
 Conclusion: What the researchers conclude from their findings  
 
Why Option B Falls Short:  Option B describes  one specific example  that the researchers studied - the Ice Sheet collapse → agricultural development connection. While this takes up significant space in the passage, it's serving as  evidence  for a larger point.

Why Option C is Correct:

Option C captures the  overall framework  of the passage:
 
 The passage is  relating/reporting  (not arguing or proving) 
 It's about  researchers' findings  (note how the passage says "researchers constructed models," "researchers estimated") 
 The  main conclusion  these scientists reach: "these findings clearly demonstrate that sea level shifts have the potential to affect massive social change"  
 
Critical Clue -The Final Sentence:   "According to the researchers, these findings clearly demonstrate that sea level shifts have the potential to affect massive social change far from the coastline."
 
This conclusion sentence reveals the researchers' main point - not just about Ice Sheets and farming, but about  sea level changes causing societal change in general .
 
Quick Test for Primary Purpose:

Ask yourself: "If I had to summarize this passage in one sentence to someone, would I say..."

"It's about how the Ice Sheet collapse led to farming" (too specific - Option B) 
 "It's about research showing sea level changes can cause major social changes" (captures the whole - Option C)  
 
Strategic Tip:  In primary purpose questions, beware of answer choices that accurately describe a  major example or supporting detail  but miss the  broader point  the author is making through that example.

egmat · Answer

Looking at your reasoning, I can see why you're confused between options B and D. Let me help clarify the key distinction you need to make here.

Understanding Direct vs. Indirect Results
 
The question specifically asks for a  direct result  of the rising sea levels. This is crucial for choosing the right answer. Let's trace the causal chain from the passage:

Rising sea levels    (the cause)

145,000 people displaced from coastal areas  (immediate/direct result) 
 Displaced farmers moved inland (direct result) 
 Farmers shared agricultural practices with hunter-gatherers (secondary result) 
 Rapid expansion of farming occurred (tertiary result) 
 Historians mark this as the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition (interpretation of events)  
 
Why Option B is Incorrect:
 
You're right that the passage mentions "rapid adoption of agriculture in this area to mark the end of the Mesolithic era and the beginning of the Neolithic era." However, this is an  indirect  result—it's several steps removed from the rising sea levels. The passage says this migration  "may have been"  a major factor in farming expansion, which historians  then use  to mark the era transition. That's multiple levels of causation away from the flood itself.

Why Option D is Correct: 
Your concern about "decimated" is understandable—the passage doesn't use this exact word. However, in GMAT RC, we need to focus on the  essence  of what happened rather than exact word matching.

Consider:
 
 The passage states 145,000 people were displaced 
 These were coastal communities that had to abandon their homes 
 They were forced to move inland

"Decimated" here means the communities were severely disrupted or destroyed  as communities —not necessarily that people died, but that their way of life in those locations ended. The displaced farmers literally "had to find new places to live" (moved inland), which the passage explicitly states.

Key GMAT Strategy: 
When you see "direct result" or "immediate consequence" in a question, trace the causal chain and pick the answer that's  closest  to the initial cause. Options that are several steps removed in the chain are usually incorrect, even if they're mentioned in the passage.

Quick Check Method:

Ask yourself: "Could this have happened  without  any intermediate steps?" 
For option D, yes—rising waters directly force people to leave. 
For option B, no—you need displacement → migration → farming spread → historical interpretation.

Connections between events described in the folk tales that formed the

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Connections between events described in the folk tales that formed the

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My Rewards