Some ancient pottery that was found in Zimbabwe uses a special glaze

Question

Some ancient pottery that was found in Zimbabwe uses a special glaze that is made from a plant not found in the vicinity. For this reason, some experts have expressed skepticism that the pottery actually was made in Zimbabwe. Instead they suggest that the items were made farther north, in Kenya, where the plant grows in abundance. However, one ceramicist believes that the pottery was likely made in Zimbabwe since many other objects in the area show traces of the glaze.

Which of the following, if true, would most support the ceramicist’s belief regarding the pottery?

(A) Thousands of plants are common to both Kenya and Zimbabwe.
(B) Written records from the time the pottery was made refer to its use in Zimbabwe.
(C) At the time the pottery was made, it was possible to make the glaze in Kenya and then transport it to Zimbabwe where it could still be used.
(D) A similar glaze can be made from animals that are common to the area in which the pottery was found in Zimbabwe.
(E) Earlier finds in the area have turned up pottery that is inscribed with the name of the potter, who was known to live and work nearby.

EMPOWER  gmat    CR Question Pack 2

Question 49: Ancient African Pottery

48 Hour Answer & Explanation Window  
 Earn KUDOS!  Have your explanations evaluated to help boost your learning. Post your reasoning why the answer you chose is correct, and why the other 4 options are incorrect within 48 hours of this post.

Scroll Down For Official Explanation

◀ Question 48 
 ▶ Question 50 
 ⏏ CR Library Pack 2 Home

kunalcvrce · Answer

(A) Thousands of plants are common to both Kenya and Zimbabwe.---Irrelevant .This dosent tell anything about glaze 
(B) Written records from the time the pottery was made refer to its use in Zimbabwe. Not Correct-->it dosent tell were it was made.
(C) At the time the pottery was made, it was possible to make the glaze in Kenya and then transport it to Zimbabwe where it could still be used.-->in correct. it weakens
 (D) A similar glaze can be made from animals that are common to the area in which the pottery was found in Zimbabwe.-->Correct 
(E) Earlier finds in the area have turned up pottery that is inscribed with the name of the potter, who was known to live and work nearby-->Irrelevant

Sumi1010 · Answer

Evidence  - The pottery found in Zimbabwe uses a special glaze that is made from a plant not found in the vicinity. Skeptics suggest that the items were made in Kenya, where the plant grows in abundance.
 Conclusion  - The pottery was likely made in Zimbabwe since many other objects in the area show traces of the glaze.

Prethink  - 
The conclusion believes on the specific glaze firmly. To support the conclusion that the pottery was made in Zimbabwe, we must assume that -
-It's not necessary that the glaze and the pottery were made at the same place only. 
- All the other objects along with the pottery were not made somewhere else and were brought to Zimbabwe.

(A) Thousands of plants are common to both Kenya and Zimbabwe.
 Do the thousands of the common plants include the particular plant too that is used to make the glaze? We don't know. 
(B) Written records from the time the pottery was made refer to its  use in Zimbabwe .
 The conclusion is about the location where the pottery was made and not about its use. 
(C) At the time the pottery was made, it was possible to make the glaze in Kenya and then transport it to Zimbabwe where it could still be used.
 If the glaze was imported to Zimbabwe , there is a good chance that the pottery was made in Zimbabwe. This was suspected because of the assumption that glaze and pottery were created at same place.  
(D) A  similar glaze  can be made from animals that are common to the area in which the pottery was found in Zimbabwe.
 The feasibility of making another glaze does not help anything to the argument. The conclusion is based on the glaze that has been found on the pottery and not any similar glaze that can be made  .
(E) Earlier finds in the area have turned up pottery that is inscribed with the name of the potter, who was known to live and work nearby.
 Have the earlier finds a close connection with the one discussed in this argument? We don't know.

IMO  C

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Official Explanation:

Some ancient pottery that was found in Zimbabwe uses a special glaze that is made from a plant not found in the vicinity. For this reason, some experts have expressed skepticism that the pottery actually was made in Zimbabwe. Instead they suggest that the items were made farther north, in Kenya, where the plant grows in abundance. However, one ceramicist believes that the pottery was likely made in Zimbabwe since many other objects in the area show traces of the glaze.
 
 Which of the following, if true, would most support the ceramicist’s belief regarding the pottery? 
 
 (A) Thousands of plants are common to both Kenya and Zimbabwe.
(B) Written records from the time the pottery was made refer to its use in Zimbabwe. 
 (C) At the time the pottery was made, it was possible to make the glaze in Kenya and then transport it to Zimbabwe where it could still be used.
  (D) A similar glaze can be made from animals that are common to the area in which the pottery was found in Zimbabwe.
(E) Earlier finds in the area have turned up pottery that is inscribed with the name of the potter, who was known to live and work nearby.

Question Type:   Strengthen
  Boil It Down:   There is an unsettled argument over whether ancient pottery found in Zimbabwe was actually made there. It was glazed with a plant that isn’t found in Zimbabwe, which is the main reason some experts believe the pottery was made in Kenya, where the plant grows. One ceramicist believes the potter was still made in Zimbabwe because other objects found in the area use that type of glaze too. 
  Goal:    Find the option that would best strengthen this one ceramicist’s argument that the pottery was actually made in Zimbabwe, which contradicts what experts think.

Analysis:  
The question asks for information that would support the ceramicist’s belief regarding the origin of the pottery found in Zimbabwe.

Conclusion:  The pottery was likely made in Zimbabwe despite the absence of the plant that is used to make the glaze.
 Evidence:  Other objects found nearby use the same glaze.
 Assumption:  The pottery could have been made in that part of Zimbabwe even if the plant didn’t grow nearby.
 
If, as choice C states, it was possible to make the glaze elsewhere and then transport it to Zimbabwe for use there, then this supports the idea that the pottery was actually made in Zimbabwe.

(A) Thousands of plants are common to both Kenya and Zimbabwe.
 This is incorrect. This has no direct bearing on the argument.

(B) Written records from the time the pottery was made refer to its use in Zimbabwe.
 This is incorrect. The question is not about the use of the pottery but where it was made.

(C) At the time the pottery was made, it was possible to make the glaze in Kenya and then transport it to Zimbabwe where it could still be used.
 This is the correct choice. This explanation would make the most sense, and it supports the ceramicist’s argument.

(D) A similar glaze can be made from animals that are common to the area in which the pottery was found in Zimbabwe.
 This is incorrect. The question is about one particular glaze, not a similar one.

(E) Earlier finds in the area have turned up pottery that is inscribed with the name of the potter, who was known to live and work nearby.
 This is incorrect. This has no effect on the argument regarding the pottery described in the argument.

Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.

Kapil1650 · Answer

For those who opted for D: Can be made or common to the area ; these words make it difficult to be sure of the glaze used in Zimbawe. 
C makes a definite sense by mentioning that even if the glaze was made in kenya it could still be used in zimbawe!

Posted from my mobile device

VerbalBot · Answer

Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot: 

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

 This post was generated automatically.

Some ancient pottery that was found in Zimbabwe uses a special glaze

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Some ancient pottery that was found in Zimbabwe uses a special glaze

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards