Re: Historian: Greatly improved economic performance was probably among
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06 Feb 2024, 15:10
Explanation
Historian: Greatly improved economic performance was probably among the first effects of the invention of writing in early civilization. Writing permitted records of trades, debts, and contracts. This would have encouraged people to engage in economic transactions more readily, since, __________.
We see that this passage has a main conclusion and an intermediate conclusion.
The main conclusion is the following:
Greatly improved economic performance was probably among the first effects of the invention of writing in early civilization.
The intermediate conclusion is a conclusion that supports the main conclusion. The intermediate conclusion is the following:
This (Writing permitted records of trades, debts, and contracts.) would have encouraged people to engage in economic transactions more readily
Then, after the intermediate conclusion, we see "since __________."
Which of the following, if true, most logically completes the historian’s argument?
"Since" is an evidence marker. Accordingly, the choice that fills the blank will be support for the intermediate conclusion, which immediately precedes "since."
A. written records would have facilitated governmental taxation of such transactions
The fact that written records would have facilitated taxation would not mean that written records would have "encouraged people to engage in economic transactions."
On the contrary, it may have served to discourage people from engaging in transactions by making them more onerous.
Eliminate.
B. many early civilizations experienced improved economies when they first began to use writing
The fact that "many early civilizations experienced improved economies when they first began to use writing" would not have been a reason why writing permitting records of trades, debts, and contracts would have encouraged people to engage in economic transactions.
Rather it would have been a result of people being encouraged to engage in economic transactions.
Eliminate.
C. such records would have made it more difficult for either party to cheat the other
The fact that written record would have made it more difficult for either party to cheat the other is a reason why writing permitting records of trades, debts, and contracts would have encouraged people to engage in economic transactions.
After all, if people were less worried about being cheated, they would have been more easliy encouraged to transact.
So, this choice logically supports the intermediate conclusion.
Keep.
D. trades, debts, and contracts had previously been undertaken without written records
This fact would not be a reason why writing permitting records of trades, debts, and contracts would have encouraged people to engage in economic transactions.
After all, the fact that they had already been transacting without written records would not be a reason why the use of written records would encourage them to transact.
If anything, the fact that they had already been transacting would be a reason why the ability to have written records would not have made much difference.
Eliminate.
E. in many early civilizations, some of the earliest known writing consisted of records of such transactions
This choice is in line with what the passage says. After all, if as the passage says, "greatly improved economic performance was probably among the first effects of the invention of writing," then it makes sense that, "in many early civilizations, some of the earliest known writing consisted of records of such transactions."
At the same time, this choice doesn't do what we need.
We need support for the intermediate conclusion "This (Writing permitted records of trades, debts, and contracts.) would have encouraged people to engage in economic transactions more readily," and the fact that some of the earliest know writing consisted of records of economic transactions doesn't mean that writing permitting records of trades, debts, and contracts would have encouraged people to transact.
Correct answer: C