KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE
Since this asks you to identify the role played by a statement in boldface, it’s a Bolded Statement question.

STEP 2: UNTANGLE THE STIMULUS
The stimulus opens with a claim that spices were often used to cover up spoiled meat; note that the historian does not claim this view as her own. Instead, she states that it should be evaluated in light of the conditions of the time. The bolded statement then provides data that relates to the exorbitant price of ginger in Ancient Rome. Based on that evidence, the historian then presents her own conclusion: that it would not make sense to use such an expensive spice, since anyone who could afford it would just buy unspoiled meat.

STEP 3: PREDICT THE ANSWER
Since the bolded statement is historical data, it’s evidence. However, since there are two claims in this stimulus, you need to predict which claim the evidence supports. In this case, it’s the historian’s claim.

STEP 4: EVALUATE THE CHOICES
(B) states that the statement is evidence for the historian’s conclusion, so it’s correct. (A) correctly states that the bolded statement supports a claim, but for the wrong conclusion. (C) mischaracterizes the statement as the historian’s conclusion rather than evidence. Similarly, (D) incorrectly states that it’s the claim that the historian is trying to refute; the refuted claim appears in the first sentence of the stimulus. (E) claims that the historian questions the accuracy of the data in the bolded statement; however, since it’s evidence to support her own conclusion, her argument rests on the veracity of the evidence.
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IMO B

EXPLINATION:

The easiest way to tackle a boldface question is to first read the boldface and see if it is a fact or an opinion.
We see that the boldface statement is fact, now let's eliminate the options on the basis of this.

We eliminate options C and D as they say that the boldface statement is a conclusion and a claim respectively. A fact cannot be a conclusion or a claim.

We are now left with options A,B and E

When we read the argument we see that the boldface is actually used as a fact to REFUTE an opinion/claim made in the begining. The boldface also SUPPORTS the conclusion.

A) This option says that it supports the claim, whereas the argument actually refutes it, thus this is a WRONG option.

B) This option says that the boldface statement supports the conclusion, which is true, thus this is the CORRECT option.

E) This option saysbthat the accuracy of the boldface statement is questioned. As we saw above, the boldface statement is a fact, it's accuracy cannot be questioned. Plus, we don't see the author questioning the accuracy of the boldface statement, thus, this option is WROG.

CORRECT ANSWER: OPTION B

Posted from my mobile device

imo B

Historian: It is often claimed that in many ancient societies, spices were used to disguise the taste of spoiled meat. This claim should, however, be evaluated in its full economic context. In the early days of the Roman Empire, a pound of ginger could cost as much as 5,000 times the average daily wage. Surely, anyone who could afford such a luxury would simply buy fresh meat rather than attempting to hide unpleasant flavors in rotten meat.

In the above argument, the statement in boldface plays which of the following roles?




(A) It is data in support of a claim that the historian is attempting to refute.
--The BF is supporting historian’s conclusion.


(B) It is evidence that supports the historian’s conclusion.
-- Correct

(C) It is the conclusion of the historian’s argument.
It is not a conclusion
(D) It is a claim that the historian is attempting to refute.
It is not a claim

(E) It is data whose accuracy the historian questions.
-- Wrong.. As The BF is supporting historian’s conclusion.

Historian: It is often claimed that in many ancient societies, spices were used to disguise the taste of spoiled meat. This claim should, however, be evaluated in its full economic context. In the early days of the Roman Empire, a pound of ginger could cost as much as 5,000 times the average daily wage. Surely, anyone who could afford such a luxury would simply buy fresh meat rather than attempting to hide unpleasant flavors in rotten meat.

In the above argument, the statement in boldface plays which of the following roles?


(A) It is data in support of a claim that the historian is attempting to refute. Incorrect

historians against the claim, data not support the claim

(B) It is evidence that supports the historian’s conclusion. Correct

(C) It is the conclusion of the historian’s argument. Incorrect

boldface is an evidence

(D) It is a claim that the historian is attempting to refute. Incorrect

boldface is an evidence

(E) It is data whose accuracy the historian questions. Incorrect

historians question about the claim

Historian: (1)It is often claimed that in many ancient societies, spices were used to disguise the taste of spoiled meat. This claim should, however, be evaluated in its full economic context. (2)In the early days of the Roman Empire, a pound of ginger could cost as much as 5,000 times the average daily wage. (3)Surely, anyone who could afford such a luxury would simply buy fresh meat rather than attempting to hide unpleasant flavors in rotten meat.

So, the three statements are said by the historian.
The 1st statement mentions a generally accepted claim.
The 2nd statement presents a piece if evidence or some data.
The 3rd Statement makes another claim refuting the claim in the 1st Statement.

Role of 2nd Statement : It supports the 3rd statement. The 2nd statement supports the claim that the historian is making in order to refute the generally accepted claim in the 1st Statement.

Notice that the historian is attempting to refute the 'generally-accepted' claim in the 1st statement. He is doing that using the 3rd statement. AND, the 2nd statement is helping him do that. So, the 2nd statement is merely supporting the 3rd statement and it is this 3rd statement that is attempting to refuting the claim in the first statement.

In the above argument, the statement in boldface plays which of the following roles?


(A) It is data in support of a claim that the historian is attempting to refute.
This option says that the 2nd Statement SUPPORTS the claim in the FIRST STATEMENT(as it is the first statement that the historian is attempting to refute). This is Incorrect.

(B) It is evidence that supports the historian’s conclusion.
The 3rd Statement could certainly be seen as the historian's conclusion and the 2nd Statement does support it, so, this Choice is Correct.

(C) It is the conclusion of the historian’s argument.
The 2nd statement presents date/evidence and hence, it CANNOT be the conclusion. This Choice is Incorrect.

(D) It is a claim that the historian is attempting to refute.
The 2nd Statement isn't a claim at all. It's data/evidence. The historian is attempting to refute the claim in the first statement. Besides, Facts/Data/Evidence cannot be refuted, only their interpretation can. This Choice is also Incorrect.

(E) It is data whose accuracy the historian questions.
Firstly, the historian questioning the accuracy of a statement cannot be seen as a historian refuting the statement. Secondly, the historian is only attempting to refute the claim in the first statement, so, this choice is also Incorrect.

Hope it Helps!

We can very well use tone based elimination here. After reading through the passage, before reading the options, try to figure the role played by the BF statement in your head.
1. Is it +vely supporting
2. Is it -vely supporting

This way, it will be very easy to eliminate the options based on the opposite tone.
Now, eliminate (D) and (E) as it is clear that the BF is playing a positive role in the overall argument.

Now coming to the remaining options :
(A) It is data in support of a claim that the historian is attempting to refute.
Historian is not trying to refute the claim. He is just trying to bring around a fresh perspective in terms of full economic context.

(B) It is evidence that supports the historian’s conclusion.
Correct.

(C) It is the conclusion of the historian’s argument.
Wrong - this is not the conclusion. The BF statement is trying to support something.

Answer: B



We need to see what the boldface statement is representing.

Situation: Historian to evaluate the claim that spices were used to disguise the taste of spoiled meat. He presents data(boldface) that ginger could cost as much as 5000 times the average wage and anyone having that kind of money would prefer to buy fresh meat instead.

We just need to figure out what role boldface is playing, we don't need to evaluate the content of argument.

Boldface is presenting data or evidence to support the historian's claim.


Historian is refuting -that spices were disguise. But boldface is not in support of that. It is instead supporting historian's claim.
Eliminate A


Seems right on. Boldface is indeed supporting historian's claim.
Keep B.


Boldface is merely data not a conclusion.
Eliminate C


Boldface is not really a claim.
Eliminate D


accuracy of data is not in question. We are questioning if spics were used as disguise.
Eliminate E

(A) It is data in support of a claim that the historian is attempting to refute. Not our answer (The Bold face Statement is the evidence the historian uses to support his conclusion not some data that he is using to support a claim to refute the argument.)

(B) It is evidence that supports the historian’s conclusion. This is our answer (The historian uses the bold face statement to support his claim.)

(C) It is the conclusion of the historian’s argument. Not our answer (The Bold face Statement is not the conclusion of the argument.)

(D) It is a claim that the historian is attempting to refute. Not our answer (The Bold face Statement is the evidence the historian uses to support his conclusion not a claim that he is trying to refute.)

(E) It is data whose accuracy the historian questions. Not our answer (The Bold face Statement is the evidence the historian uses to support his conclusion not a claim whose accuracy he is doubting.)

The OA is B.

BF1: In the early days of the Roman Empire, a pound of ginger could cost as much as 5,000 times the average daily wage.

Pre-thinking: It is an evidence supporting the conclusion.

In the above argument, the statement in boldface plays which of the following roles?

(A) It is data in support of a claim that the historian is attempting to refute. -> No refute, It is a support. Incorrect.

(B) It is evidence that supports the historian’s conclusion. -> It makes sense. Let's keep it.

(C) It is the conclusion of the historian’s argument. -> It is not the conclusion, rather a support to the conclusion.

(D) It is a claim that the historian is attempting to refute. -> Same as A.

(E) It is data whose accuracy the historian questions. -> Same as A.

So, I think B.

Spices used to hide taste of spoiled meat

Ginger was 5000 times expensive

so instead of spending on it, they can buy fresh meat

so the bold face supports the conclusion

(B) imo
_________________

First we'll read through the argument to get a broad idea, "Contrary to popular belief spices weren't used by everyone, just the wealthy."

Next we'll identify the conclusion "anyone who could afford such a luxury would simply buy fresh meat...", now we'll look back at the sentence. It clearly is adding data to support the conclusion, so it's the evidence.

C, and D can be eliminated since they don't call out the phrase for being data/evidence.

A is partial right, except the historian is not refuting the premise but supporting the conclusion in the phrase.

E is incorrect since the data is not being questioned at all.

B remains and is the most accurate in identifying the phrase's purpose.