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nightblade354
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Schools: Darden '25 (M)
Expert reply
14 Jan 2020, 10:11
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B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
75%
(hard)
Question Stats:
63% (03:03) correct
37%
(02:53)
wrong
based on 312
sessions
History
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Not Attempted Yet
In Peru, ancient disturbances in the dark surface material of a desert show up as light-colored lines that are the width of a footpath and stretch for long distances. One group of lines branching out like rays from a single point crosses over curved lines that form a very large bird figure. Interpreting the lines in the desert as landing strips for spaceship-traveling aliens, an investigator argues that they could hardly have been Inca roads, asking, “What use to the Inca would have been closely spaced roads that ran parallel? That intersected in a sunburst pattern? That came abruptly to an end in the middle of an uninhabited plain.”
For someone who interprets the lines as referring to astronomical phenomena, which one of the following, if true, most effectively counters an objection that the crossing of the straight-line pattern over the bird figure shows that the two kinds of line pattern served unrelated purposes?
(A) In areas that were inhabited by ancient native North American peoples, arrangements of stones have been found that make places where sunlight falls precisely on the spring solstice, an astronomically determined date
(B) The straight lines are consistent with sight lines to points on the horizon where particular astronomical events could have been observed at certain plausible dates, and the figure could represent a constellation
(C) The straight-line pattern is part of a large connected complex of patterns of straight-line rays connecting certain points with one another
(D) Native Central American cultures, such as that of the Maya, left behind elaborate astronomical calendars that were engraved on rocks
(E) There is evidence that the bird figure was made well before the straight-line pattern
For someone who interprets the lines as referring to astronomical phenomena, which one of the following, if true, most effectively counters an objection that the crossing of the straight-line pattern over the bird figure shows that the two kinds of line pattern served unrelated purposes?
(A) In areas that were inhabited by ancient native North American peoples, arrangements of stones have been found that make places where sunlight falls precisely on the spring solstice, an astronomically determined date
(B) The straight lines are consistent with sight lines to points on the horizon where particular astronomical events could have been observed at certain plausible dates, and the figure could represent a constellation
(C) The straight-line pattern is part of a large connected complex of patterns of straight-line rays connecting certain points with one another
(D) Native Central American cultures, such as that of the Maya, left behind elaborate astronomical calendars that were engraved on rocks
(E) There is evidence that the bird figure was made well before the straight-line pattern
16 Jan 2020, 05:39
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nightblade354
We are looking for a statement that counters an objection that the straight-line pattern and the bird figure serve an unrelated purpose. Thus supports the view that the line pattern and the bird are related referring to an astronomical phenomenon.
(A) In areas that were inhabited by ancient native North American peoples, arrangements of stones have been found that make places where sunlight falls precisely on the spring solstice, an astronomically determined date
Astronomical phenomenon yes, but does not support that the two line patterns are related
(B) The straight lines are consistent with sight lines to points on the horizon where particular astronomical events could have been observed at certain plausible dates, and the figure could represent a constellation
Astronomical phenomenon yes and moreover, the line patterns and the bird are related representing some kind of a constellation
(C) The straight-line pattern is part of a large connected complex of patterns of straight-line rays connecting certain points with one another
Astronomical phenomenon? No! But the line patterns might be related
(D) Native Central American cultures, such as that of the Maya, left behind elaborate astronomical calendars that were engraved on rocks
Astronomical phenomenon yes, but does not support that the two line patterns are related
(E) There is evidence that the bird figure was made well before the straight-line pattern
This would contradict that the line patterns are related and has nothing to do with an astronomical phenomenon
IMO: B
sharathnair14
Joined: 05 May 2019
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Schools: LBS '25 ISB '25 Manchester'26 Stern '26 Tuck '26 INSEAD Aug'24 intake Yale '26 Kellogg '26 Wharton '26
Posts: 162
28 Jan 2020, 07:13
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Sheesh. A V51 kind of Question?
Great for practice.
The Key lies in the Question Stem.
As an Astronomer, what would you say about this is an Astronomical phenomenon?
Or what can you do to weaken the claim that the crossing of the lines over the bird figure is a coincidence?
Also the argument, by presenting the view of the investigator, and his/her reason for it, is meant to confuse you a little bit. However, the investigator's reasoning is flawed by making a claim and asking a few questions, based on observations, that are not associated with that claim.
There's Plenty in this Question - A person trying to analyze this under 2 minutes will have a tough time.
However, the wrong choices are easier to eliminate.
Great for practice.
The Key lies in the Question Stem.
As an Astronomer, what would you say about this is an Astronomical phenomenon?
Or what can you do to weaken the claim that the crossing of the lines over the bird figure is a coincidence?
Also the argument, by presenting the view of the investigator, and his/her reason for it, is meant to confuse you a little bit. However, the investigator's reasoning is flawed by making a claim and asking a few questions, based on observations, that are not associated with that claim.
There's Plenty in this Question - A person trying to analyze this under 2 minutes will have a tough time.
However, the wrong choices are easier to eliminate.
