All correct in 10 mins, including 4 mins 45 seconds to read.
Para 1- John Lowe attempts to solve the mystery of the collapse of the Classic Mayan civilization; chronology
Para 2- plausible explanation- population growth within the elite lead to series of events
Para 3- A potential flaw- how accurately the archaeological record reflects historic activity
1. Which one of the following best describes the organization of the passage?(D) The basis of a study is described, a theory that explains the available evidence is presented, and a possible flaw in the study is pointed out.- Correct, John Lowe's The Dynamics of Apocalypse is described and evidence used is presented and a possible flaw is listed
2. Which one of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?(E) While John Lowe's theory about the collapse of Classic Mayan civilization appears credible, it is based on an assumption that cannot be verified using the archaeological record.- Correct
If there is a central flaw in Lowe's explanation, it is that the entire edifice rests on the assumption that the available evidence paints a true picture of how the collapse proceeded. However, it is difficult to know how accurately the archaeological record reflects historic activity, especially of a complex civilization such as the Mayans, and a hypothesis can be tested only against the best available data.
3. Which one of the following is most closely analogous to the assumption Lowe makes about the relationship between monument construction and Classic Mayan cities?(E) A person assumes a friend has sold her stamp collection because the friend has stopped purchasing new stamps.- Correct, the logic here analogous to underlined logic below-
Using the erection of new monuments as a means to determine a site's occupation span, Lowe assumes that
once new monuments ceased to be built, a site had been abandoned.4. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would describe the method Lowe used to construct a step-by step chronology of the actual collapse of Classic Mayan civilization as(A) daringly innovative but flawed- incorrect, Like previous investigators, Lowe relies on dated monuments to construct a step-by-step account of the actual collapse. - So, it does not seem daringly innovative and the author did not say for certain that the model was flawed
(B) generally accepted but questionable- Correct, the author agrees with the model but lists a potential flaw
(C) very reliable but outdated- incorrect, the author never states that it is very reliable but is now outdated
(D) unscientific but effective- incorrect
(E) unconventional but brilliant- incorrect, nothing to suggest that it is unconventional
5. The author of the passage would most likely agree with which one of the following statements about the use of the archaeological record to reconstruct historic activity?(E) Historic activity can be reconstructed from archaeological evidence, but it is ultimately impossible to confirm the accuracy of the reconstruction.
However, it is difficult to know how accurately the archaeological record reflects historic activity, especially of a complex civilization such as the Mayans, and a hypothesis can be tested only against the best available data. It is quite possible that our understanding of the collapse might be radically altered by better data.
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