The two construction periods at Aztec, New Mexico as indicated by the

Question

New Project RC Butler 2019  -  Practice 2 RC Passages Everyday   
Passage # 73, Date : 09-MAR-2019
 This post is a part of New Project RC Butler 2019 .  Click here for Details

The two construction periods at Aztec, New Mexico as indicated by the modern tree-ring dating are corroborated nicely by other evidence found by archaeologist Earl H. Morris in the 1920’s that Aztec actually was built by one group of people, abandoned, and then reoccupied at a later date by a slightly different group of people.Throughout all the rooms he dug during his early 20th century excavations, Morris found sterile layers of windblown sand and ruined debris from falling walls and ceilings.In this debris and under the sand, he found Chaco-like pottery and artifacts.In addition there were surprisingly few burial sites.Even today, archeologists have located few Chaco-type burials in Chaco Canyon itself.Whatever the burial customs of the Chaco people may have been, they have eluded archeologists for many decades.The absence of burials of this period at Aztec is a clue that probably a group of Chaco-like people, bearing the distinctive Chaco culture, may actually have moved into the Aztec area.

Granting that the local sandstone was not quite as easily worked as that at Chaco, the large-size rooms, the high ceilings, the banded-veneer masonry walls, the large doorways, and other techniques used were very similar to the architectural techniques of the Chaco area.Overlying the Chaco debris and sterile sand layers, Morris found pottery, household utensils, and burials characteristic of the classic Mesa Verde Period—a period which occurred later than the great Chaco Period.In addition, there were obvious architectural signs of rebuilding and remodeling within the pueblo.Large Chaco-type rooms had been made smaller by wattle-and-daub partition walls, while doorways had been shortened and narrowed more like the ones at Mesa Verde.Thus there were two definite periods of occupation at Aztec, one by a Chaco-like people and one by a Mesa Verde-type people.   1

1. The author of the passage likely mentions both Morris and the tree-ring dates in order to
A. Explain how both natural and man-made evidence contributes to debunking a myth about a particular site.
B. Describe how the later remodeling of Aztec was in the Mesa Verde-style.
C. Challenge the idea that the Mesa Verde people preceded the Chaco people at Aztec.
D. Bolster his/her own argument through both recently discovered and historical evidence.
E. Prove that only the Chaco and Mesa Verde people lived at Aztec.

A. Incorrect: Irrelevant
This is out of scope. The author is not concerned with the different types of evidence, and there is no mention of any kind of any myth related to the Aztec, New Mexico, site.
B. Incorrect: Inconsistent
This is a misused detail from the passage. In fact, there is no mention of this style in the first paragraph.
C. Incorrect: Out of Context 
The passage does not suggest anyone is making such a claim.
D. Correct
Ask yourself: why would the author mention both “modern” tree-rings and Morris’ work from the 1920’s? Likely to give a broad range of evidence, both historical and contemporary, to support his/her theory.
E. Incorrect: Out of Context
We do not know if the Chaco and the Mesa Verde were the “only” groups to live at Aztec. There could have been more. This is outside the scope of the passage. 
 2 
2. The author is primarily concerned with
A. Refuting a misconception with specific support
B. Describing the findings of an archaeologist with whom the author partially agrees
C. Stating a theory and providing support for it
D. Reframing the timeline for the habitation of a historical site
E. Arguing for the existence of different cultures

The first paragraph presents ample details to show that Aztec was inhabited by Chaco people. In the last paragraph, the author reiterates that Chaco people live in Aztec which was later occupied by Mesa Verde people. So the author is primarily concerned with presenting evidence that two groups of people lived in Aztec in two different times.

A. Incorrect: Out of Context 
No misconception is presented here. The author does not state that some people believe Aztec was inhabited by only one culture.

B. Incorrect: Inconsistent
Firstly, the author does more than just describe the findings of Morris. The author proposes his/her own argument about the Chaco and Mesa Verde style, using evidence cited by Morris. Secondly, there is no reason for us to believe that the author only “partially” agrees with Morris or his findings.

C.Correct
In the first sentence of the passage, the author states a thesis: “Aztec actually was built by one group of people, abandoned, and then reoccupied at a later date by a slightly different group of people.” He then goes on to support this thesis with specific evidence proving the existence of both the Chaco and Mesa Verde people at Aztec.

D.Incorrect: Out Of Scope
The author is merely providing the evidence that suggests two cultures inhabited Aztec. He does not appear overly concerned with emphasizing that Mesa Verde came first and Chaco second.

E. Incorrect: Out of Context 
The author is not concerned with proving that the Chaco and the Mesa Verde “existed.” This seems like a foregone conclusion. Rather, his/her aim is to show they both inhabited the same site (Aztec, New Mexico) at different periods of time.

3

3. Which of the following is implied about the Aztec site?
A. It was not extensively excavated until the 1920’s.
B. Its population was a mix of Chaco and Mesa Verde peoples.
C. Aztec was uninhabited by the end of the Mesa Verde period.
D. The Mesa Verde people did not take most of their possessions with them when they abandoned the site.
E. The Aztec site excavated under Morris was expected to have more burial sites than found.

A. Incorrect: Out Of Context
We know that Morris found significant evidence that both a Chaco-like culture and Mesa Verde-like culture inhabited the site, but we do not know whether the site had undergone previous extensive excavations.

B.Incorrect: Opposite
The passage implies these two groups inhabited Aztec at different times. This option suggests they cohabitated, and this is contradicted by the discussion of remodeling and separate architectural styles between the two cultures.

C. Incorrect: Out Of Scope
Though we know from the passage it is likely Aztec was inhabited DURING the Mesa Verde period, we do not know when it was abandoned.

D.Incorrect: Inconsistent
Simply because “some” utensils and pottery were found from the Mesa Verde period is not enough evidence to claim that these people abandoned “most” of their possessions upon leaving Aztec. This choice is too extreme.

E. Correct
The passage states, “In addition there were surprisingly few burial sites.” Clearly, the author suggests that the number of burial sites was lower than what was expected.

4

4. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A. The pottery belonging to the Chaco period was distinctively different from that belonging to the Mesa Verde period. 
B. The Chaco people died out before the Mesa Verde people did.
C. The dwellings of the Chaco Canyon were more intimate in size than those of the Mesa Verde people.
D. The burial customs of the Mesa Verde people are also unknown.
E. The Aztec people never actually lived in Aztec, New Mexico.

A. Correct
Overlying the Chaco debris and sterile sand layers, Morris found pottery, household utensils, and burials “characteristic” of the classic Mesa Verde Period
The word “characteristic” indicates that this pottery was distinctly different, especially since it was overlying the Chaco debris.

B. Incorrect: Out Of Scope
Based on the evidence from the passage, we know the Chaco-like people likely inhabited Aztec, NM before the Mesa Verde-like people, but it is too extreme to infer that this is because the Chaco-like people died out. They may simply have abandoned the site sometime before the Mesa Verde-like people took over it.

C. Incorrect: Opposite 
The passage describes the Chaco-style rooms as large with high ceilings and big doorways. Subsequently, it describes the Mesa Verde remodels as having smaller rooms with more partitions and smaller doorways, which could be inferred as more “intimate” in size. This choice is opposite of what is supported by the passage.

D. Incorrect: Opposite 
Though there were few burials discovered at Aztec and Chaco Canyon, Morris did find some typical of the Mesa Verde style. So it’s more likely that the burial customs of the Mesa Verde people are at least partially known.

E. Incorrect: Out Of Scope
The Aztec people are not discussed in the passage. The passage focuses only on the Chaco and Mesa Verde people. The name “Aztec” could have come much later.

Difficulty Level:   700

Masterscorp · Answer

I struggled with the very same question.

I guess the explanation is in this sentence
 
If pottery was characteristic for this period it is likely that it differed from the pottery that was characteristic for the Chaco period. I'm not sure whether we can safely conclude that it was  distinctively different  but this is the best explanation I found. This resembles answer A.

doubleting · Answer

Time: 11:15 
Result: 1 out of 4 incorrect 
Questions: 
1. What's the expected timing on this passage? What's the difficulty level?
2. For question #1, I was debating between A and D and ended up picking A. I got caught up by the wording. Couldn't 3-ring dates considered man-made evidence? What's the best strategy to identify irrelevant components in the answer choices, i.e. "myth" in choice A?

AdityaHongunti · Answer

2. The author is primarily concerned with
A. Refuting a  misconception  with specific support
- No miscpnception
B. Describing the findings of an archaeologist with whom the author partially agrees
- The focus of this answer choice is the archeologit and not the Aztec inhabitation

C. Stating a theory and providing support for it
- COrrect

D.  Reframing  the timeline for the habitation of a historical site
- from the beginning of the passage we are discussing the same timeline..there is no refutation to it

E.  Arguing  for the existence of different cultures
- To argue for somthing there has to be a considerable amount ofobjectins to the theory argued about !!! If there are no objections to a theory then how can we argue for it??

AdityaHongunti · Answer

1. The author of the passage likely mentions both Morris and the tree-ring dates in order to

A. Explain how both  natural and man-made evidence  contributes to debunking a myth about a particular site.
- no such explicit differentiation of methods given

B. Describe how the later remodeling of Aztec was in the Mesa Verde-style.
- Mesa was talked later in the passage

C. Challenge the idea that the Mesa Verde people preceded the Chaco people at Aztec.
- same as B

D. Bolster his/her own argument through both recently discovered and historical evidence.
- author puts forth the evidence by M in addition to tree ring in order to strengthen the theory in way by iplying that there is great amount of support to the thery !!!

E. Prove that only the Chaco and Mesa Verde people lived at Aztec.
- "only" no support or mention in mention

AdityaHongunti · Answer

3. Which of the following is implied about the Aztec site?

A. It was not extensively excavated until the 1920’s.
-e are told only about M's excavation. This does not mean thee were no other excavations

B. Its population was a mix of Chaco and Mesa Verde peoples.
- MIX of C and M - no support

C. Aztec was uninhabited by the end of the Mesa Verde period.
- NO suppor as to who inhabited at the end of M period..we dont even know if anyone ibhabited !!

D. The Mesa Verde people  did not take most of their possession s with them when they abandoned the site.
- we did find some utnesils and stuff...but that evidence may or may not be the most of the possesions

E. The Aztec site excavated under Morris was expected to have more burial sites than found.
- ".In this debris and under the sand, he found Chaco-like pottery and artifacts.In addition there were  surprisingly  few burial sites."
if the findings were expected how would they be surprising !!!

4. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. The pottery belonging to the Chaco period was distinctively different from that belonging to the Mesa Verde period. 
- the entire second para provides evidences to support the view that 2 groups existed...now if the pottery was not distincrively different ho woul the utor be able t say that these pots were used by to different ppl?
 
B. The Chaco people died out before the Mesa Verde people did.
- we only know M period occurred later to chaco... but the ppl of the former grouop may still be alive !!

C. The dwellings of the Chaco Canyon were more intimate in size than those of the Mesa Verde people.
- opposite !! dwellings of M were intite than C " .Large Chaco-type rooms had been made smaller by wattle-and-daub partition walls, while doorways had been shortened and narrowed more like the ones at Mesa Verde."

D. The burial customs of the Mesa Verde people are also unknown.
- we know this fact for chaco... we hve no idea whether the customs of M are known

E. The  Aztec people  never actually lived in Aztec, New Mexico.
- no idea who aztec ppl includes !!

auradediligodo · Answer

Hi everyone,
Took 9 minutes including 3 minutes for reading, writing down paragraphs summaries and main point.

P1:Morris' study
P2: to prove the existence of 2 population at the Aztec site

MP: To discuss the presence of two populations living at the Aztec site

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
 1.  The author of the passage likely mentions both Morris and the tree-ring dates in order to

Pre-thinking:
 Highlight the fact that old studies match with recent studies

A. Explain how both natural and man-made evidence contributes to debunking a myth about a particular site.
 Never mentioned. Hence incorrect

B. Describe how the later remodeling of Aztec was in the Mesa Verde-style.
 Not the purpose here. Hence incorrect

C. Challenge the idea that the Mesa Verde people preceded the Chaco people at Aztec.
 The references are not intended to challenge anything. Hence incorrect

D. Bolster his/her own argument through both recently discovered and historical evidence.
 Indeed in line with pre-thinking. Hence correct

E. Prove that only the Chaco and Mesa Verde people lived at Aztec.
  This is mentioned in the last paragraph. Hence out of context and incorrect

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

.2 The author is primarily concerned with

Pre-thinking:
 Refer to main point above to analyze the answer choices

A. Refuting a misconception with specific support
 No misconception is refused

B. Describing the findings of an archaeologist with whom the author partially agrees
 There is no partial agreement from the author. Here incorrect

C. Stating a theory and providing support for it
 The theory is that Chaco people and Mesa verde people lived in the site. Hence correct

D. Reframing the timeline for the habitation of a historical site
 This is not the purpose although the timeline is also part of the discussion. Hence incorrect

E. Arguing for the existence of different cultures
 This answer choice is too vague. Plus the existence of any culture is doubted. Hence incorrect

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 . Which of the following is implied about the Aztec site?

Pre-thinking:
 Let's analyze the answer choices.

A. It was not extensively excavated until the 1920’s.
 We know that the studies conducted by Morris were conducted in 1920 but this does not authorize us to state this. Hence incorrect

B. Its population was a mix of Chaco and Mesa Verde peoples.
 Clearly the passage concludes that two populations live at the Aztec site but we have no information to say that there was a mix. Plus we are told that the two population lived at the site in two different times. Hence incorrect

C. Aztec was uninhabited by the end of the Mesa Verde period.
 The author concludes that there are two definite periods of occupation but nowhere it is written that those were the only one. This is a close one but incorrect

D. The Mesa Verde people did not take most of their possessions with them when they abandoned the site.
 No information given supports this statement

E. The Aztec site excavated under Morris was expected to have more burial sites than found.
 "In addition there were surprisingly few burial sites."   Hence correct

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4 . Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

Pre-thinking:
 Let's read the answer choices

A. The pottery belonging to the Chaco period was distinctively different from that belonging to the Mesa Verde period. 
 "Overlying the Chaco debris and sterile sand layers, Morris found pottery, household utensils, and burials characteristic of the classic Mesa Verde Period—a period which occurred later than the great Chaco Period."
This option is acceptable but the opposite might be true as well. There is no clear information to support this option but the passage states that there were significant differences between the two cultures. Let's keep this one for the moment

B. The Chaco people died out before the Mesa Verde people did.
 Cannot be inferred. As per what we know they just might have moved somewhere else. Hence incorrect

C. The dwellings of the Chaco Canyon were more intimate in size than those of the Mesa Verde people.
 The passage would support the opposite. Hence incorrect

D. The burial customs of the Mesa Verde people are also unknown.
 Chaco burial customs are not known. Few of them have been located. This makes this answer choice incorrect

E. The Aztec people never actually lived in Aztec, New Mexico.
 This information is not supported since we don't know anything about Aztec people and the two populations mentioned in the passage are not defined as the only populations that lived at the Aztec site. Hence incorrect

Since we could eliminate all the other answer choices on solid grounds we can safely choose choice A

It is a good day to be alive, cheers!

ricardorr04 · Answer

~8min 4/4 correct - not a terribly difficult passage. the key here for me was to keep track of the arguments and evidence, and also keeping note of the adjectives used to understand tone (i.e., 'surprinsingly' few burial sites found)

VerbalBot · Answer

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.

The two construction periods at Aztec, New Mexico as indicated by the

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 Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

The two construction periods at Aztec, New Mexico as indicated by the

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