GMAT Club World Cup 2022 (DAY 2): The histories of many cultures in

Question

The histories of many cultures in Alondia, a region comprising hundreds of small, remote islands spread over a very large geographic area, make reference to a great explosion that is said to have taken place several thousand years ago. These accounts vary somewhat as to the cause, extent, and timing of the explosion, and geologists studying the region have been unable to find evidence of a volcanic eruption or asteroid impact large enough to serve as the basis of the accounts. However, these facts do not justify the claim advanced by some scholars that such stories are entirely symbolic, created by these cultures to serve some societal need. Indeed, since the element that all of these stories have in common is the explosion itself, it is much more likely that the stories recount an actual explosion.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the argument above?

(A) In the languages of some of the cultures of Alondia, the word for “explosion” can refer to any kind of disaster.

(B) A small number of the stories also include an account of a large wave that followed the explosion.

(C) Most volcanic eruptions are only audible to humans within a few hundred miles of the source.

(D) Because ancient cultures often associated natural events with specific deities, many stories in these cultures cite such events as a way of indirectly referencing those deities.

(E) Until relatively recently, most of the people of Alondia had had no contact with one another, either direct or indirect, for at least five thousand years.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Manhattan Prep Official Explanation:

Step 1: Identify the Question  
The words  most strongly supports  in the question stem indicate that this is a Strengthen the Argument question.

Step 2: Deconstruct the Argument  
The argument mentions that a story about an explosion is common to the many remote cultures in the oceanic region of Alondia but that there are some discrepancies among the accounts. No geological evidence has been found to support the veracity of the story. While some scholars have inferred from this that the accounts were purely symbolic, the author concludes the opposite: Given that all of the stories cite an explosion, there is a strong likelihood that such an explosion actually occurred.

Step 3: Pause and State the Goal  
Because this is a Strengthen question, look for an answer that supports the position that these stories recount an actual explosion. For instance, because this is a cause-and-effect argument (the author’s position is that an actual explosion led to the stories in these cultures), be on the lookout for answers that eliminate alternative causes as to how the story could have become commonplace across the different islands.

Step 4: Work From Wrong to Right 
(A) If anything, this answer adds some doubt to the author’s position, as it implies that some of the stories about an explosion could actually be recounting some other kind of disaster rather than an explosion itself.

(B) On its surface, this answer looks like it might bolster the author’s position, as a large wave could have resulted from whatever caused the explosion. However, this element of the story is only present in a small number of the stories. The author’s logic is that the explosion likely occurred because it is a common element across all of the stories. Something that occurred in only a small number of stories doesn’t support that logic.

(C) If anything, this answer might make it less likely that a volcanic explosion that could be heard from many of the islands occurred, as it seems that Alondia’s islands might be spread farther apart than several hundred miles. This choice doesn’t do anything to support the author’s claim that there was some sort of loud explosion.

(D) This answer is an opposite trap, lending support to the position that such stories are symbolic rather than literal. That is not this author’s position.

(E) CORRECT.  One possible weakener for this argument would be if the explosion story in all of these cultures had been copied from one original story, as this would provide an alternate cause for its prevalence among the cultures of Alondia. If however, as this answer makes clear, there was no contact among these different cultures during the timeframe in question, it is somewhat more likely that these isolated islands did witness a large explosion.

sanjitscorps18 · Answer

(A) In the languages of some of the cultures of Alondia, the word for “explosion” can refer to any kind of disaster.
This does the opposite by saying that it was an actual explosion that was heard by these people

(B) A small number of the stories also include an account of a large wave that followed the explosion.
Irrelevant

(C) Most volcanic eruptions are only audible to humans within a few hundred miles of the source.
This suggests the possibility that everyone in that area might not have heard and explosion and hence does not support the argument

(D) Because ancient cultures often associated natural events with specific deities, many stories in these cultures cite such events as a way of indirectly referencing those deities.
References to deities do not confirm these people heard the explosion independently

(E) Until relatively recently, most of the people of Alondia had had no contact with one another, either direct or indirect, for at least five thousand years.
 Correct. This confirms that despite having no contact between these groups of people they have written the same account hence there must have been a high possibility of them hearing an explosion independently of each other.

IMHO Option E

AnirudhaS · Answer

(A) In the languages of some of the cultures of Alondia, the word for “explosion” can refer to any kind of disaster.
 Word can mean anything, does not directly stengthens or weakens.

(B) A small number of the stories also include an account of a large wave that followed the explosion.
 key word here is 'small no. of stories'. The passage already says the accounts vary with timing, extent, etc. So it is additional information but of no use to us.
 
(C) Most volcanic eruptions are only audible to humans within a few hundred miles of the source.
 The islands may or maynot be within a few hundred miles. Since this is not specified, this statement does not strengthen the argument.
 
(D) Because ancient cultures often associated natural events with specific deities, many stories in these cultures cite such events as a way of indirectly referencing those deities.
 The natural events still happened, but nothing much is said about whatt natural event occured. this is irrelevant to the argument.
 
(E)   Until relatively recently, most of the people of Alondia had had no contact with one another, either direct or indirect, for at least five thousand years.  
This takes away an alternate cause. There is a possibility this myth might have been passed on from generations to generations. But that is not the case as the islands largely had no contact between themselves. This strengthens the argument.

gmatophobia · Answer

Conclusion of the argument :  However, these facts do not justify the claim advanced by some scholars that such stories are entirely symbolic, created by these cultures to serve some societal need

We have to support the argument

(A) In the languages of some of the cultures of Alondia, the word for “explosion” can refer to any kind of disaster.

While this is a strong contender, this option does not provide much value to strengthen the argument. We already know that the histories of many cultures in Alondia make reference to a great explosion. Now whether that's in context of disaster to something else, doesn't really matter

(B) A small number of the stories also include an account of a large wave that followed the explosion.

IMO this is not a great strengthener, first we do not know how many stories and their reliability. Hence will eliminate

(C) Most volcanic eruptions are only audible to humans within a few hundred miles of the source.

The audibility of the eruptions do not add any value to the argument, hence not relevant

(D) Because ancient cultures often associated natural events with specific deities, many stories in these cultures cite such events as a way of indirectly referencing those deities.

We are already told that the stories are not entirely symbolic. Hence this option weakens the conclusion. We can eliminate this as well.

(E) Until relatively recently, most of the people of Alondia had had no contact with one another, either direct or indirect, for at least five thousand years.

I would go with this option. As the people Alondia had had no contact with one another, either direct or indirect, for at least five thousand years it indicates that the stories are independent and not influenced across cultures. This gives us more reason to believe in the author's conclusion

IMO E

ThatDudeKnows · Answer

Conclusion: The stories all have an explosion, so there was probably an actual explosion.
Premise: All these small remote islands have similar stories.

(A) In the languages of some of the cultures of Alondia, the word for “explosion” can refer to any kind of disaster.
This would weaken, as it provides a good explanation for why all the stories might exist even if there hadn't been an explosion. Eliminate.

(B) A small number of the stories also include an account of a large wave that followed the explosion.
This is out of scope. How does the wave impact the explosion? Eliminate.

(C) Most volcanic eruptions are only audible to humans within a few hundred miles of the source. 
How does that impact other possible sources of an explosion? Eliminate.

(D) Because ancient cultures often associated natural events with specific deities, many stories in these cultures cite such events as a way of indirectly referencing those deities.
How would this explain that there was actually an explosion? Eliminate.

(E) Until relatively recently, most of the people of Alondia had had no contact with one another, either direct or indirect, for at least five thousand years.
Oh, well, if they all have similar stories and they didn't get the stories from each other, they must have gotten the stories from somewhere. Perhaps there was actually an explosion!

Answer choice E.

soudipsengupta · Answer

Conclusion: However, these facts do not justify the claim advanced by some scholars that such stories are entirely symbolic, created by these cultures to serve some societal need.

(A) In the languages of some of the cultures of Alondia, the word for “explosion” can refer to any kind of disaster.
 INCORRECT. Even if this were to be true, this does not support the argument. In fact, it slightly weakens the argument.

(B) A small number of the stories also include an account of a large wave that followed the explosion.
 INCORRECT. If this were true, it does not support the author's argument. Stories which include large wave is not relevant.

(C) Most volcanic eruptions are only audible to humans within a few hundred miles of the source. 
 INCORRECT. This solely speaks about volcanic eruption and moreover it opposes a premise of the argument - "geologists studying the region have been unable to find evidence of a volcanic eruption or asteroid impact"  .

(D) Because ancient cultures often associated natural events with specific deities, many stories in these cultures cite such events as a way of indirectly referencing those deities.
 INCORRECT. This again kind of goes in opposite direction of supporting the authors argument. This statement weakens the argument.

(E) Until relatively recently, most of the people of Alondia had had no contact with one another, either direct or indirect, for at least five thousand years.
 CORRECT. If "most people of Alondia had had no contact with one another, either direct or indirect, for at least five thousand years", there could not be a case of rumors or talks of explosion between cultures. In that case, it enforces the fact that it may truly be a form of explosion that ended up in the histories. This statement strengthens the argument by ruling out an alternate explanation.

JonShukhrat · Answer

(A) In the languages of some of the cultures of Alondia, the word for “explosion” can refer to any kind of disaster.

This choice actually weakens the conclusion because if “explosion” may mean something other than explosion itself, then the author’s conclusion about the actual explosion is under doubt since those cultures may mean anything other than explosion.

(B) A small number of the stories also include an account of a large wave that followed the explosion.

Again weakens.
Small number of stories may mean 2 or 3 among thousands and thus adds nothing to the information already present.
Moreover, the conclusion is about explosion.

(C) Most volcanic eruptions are only audible to humans within a few hundred miles of the source.

This choice also weakens the argument by saying that the explosion may not have been heard by many cultures who are spread over a very large geographic area. So, many of them may have never actually know about the explosion but simply may have made up it.

(D) Because ancient cultures often associated natural events with specific deities, many stories in these cultures cite such events as a way of indirectly referencing those deities.

This choice almost has nothing to do with the conclusion. These people may have referenced those deities with actual or made up story about the explosion.

(E) Until relatively recently, most of the people of Alondia had had no contact with one another, either direct or indirect, for at least five thousand years.

Correct because this choice removes one weakener. If the reverse were true, and most of these people contacted each other, then probably they may have heard about the explosion from one another, from those actually made up the story. But E eliminated this weakener, and shows that probably those people actually saw that explosion because all of them could not make up such story independently - too much to be coincidence.

So E

SafSin28 · Answer

QS: Strengthens

Argument:
History: Great explosion -----> many cultures tada
Gs couldn’t find any evidence!
However
No evidence but explosion
Each says so----->Actual

(A) “Explosion”=Disaster. A weakener. OUT

(B) A small number of the stories also include an account of a large wave that followed the explosion----> Additional around info. OUT

(C) Most volcanic eruptions are only audible to humans within a few hundred miles of the source.----->OUT

(D) Because ancient cultures often associated natural events with specific deities, many stories in these cultures cite such events as a way of indirectly referencing those deities.----> Huh?! Keep it now. Still not understood!

(E) Until relatively recently, most of the people of Alondia had had no contact with one another, either direct or indirect, for at least five thousand years.---> Seems a strengthener.

VerbalBot · Answer

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GMAT Club World Cup 2022 (DAY 2): The histories of many cultures in

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