Professor: One expert on Norse culture argues that since yarn

Question

Professor:  One expert on Norse culture argues that since yarn (fiber thread) samples discovered at non-Norse archaeological sites, those related to the aboriginal Dorset people in the East Arctic, are similar to prehistoric Norse yarn samples, and since spinning was not a part of the technology of northern aboriginal peoples, the Dorset samples constitute proof of contact between these aboriginal people and Norse Vikings. The fact that radiocarbon dating seems to indicate that the Dorset samples predate Norse arrival in the region by centuries is dismissed by the expert as an anomaly attributable to significant problems with the dating of textiles found at Arctic sites. But this position seems questionable, given that ______________

Which of the following would, if true, most logically complete the professor's argument above?

A. For textiles, radiocarbon dating is more accurate than any other dating method

B. Numerous ancient American cultures are known to have had spinning technology

C. Textiles found at other Arctic sites have not been dated with a high degree of precision

D. The dating of the Dorset samples is consistent with that of other artifacts of known age found along with them

E. The yarn discovered at the Dorset sites is spun from the hair of animals indigenous to the area

MartyMurray · Accepted Answer

Professor:  One expert on Norse culture argues that since yarn (fiber thread) samples discovered at non-Norse archaeological sites, those related to the aboriginal Dorset people in the East Arctic, are similar to prehistoric Norse yarn samples, and since spinning was not a part of the technology of northern aboriginal peoples, the Dorset samples constitute proof of contact between these aboriginal people and Norse Vikings. The fact that radiocarbon dating seems to indicate that the Dorset samples predate Norse arrival in the region by centuries is dismissed by the expert as an anomaly attributable to significant problems with the dating of textiles found at Arctic sites. But this position seems questionable, given that __________.

We see "given that" before the blank that the correct answer must fill.

"Given that" is used to introduce information that indicates why something is true.

So, the choice that fills the blank must state something that indicates why the following conclusion, which precedes "given that," is true.

this position seems questionable

The "position" mentioned in the conclusion is the expert's case, which is presented by the sentences that precede the conclusion.

So, the "position" is basically that there was "contact between these aboriginal people and Norse Vikings" and that the fact that radiocarbon dating indicates otherwise can be dismissed because of problems with the dating of textiles found at Arctic sites.

Which of the following would, if true, most logically complete the professor's argument above?

This is a Complete the Passage question, and the correct answer will be the choice that most logically fills the blank.

Specifically, the correct answer will be the one that provides a logical reason why the expert's position seems questionable.

A. For textiles, radiocarbon dating is more accurate than any other dating method

This choice may seem to indicate that what radiocarbon dating indicates about the textiles should  not  be dismissed because radiocarbon dating is "more accurate" than any other method. So, this choice may seem to support the conclusion that the expert's position is questionable.

However, there's a key reason why this choice doesn't work.

Notice that "more accurate" doesn't mean "very accurate." It just means that radiocarbon dating is "more accurate" than other methods, which may not be at all accurate.

So, the fact that radiocarbon dating is "more accurate" does not mean that it's particularly accurate.

So, regardless of whether radiocarbon dating is "more accurate" than other methods, it could still make sense to dismiss what radiocarbon indicates about the textiles because of "significant problems with dating of the textiles found at Arctic sites."

After all, even if radiocarbon dating is "more accurate," if there are problems with using it in such cases, then what it indicates could be fairly inaccurate.

So, this choice doesn't support the conclusion that the expert's position is questionable.

Eliminate.

B. Numerous ancient American cultures are known to have had spinning technology

The expert has stated as fact that "spinning was not a part of the technology of northern aboriginal peoples."

So, even if "ancient American cultures" had spinning technology, that fact is not a reason to question the expert's conclusion about "northern aboriginal peoples."

Eliminate.

C. Textiles found at other Arctic sites have not been dated with a high degree of precision

If anything, the fact that textiles found at other Arctic sites have not been dated with a high degree of precision is in line with the expert's position that what radiocarbon dating indicates can be dismissed.

So, this choice is in line with the expert's position rather than states a reason why the expert's position is questionable.

Eliminate.

D. The dating of the Dorset samples is consistent with that of other artifacts of known age found along with them

This choice is interesting.

The expert's position is that the presence of the yarn samples indicates that there was "contact between these aboriginal people and Norse Vikings" and that the fact that radiocarbon dating indicates otherwise can be dismissed because of problems with dating of textiles found at Arctic sites.

So, this choice provides a reason to question the expert's position.

After all, if the dating of the Dorset yarn samples is consistent with that of other artifacts of known age found along with them, then even if there are problems with radiocarbon dating, it still seems likely that the dating of the yarn samples is correct. After all, it stands to reason that the yarn samples are from the time of the other artifacts found along with them.

So, essentially, this choice provides reason to believe that what radiocarbon dating indicates about the yarn samples is accurate, meaning that the expert's position that it can be dismissed is questionable.

Keep.

E. The yarn discovered at the Dorset sites is spun from the hair of animals indigenous to the area

This choice is a little tricky to eliminate. Here's why we can rule it out though.

The expert says that "yarn ... samples discovered at non-Norse archaeological sites ... are  similar to prehistoric Norse yarn samples , and ...  spinning was not a part of the technology of northern aboriginal peoples ."

So, the expert's point is not that the yarn was created by Norse Vikings." Rather, the expert's point is that the presence of the yarn indicates that there was "contact between these aboriginal people and Norse Vikings." In other words, the expert's point is basically that aboriginal peoples either got yarn from Norse Vikings or learned from Norse Vikings how to make yarn.

So, even if the yarn was made by aboriginal people, its presence still supports the expert's conclusion.

Thus, the fact that the yarn is spun from the hair of animals indigenous to the area does not support the conclusion that the expert's position is questionable.

Eliminate.

Correct answer:   (D)

richaaggarwal · Answer

This question is from one of the official mocks of GMAT FE. I was confused between D & E. Would be great if any of the experts can clarify. Thanks in advance!

sayan640 · Answer

D should be the correct answer.
The argument is lengthy but simple.
The conclusion is in the last line i.e radio carbon dating is actually correct and Dorset samples predate Norse samples.
We need to support it or in other words, find a strengthener to it.
Option A says that radio Carbon dating is more accurate than other dating methods. But do we have any idea about how accurate other dating methods are ? No..right? 
Hence reject A.
B and C are completely irrelevant. 
Option D accurately compares the results of the dating methods with other artifacts of "known" age.
"Known" is the vital word and hence D is our answer 
E is rejected because we don't have any idea about the age of those indigenous animals. Animals are born and they die. How do we know how old they were when they died and their hair was used for spinning? Hence it does not help to determine the age of the Dorset samples since taking those animals as reference is not a good idea. We don't even know the age of those animals. Hence reject E.
Hope it helps.

Posted from my mobile device

anish777 · Answer

I believe the main reason option E was eliminated because there was no mention of the animals in the passage. Option D follows more logically from the argument given ( as the last sentence was primarily talking about dating of the Dorset samples).
I would like to have an expert's opinion in this question stem.

PReciSioN · Answer

We essentially have to supply a reason why the expert's position is questionable, i.e. we have to weaken it.

There are 2 predominant claims by the expert. The 1st is that the Dorset samples are proof of contact b/w the vikings and the aborigines which is supported by 2 premises. The second is the dismissal of the RC dating as an anomaly supported by the significant problems prevalent in the dating of textiles.

D vs E.

D clearly suggests that the dating is not an anomaly as those samples were found along with (suggesting with decent likelihood that they belonged to the same time-frame) other items which were known (not disputable) to be of the RC dating timeframe.

E seems to suggest that since the yarn was from the hair of animals indigenous to the area, it was made by the aborigines thus contradicting the experts initial claim. But we know that the aborigines did not have the technology to make yarn, and even if the yarn was from the hair of animals indigenous to the area, the Norse could very well have come to the area and made the yarn there.

shashank07! · Answer

@GMATNinja Why is option A wrong here. Can you also help dissect the argument

SmileAndSolve · Answer

Professor: One expert on Norse culture argues that since yarn (fiber thread) samples discovered at non-Norse archaeological sites, those related to the aboriginal Dorset people in the East Arctic, are similar to prehistoric Norse yarn samples, and since spinning was not a part of the technology of northern aboriginal peoples, the Dorset samples constitute proof of contact between these aboriginal people and Norse Vikings. The fact that radiocarbon dating seems to indicate that the Dorset samples predate Norse arrival in the region by centuries is dismissed by the expert as an anomaly attributable to significant problems with the dating of textiles found at Arctic sites. But this position seems questionable, given that ______________

1. Expert: 
 
Non-Norse culture yarn ~ Norse culture yarn
Spinning not a part of Non-Norse area (Dorset)
Hence Non-Norse people & Norse people had contact

Radio carbon dating:
 
Non-Norse samples pre-date Norse

Expert:
 
  dismisses ^, says significant problems with pre-dating

Problem with expert's view?

A. For textiles, radiocarbon dating is more accurate than any other dating method
-Relative measurement can't be relied on. It might be that radiocarbon is 5% accurate and others are 1% accurate. Hence, reject.

B. Numerous ancient American cultures are known to have had spinning technology
- Numerous doesn't mean Non-Norse culture too.

C. Textiles found at other Arctic sites have not been dated with a high degree of precision
- Other: don't care. + might strengthen expert's position.

D. The dating of the Dorset samples is consistent with that of other artifacts of known age found along with them
- Weakens his position. Since rest all evidence aligns with pre-dating. It might be correct.

E. The yarn discovered at the Dorset sites is spun from the hair of animals indigenous to the area
- "is" 1. no talking of past 2. there was no spinning at the time in Dorset.

GMATNinja · Answer

The expert's argument, at its heart, is that the Dorset people must have had contact with the Norse people, because there's some yarn laying around, and the Dorset people didn't have spinning technology.

The expert then argues that we can ignore the fact that the radiocarbon dating suggests that the Dorset samples predate the arrival of the Norse, because there are problems with the dating technology. Put another way, he's saying that the dates can't be trusted.

We want to show that the expert's dismissal is questionable. In other words, we're looking for an answer that says, "actually, maybe we can trust those dates after all!"

This what (D) gives us. If ALL of the stuff in the vicinity seems to predate the arrival of the Norse, well, that suggests that the dates might well be valid -- what are the odds that the dating would be flawed in the exact same way for every artifact in the region?

That's why (D) undermines the author's argument that the dates can't be trusted.

I hope that helps!

Sujithz001 · Answer

@martymurry @karishmaB can anyone pls break & explain this questions please? Finding it hard to even fully understand the argument.

Thanks a lot!

Sujithz001 · Answer

MartyMurray   KarishmaB   chetan2u  can anyone pls break & explain this question please? Finding it hard to even fully understand the argument.

Thanks a lot!

KarishmaB · Answer

Two cultures are discussed - Norse (Vikings) and Dorset (Northern aboriginal) Expert's Premises: Yarn (thread to make clothes etc) found at a Dorset site is similar to that of Norse people. Northern aboriginal people did not have the tech to spin the yarn (so likely Dorset people did not have the tech) Expert's Conclusion: Yarn found at Dorset sites is proof that there was contact between Dorset and Norse people. (He says it seems that Dorset people got yarn from Norse people) Criticism to the Expert: Radiocarbon dating seems to indicate that the Dorset yarn is older (by centuries) than the time when Norse people arrived in the region. (Looks like Dorset people had the yard centuries before they met Norse people) Expert's Rebuttal: This is an anomaly attributable to significant problems with the dating of textiles found at Arctic sites (Dating of textiles found in cold regions is not accurate so ignore) Author's Conclusion: The expert is wrong. The blank will give us the author's premise (support) for his conclusion that the expert is wrong. So we must talk about why the expert's rebuttal doesn't make sense. Sow e must support dating of textiles as accurate. A. For textiles, radiocarbon dating is more accurate than any other dating method More accurate than any other method does not mean it is accurate. Perhaps other methods are even less accurate. B. Numerous ancient American cultures are known to have had spinning technology We are discussing a specific Northern aboriginal people. What did numerous cultures have is irrelevant. C. Textiles found at other Arctic sites have not been dated with a high degree of precision We are looking for something that says that dating of textiles is accurate. Ignore. D. The dating of the Dorset samples is consistent with that of other artifacts of known age found along with them Other artifacts found in the region have a known age, say 1000 BC. The yarn samples have been found to have the same age too using the dating method - 1000 BC. Since we would expect most artifacts of a culture found in one region to be of similar age (within a few years) so it seems that the dating of yarn is accurate. This supports the author's conclusion that the expert is not correct. E. The yarn discovered at the Dorset sites is spun from the hair of animals indigenous to the area We don't know how the material used to spin the yarn impacts dating of the yarn. If arctic animals were used to make the yarn, does it mean that dating it would be accurate? If other animals are used for the yarn does it mean dating will not be accurate? We don't know. Answer (D) Discussion on Best Completes Questions (gaining importance these days): https://youtu.be/02hcfVqIr-g https://youtu.be/JlSkXDplwzE

Pr4n · Answer

I think this is a tricky question if you choose to weaken or strengthen the wrong premise or conclusion. Simply put, this position is questionable could mean two things either that there was contact between the two groups or the dating is incorrect as suggested by the expert.

If you try to weaken these 2 positions you will easily eliminate A,B,C but will get stuck between D and E. But when you notice D, it actually weakens both the positions, whereas E is a psuedo-weakner and secondly it only weakens one part. The reason it is a psuedo-weakner is quite simple, it tries to attack a premise that they didn't have the tech (which we take as a fact), even if the yarn was from an animal from local species doesn't mean the Dorset people created it, it could be that Norse came and taught them how to do that. Hence, there was a contact. The argument can go either way and doesn't really weaken the position like it seems at the first glance, hence D is a clear winner.

And if you tried to strenghten the position that there was no contact between the two, then you would have definitely choosen E over D, but you were attempting the wrong question. Clearly this complete the passage is a weaken question.

keshubhturakhia · Answer

MartyMurray

Dear sir,

Referring to option D. While the yarn was found in the same place as other items of known age, couldnt it still be that yes the yarn got there in the same place as those items but it doesnt mean that it was still from the same time. Being found together but being of different ages can be possible right? Or should we just assume that same place means that it is also same age?

MartyMurray · Answer

The key detail here is that the point of the passage is that the expert's position is "questionable."

So, the author is not arguing that the expert's position is not "possible." Rather, the choice that fills the blank has merely to say something that serves to cast doubt on the expert's position.

So, even though it's possible that items found together can be of different ages, (D) is still correct because the fact that the dating of the samples matches the dating of other items found with them indicates that it's likely that the dating of the samples is correct and thus casts doubt on the expert's position.

Professor: One expert on Norse culture argues that since yarn

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