By the sixteenth century, the Incas of South America ruled an empire t

Question

By the sixteenth century, the Incas of South America ruled an empire that extended along the Pacific coast and Andean highlands from what is now Ecuador to central Chile. While most of the Incas were self-sufficient agriculturists, the inhabitants of the highland basins above 9,000 feet were constrained by the kinds of crops they could cultivate. Whereas 95 percent of the principal Andean food crops can be cultivated below 3,000 feet, only 20 percent reproduce readily above 9,000 feet. Given this unequal resource distribution, highland Incas needed access to the products of lower, warmer climatic zones in order to enlarge the variety and quantity of their foodstuffs. In most of the  preindustrial world , the problem of different resource distribution was resolved by  long-distance trade networks  over which the end consumer exercised little control. Although the peoples of the Andean highlands participated in such networks, they relied primarily on the maintenance of autonomous production forces in as many ecological zones as possible. The commodities produced in these zones were extracted, processed, and transported entirely by members of a single group.

This strategy of direct access to a maximum number of ecological zones by a single group is called vertical economy.  Even today, one can see Andean communities maintaining use rights simultaneously to pasturelands above 12,000 feet, to potato fields in basins over 9,000 feet, and to plots of warm-land crops in regions below 6,000 feet.  This strategy has two principal variations. The first is “compressed verticality,” in which a single village resides in a location that permits easy access to closely located ecological zones. Different crop zones or pasturelands are located within a few days walk of the parent community. Community members may reside temporarily in one of the lower zones to manage the extraction of products unavailable in the homeland. In the second variation, called the “vertical archipelago,” the village exploits resources in widely dispersed locations, constituting a series of independent production “islands.” In certain pre-Columbian Inca societies, groups were sent from the home territory to establish permanent satellite communities or colonies in distant tropical forests or coastal locations. There the colonists grew crops and extracted products for their own use and for transshipment back to their high-altitude compatriots. In contrast to the compressed verticality system, in this system, commodities rather than people circulated through the archipelago.   1 
 1. According to the passage, which of the following is true about the  pre-industrial long distance trade networks  mentioned in line 22 ?

(A) They were not used extensively in most of the pre-industrial world.
(B) They were used to some extent by the people of the Andean highlands.
(C) They were not an effective means of solving the problem of different resource distribution.
(D) They necessitated the establishment of permanent satellite communities in widely dispersed locations.
(E) They were useful only for the transportation of products from warm climatic zones.

2 
 2. According to the passage, the inhabitants of the Andean highlands resolved the problem of unequal resource distribution primarily in which of the following ways?

(A) Following self-sufficient agricultural practices
(B) Increasing commodity production from the ecological zones in the highland basins
(C) Increasing their reliance on long-distance trade networks
(D) Establishing satellite communities throughout the Andean highlands
(E) Establishing production forces in ecological zones beyond their parent communities

3 
 3. The passage suggests that as a way of addressing the problem of different resource distribution in the preindustrial world, the practice of vertical economy differed from the use of long-distance trade networks in that vertical economy allowed

(A) commodities to reach the end consumer faster
(B) a wide variety of agricultural goods to reach the end consumer
(C) a single group to maintain control over the production process
(D) greater access to commodities from lower, warmer climatic zones
(E) greater use of self-sufficient agricultural techniques

4 
 4. The passage suggests that for an Andean highland village attempting to resolve the problem of unequal resource distribution, the strategy known as compressed verticality would probably be inappropriate for which of the following situations?

(A) The village’s location is such that it is difficult for the village to participate in long-distance trade networks.
(B) The village does not have the resources to establish permanent satellite communities in production zones beyond the home community.
(C) The warm-land crop regions nearest to the village are all below 6,000 feet.
(D) The location of the village does not provide ready access to an adequate variety of ecological zones.
(E) The nearest crop production zones are located below the village, while the nearest pasturelands are located above the village.

5 
 5. According to the passage, Inca inhabitants of the highland basins above 9,000 feet were limited by which of the following?

(A) The inability to gain access to agricultural production zones in lower, warmer climates
(B) The lack of nutritional variety offered by the principal Andean food crops
(C) The lack of opportunity to participate in long-distance agricultural trade networks
(D) The difficulty of growing an adequate variety of crops in the highland basins
(E) The difficulty of finding community members willing to reside in agricultural zones far away from the home territory

6 
 6. Which of the following best describes the function of the highlighted sentence (Even today, one can...)?

(A) It provides an example of the approach to vertical economy that is most prevalent in the Andean highlands today.
(B) It illustrates what vertical economy entails, while indicating that the practice remains in use.
(C) It indicates that the practice of vertical economy is restricted to certain kinds of Andean communities.
(D) It points out the way in which the kind of vertical economy most commonly practiced today differs from that most commonly practiced in the past.
(E) It identifies why the practice of vertical economy has been so successful for certain Andean communities.

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Skywalker18 · Accepted Answer

Difficult passage , took 3 mins 30 seconds to read and 10 mins to answer . All correct though i wasn't sure about second answer

Key Takeaways from the passage -The author talks about sustainability models used by the Incas - He then discusses multiple strategies used by the Incan people 1. “by long-distance trade networks over which the end consumer exercised little control. Although the peoples of the Andean highlands participated in such networks‖ Option (B) is a clear word justification of the above and is hence the right answer choice. 2. “they relied primarily on the maintenance of autonomous production forces in as many ecological zones as possible‖ Option (E) is a clear word justification of the above excerpt and is hence the right answer. 3. The passage suggests… “The commodities produced in these zones were extracted, processed, and transported entirely by members of a single group. This strategy of direct access to a maximum number of ecological zones by a single group is called vertical economy.‖ Option (C ) is the correct answer as it is a clear word justification of the above. 4. The passage suggests… “The first is ―"compressed verticality" , in which a single village resides in a location that permits easy access to closely located ecological zones‖ Hence if the village did not have easy access to ecological zones, then ―"compressed verticality" would be inappropriate. Hence option (D) is the right answer choice.

AndreiGMAT · Answer

I am not sure whether the sentences below have typos or some grammatical structures that I struggle to understand.

1. Even today, one can see Andean communities maintaining   use rights   simultaneously to pasturelands above 12,000 feet, to potato fields in basins over 9,000 feet, and to plots of warm-land crops in regions below 6,000 feet.

I think "use rights" does not comply with the grammar rules in this sentence or I am missing something.

2. In contrast to the compressed verticality system, in this system, commodities rather than people   circulated   through the archipelago.

Problem with logic. I am trying to picture how  commodities rather than people circulate  through the archipelago and cannot make a clear sense out of it. In both systems, compressed in archipelago, the crops were grown with a purpose to transport them back to the parent community. I cannot make any logical explanation of why the argument draws analogy between  commodities and people . For this reason, I don't understand the meaning behind this sentence.

Will appreciate any help.

LogicGuru1 · Answer

Since RC passages are excerpts from article by various authors who can coin any new term to suit their ideas, be ready to see many new conjugate words and weird terms that do not generally exist in other form in english. The rule in RC is to understand whatever crap is thrown at you ... whether the words make sense or no sense. Its your duty to assimilate the passage, convert it into simple english or a infographic chart and then start answering the questions. If you get too caught up in the sentence composition or deducing the "CORRECT" idea behind a unfamiliar word , then you will suffer greatly. RC is like ice skating.. once you are on the ring.. keep moving and balancing.

1) In this case the author used the word  "use right"  ==> it actually means the "(Legaly binding or socially acceptable) rights for using the land". The author simply converted the whole definition into "use right" . Another term that would have made it more easy to understand would be "User's RIght"

2) It is perfectly common and correct to use the word "circulate" for both commodities and people. It is a common practise in parties for the host to say I am going to circulate- Which means he is going to talk to other people in the party to see if they are comfortable or not. 
In this passage since Andean have "use right" at different altitudes (pasturelands for castles over 12,000 feet, potato fields over 9,000 feet, and crops in regions below 6,000 feet) therefore they would move to these altitudes depending upon the season of the year. ANDEAN PEOPLE WOULD CIRCULATE. And they would also move the products (crops, potato and grazing grass) from these places to their parent community (Mentioned in the passage). Therefore using "circulate" for crop is also correct. In this context "Circulate" simply means "transporting the goods" from various altitudes to the Parent community.

Hope it is clear now

VijayShanker · Answer

Q5:

According to the passage, the inhabitants of the Andean highlands resolved the problem
of unequal resource distribution primarily in which of the following ways?

A. Following self-sufficient agricultural practices
B. Increasing commodity production from the ecological zones in the highland basins
C. Increasing their reliance on long-distance trade networks
D. Establishing satellite communities throughout the Andean highlands
 E. Establishing production forces in ecological zones beyond their parent communities

Below lines in passage talk about same thing,

Although the peoples of the Andean highlands participated in such networks,  (option C - but its secondary NOT primary)
 they relied  primarily  on the maintenance of autonomous production forces in as many ecological zones as possible .

tkorzhan18 · Answer

Q1: Could you please explain why C is not correct?

Consumers exercised little control over long-term distance network Does it mean that long distance network was not effective in solving the resource distribution problem? 
1. According to the passage, which of the following is true about the pre-industrial long distance trade networks mentioned in line 22 ?

(A) They were not used extensively in most of the pre-industrial world.

(B) They were used to some extent by the people of the Andean highlands.

(C) They were not an effective means of solving the problem of different resource distribution.

(D) They necessitated the establishment of permanent satellite communities in widely dispersed locations.

(E) They were useful only for the transportation of products from warm climatic zones.

tkorzhan18 · Answer

Q2: Could you please explain why B is not correct for Q2?
2. According to the passage, the inhabitants of the Andean highlands resolved the problem of unequal resource distribution primarily in which of the following ways?

(A) Following self-sufficient agricultural practices

(B) Increasing commodity production from the ecological zones in the highland basins

(C) Increasing their reliance on long-distance trade networks

(D) Establishing satellite communities throughout the Andean highlands

(E) Establishing production forces in ecological zones beyond their parent communities

romil666 · Answer

Dear tkorzhan18 , 'Consumers exercised little control' doesn't mean that long-distance network was not effective. It can be or cannot be effective in solving the resource distribution problem. We just don't know. Option C is on the extreme negative side, 'not effective.' It is mentioned in the passage that In most of the preindustrial world , the problem of different resource distribution was resolved by long-distance trade networks over which the end consumer exercised little control. Thus, we only know that the preindustrial long-distance trade networks were able to resolve the problem of resource distribution, but nothing can be deduced whether preindustrial long-distance trade networks were effective.

Hope this helps

Romil

romil666 · Answer

tkorzhan18 It is mentioned in the passage that Although the peoples of the Andean highlands participated in such networks, they relied primarily on the maintenance of autonomous production forces in as many ecological zones as possible. This means that Andean communities did take part in the long-distance trade networks, but majorly they relied on maintaining the independent production forces at various ecological zones beyond their communities for commodities. Nothing is mentioned in the passage about The Andean communities increasing commodity production by themselves to resolve the problem of unequal resource distribution as conveyed in option B. Thus, option E is better than other options. Hope this helps

Romil.

KittyDoodles · Answer

Hi,

Please can an expert explain why B is better than A "6. Which of the following best describes the function of the highlighted sentence?". I chose A over B.

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  Nandini21 . You may be a bit green at RC if you missed the extreme language that disqualifies answer choice (A). First, the pertinent part of the passage (I typically examine the line itself and those immediately surrounding it):

The topic sentence of the paragraph, the first in our excerpt, defines the term  vertical economy . The highlighted line tells us about  Andean communities , and the third line delineates a distinction in  this strategy . We can anticipate that information pertaining to the  two principal variations  will follow.

Have a look at the question stem and answer choices (A) and (B) again:

Now, the first part of each answer choice checks out. An  example  can just as well be referred to as an  illustration  of something. But where in the excerpt can we point to qualify the notion that the vertical economy discussed in the highlighted portion is the  most prevalent in the Andean highlands ? Certainly not to the opening of the line in question,  Even today, one can see . There is no comparison whatsoever between how often the vertical economy strategy is employed versus any other strategy, so  most prevalent  is purely speculative and overreaching. (It is a good idea to take note of superlatives, words ending in -st. They often generate claims that cannot be defended by the text.)

Notice how (B) corrects this issue with neutral language that can be corroborated:  the practice remains in use . Yes, the beginning of the highlighted line tells us as much. If we cannot find anything to argue against, we have a pretty strong reason to get behind an answer.

I hope that helps clarify the matter. Good luck with your studies.

- Andrew

Vatsal7794 · Answer

Hi  KarishmaB   MartyMurray   gmatophobia

2. According to the passage, the inhabitants of the Andean highlands resolved the problem of unequal resource distribution primarily in which of the following ways?

(A) Following self-sufficient agricultural practices

(B) Increasing commodity production from the ecological zones in the highland basins

(C) Increasing their reliance on long-distance trade networks

(D) Establishing satellite communities throughout the Andean highlands

(E) Establishing production forces in ecological zones beyond their parent communities

For question second from where we are inferring this two words

(E) Establishing production forces in ecological zones beyond their  parent communities

And Why answer B is wrong?

KarishmaB · Answer

2. According to the passage, the inhabitants of the Andean highlands resolved the problem of unequal resource distribution primarily in which of the following ways? (A) Following self-sufficient agricultural practices (B) Increasing commodity production from the ecological zones in the highland basins (C) Increasing their reliance on long-distance trade networks (D) Establishing satellite communities throughout the Andean highlands (E) Establishing production forces in ecological zones beyond their parent communities From 1st paragraph .... they relied primarily on the maintenance of autonomous production forces in as many ecological zones as possible. The commodities produced in these zones were extracted, processed, and transported entirely by members of a single group. From second paragraph This strategy of direct access to a maximum number of ecological zones by a single group is called vertical economy. Even today, one can see Andean communities maintaining use rights simultaneously to pasturelands above 12,000 feet, to potato fields in basins over 9,000 feet, and to plots of warm-land crops in regions below 6,000 feet. This strategy has two principal variations. The first is “compressed verticality,” in which a single village resides in a location that permits easy access to closely located ecological zones. Different crop zones or pasturelands are located within a few days walk of the parent community. Community members may reside temporarily in one of the lower zones to manage the extraction of products unavailable in the homeland. They grew crops in different ecological zones outside the parent community to get a variety of crops. Hence option (E) works. (B) is incorrect because they did not try to increase production in their own zone. They instead used autonomous production forces in as many different ecological zones as possible. Answer (E) Check out this RC video: https://youtu.be/oSgG1HtEFxQ

ledzep10 · Answer

Can you please explain why Q6 answer is B and not A ?

guddo · Answer

6. Which of the following best describes the function of the highlighted sentence (Even today, one can...)?

The author has just defined “vertical economy.” The second highlighted sentence then shows what that looks like in practice by listing multiple zones one community uses at the same time, and it also signals that this is  still happening today .

(A) It provides an example of the approach to vertical economy that is most prevalent in the Andean highlands today.

The sentence gives an example of vertical economy in general, but it does not say this is the most common approach today, and it does not pick between the two variations.

(B) It illustrates what vertical economy entails, while indicating that the practice remains in use.

This matches: it shows simultaneous use of different ecological zones (what it entails) and it starts with “Even today” (still in use).

(C) It indicates that the practice of vertical economy is restricted to certain kinds of Andean communities.

Nothing in the sentence suggests restriction. It just says you can see Andean communities doing this.

(D) It points out the way in which the kind of vertical economy most commonly practiced today differs from that most commonly practiced in the past.

No comparison of past versus present types is made there. The past versus present contrast is not the point of that sentence.

(E) It identifies why the practice of vertical economy has been so successful for certain Andean communities.

The sentence describes the practice, not its success or reasons for success.

Answer: (B)

By the sixteenth century, the Incas of South America ruled an empire t

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

By the sixteenth century, the Incas of South America ruled an empire t

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

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From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards