In early civilizations, the development of the first calendar system

Question

In early civilizations, the development of the first calendar system often coincided with the advancement of mathematics and astronomy. Granted, the practice of studying celestial bodies also gave rise to astrology and religion, which often had the effect of slowing the progress of the former two areas. Nevertheless, it's by no means impossible that these partly contradictory human pursuits had a common cause, or at least a common contributing cause. Therefore, in all likelihood, the advancement of agrarian science, which motivated the development of measuring seasons and time, led to improved understanding of mathematics and astronomy in early civilizations.

In the argument given, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?

In the argument given, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?

A. The ﬁrst is a claim that the argument disputes; the second is a conclusion that has been based on that claim.

B. The ﬁrst is a claim that has been used to support a conclusion that the argument accepts; the second is that conclusion.

C. The ﬁrst is evidence that has been used to support a conclusion for which the argument provides further evidence; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.

D. The ﬁrst is a ﬁnding whose implications are at issue in the argument; the second is a claim presented in order to argue against deriving certain implications from that ﬁnding.

E. The ﬁrst is a ﬁnding whose accuracy is evaluated in the argument; the second is evidence presented to establish that the ﬁnding is accurate.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Official Explanation

Reading the question: we see boldfaced text, so we know (and can confirm) that the question will require us only to identify the logical role of the various parts of the prompt.

Sentence

Starts With.../Includes...

Function

1st

"In early civilizations"

Fact

2nd

"Granted"

Fact, somewhat contradictory

3rd

"Nevertheless"

Fact, somewhat reconciling

4th

"Therefore"

Opinion

Creating a filter: The first three sentences present facts. The final sentence is the opinion, introduced by "therefore." So we have "boldface 1 equals fact and 2 boldface equals opinion."

Applying the filter: Choices (A) and (B) are out, because they call 1 a claim. (E) is out because it calls the second statement evidence. We're left with (C) and (D). According to (C), the first statement supports the conclusion. Is that true? No; (D) is correct. The first statement talks about attributing math development to the development of a calendar, but the final opinion attributes math to agrarian science.

The correct answer is (D).

ahabib · Answer

Break it down: Calendar System/Agrarian Science -> Math/Astronomy Improved

Something to note is that the  general tone of the passage is neutral.  (I.E no back and forth argumentation)

A. The ﬁrst is a claim that the argument  disputes ; the second is a conclusion that has been based on that claim. 
The first isn't being disputed, it's stating facts, which are not being argued.

B. The ﬁrst is a claim that has been used to support a conclusion that the argument accepts; the second is that conclusion. 
 Looks good.

C. The ﬁrst is evidence that has been used to support a conclusion for which the argument provides  further evidence ; the second is the main conclusion of the argument. 
Runner-up
The argument doesn't provide  further  evidence.. It's kinda providing more info/context, but remains neutral.

D. The ﬁrst is a ﬁnding whose implications are at  issue  in the argument; the second is a claim presented in order to  argue against  deriving certain implications from that ﬁnding. 
There isn't really any issue being discussed, just facts.. Furthermore, there is no arguing going on here..

E. The ﬁrst is a ﬁnding whose  accuracy  is evaluated in the argument; the second is evidence presented to establish that the ﬁnding is accurate. 
Accuracy is irrelevant and is not being evaluated

Prasannathawait · Answer

IMO C is the answer.
 
In early civilizations, the development of the first calendar system often coincided with the advancement of mathematics and astronomy.  Granted, the practice of studying celestial bodies also gave rise to astrology and religion, which often had the effect of slowing the progress of the former two areas.  Nevertheless, it's by no means impossible that these partly contradictory human pursuits had a common cause, or at least a common contributing cause.   Therefore, in all likelihood, the advancement of agrarian science, which motivated the development of measuring seasons and time, led to improved understanding of mathematics and astronomy in early civilizations.

C. The ﬁrst is evidence that has been used to support a conclusion for which the argument provides further evidence; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.

The text in italics is the evidence further provided to support the main conclusion of the argument.

gmatway · Answer

In early civilizations, the development of the first calendar system often coincided with the advancement of mathematics and astronomy. Granted, the practice of studying celestial bodies also gave rise to astrology and religion, which often had the effect of slowing the progress of the former two areas. Nevertheless, it's by no means impossible that these partly contradictory human pursuits had a common cause, or at least a common contributing cause. Therefore, in all likelihood, the advancement of agrarian science, which motivated the development of measuring seasons and time, led to improved understanding of mathematics and astronomy in early civilizations.

In the argument given, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?

In the argument given, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?

A. The ﬁrst is a claim that the argument disputes; the second is a conclusion that has been based on that claim.  the first is a claim that early civilizations, the development of the first calendar system often coincided with the advancement of mathematics and astronomy BUT THE SAME claim is also supporting the second conclusion so B is better choice.

B. The ﬁrst is a claim that has been used to support a conclusion that the argument accepts; the second is that conclusion.  - the first is a claim that early civilizations, the development of the first calendar system often coincided with the advancement of mathematics and astronomy and second is conclusion .

C. The ﬁrst is evidence that has been used to support a conclusion for which the argument provides further evidence; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.  the first cant be the evidence as evidence needs a base. the first is introductory lines which give us an idea about what the argument is about followed by conclusuion.

D. The ﬁrst is a ﬁnding whose implications are at issue in the argument; the second is a claim presented in order to argue against deriving certain implications from that ﬁnding. (second is definitely a conclusion )

E. The ﬁrst is a ﬁnding whose accuracy is evaluated in the argument; the second is evidence presented to establish that the ﬁnding is accurate .(second is definitely a conclusion )

sayan640 · Answer

GMATNinja   IanStewart

Posted from my mobile device

IanStewart · Answer

I'm not sure of the source, but the question is not very well written, which makes it hard to understand. The stem points out that two things happen simultaneously: calendars are invented, and math+astronomy progress (and astrology and religion develop). It then goes on to suggest these developments share a "common cause" -- "the advancement of agrarian science" (which basically just means "farming").

The argument is very strange, because it says in one sentence that "it's by no means impossible" that these developments share a cause. Then in the very next sentence it says "in all likelihood" they share a cause, and that cause is better farming. I'm not sure how you jump with no justification from "it's not impossible" to "it's almost certain".

Anyway, I don't think any answer is perfect here, and the "official explanation" posted above is wrong (and is also completely inadequate -- an explanation should explain why the right answer is right, not just why the other four answers are wrong). Answer B is close to good, but you could dispute whether the first sentence is a "claim". Otherwise B is fine. D is the "OA", and it's also problematic, because it says the second bolded part is "presented in order to argue against deriving certain implications" from the first bolded part, and there's no reason to think the second bolded part is doing that. The "official explanation" is wrong when it says "The first statement talks about attributing math development to the development of a calendar". It does not do that; it just says those two things usually happen simultaneously. So whoever wrote the OA and explanation has misunderstood what the question says, so of course the "right answer" doesn't make a lot of sense.

As always, it's best to stick to official questions, since no prep company is able to design questions to the standard of real GMAT questions.

In early civilizations, the development of the first calendar system

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