Archaeologists have found underwater etchings near the jungle city of

Question

Archaeologists have found underwater etchings near the jungle city of Manaus, following a drought in the Brazilian Amazon. Previously, archaeologists studying the Amazon believed that the rainforest was too inhospitable to host a major civilization and that the only civilizations in the area were nomadic. The new discovery proves this theory incorrect and that thousands of years ago the Amazon was home to large civilizations.

Which of the following statements, if true, would most weaken the above argument?

(A) Remnants of large established villages with well-trodden roads going by or through them were unearthed near the location of the drawings.

(B) The etchings exhibited an unexpected sophistication for that period, yet they still showed the telltale signs of being of that period.

(C) Archaeologists proved that a nomadic artist created the etchings and very similar etchings almost 100 miles away.

(D) The drought that exposed the submerged etchings was the first in that area in more than 2,000 years.

(E) The etchings included a representation of hunters walking across a plain and people building small domiciles.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Answer: C

STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task. 
This is a Weaken question. The question prompts you to find the statement among the answers that most weakens the argument.

STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind. 
You need to read the argument and discover the central basis for its conclusion, then formulate what kind of answer will weaken that basis. In this case, the argument reveals a discovery that leads archaeologists to believe that a larger, more permanent civilization existed in the Brazilian Amazon.

STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for. 
A weakening statement may indicate that a smaller, less permanent civilization was responsible for the etchings.

STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice. 
Answer A uses words like large and established to strengthen the conclusion that there was a well-developed civilization in the Amazon, so this cannot be the correct answer. Answer B offers irrelevant facts and no insight into the nomadic or permanent nature of the civilization. It only relates to the sophistication of either form. Answer C reveals a discovery of similar etchings 100 miles away by a “nomadic” artist. You can infer that the artist was a member of a nomadic civilization as was originally thought before the discovery. This weakens the argument and would seem to be your answer. Regarding answer D, the argument does not say the civilizations in question did not exist before the 2,000-year flood window, and this answer also does not address the nomadic or permanent nature of the civilization. Answer E is interesting but does not weaken the argument as well as Answer C. While the content of the etchings is relevant, they do not necessarily prove the nature of the civilization since they could be depictions of previous civilizations or other civilizations. The correct choice is answer C.

sj296 · Answer

Premise:
1. Archaeologists have found underwater etchings near the jungle city of Manaus, following a drought in the Brazilian Amazon.
2. Previously, archaeologists studying the Amazon believed that the rainforest was too inhospitable to host a major civilization and that the only civilizations in the area were nomadic.

Conclusion:
thousands of years ago the Amazon was home to large civilizations.

The conclusion is based upon the discovery of etching. We have been asked to weaken the conclusion. We have to look for something that tells us that Amazon wasn't home to large civilizations.

(A) Remnants of large established villages with well-trodden roads going by or through them were unearthed near the location of the drawings............................ This strengthens the conclusion.

(B) The etchings exhibited an unexpected sophistication for that period, yet they still showed the telltale signs of being of that period........ Not weakening the conclusion

(C) Archaeologists proved that a nomadic artist created the etchings and very similar etchings almost 100 miles away................If that is the case then we can't say that there was any civilization. The etchings were created by Nomadic artists. Then the basis of the conclusion becomes weak. This is our answer

(D) The drought that exposed the submerged etchings was the first in that area in more than 2,000 years.................. Not weakening

(E) The etchings included a representation of hunters walking across a plain and people building small domiciles.................. Not weakening

IMO OA should be C

Lok2209 · Answer

very tough pick between C and E, how can we pick between E and C?

For E we can say they could be depicting the other civilization, but for C can't we say that the art was very popular that it was even made in this place?

how can we say which one is far fetched to assume? please help

thanks

VerbalBot · Answer

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Archaeologists have found underwater etchings near the jungle city of

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Archaeologists have found underwater etchings near the jungle city of

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