Archaeologists have found that strings from hunting bows used in ancie

Question

Archaeologists have found that strings from hunting bows used in ancient times were made of either animal parts such as sinews and hair or durable plant fibers such as linen or hemp. Several bows equipped with such bowstrings survived in sealed tombs, and were still capable of firing a projectile after being discovered. Archaeologists hypothesized that originally these ancient bowstrings had superior strength to that of current synthetic bowstrings.

Which of the following investigations is most likely to yield significant information that would help evaluate the archaeologists' hypothesis?

Which of the following investigations is most likely to yield significant information that would help evaluate the archaeologists' hypothesis?

(A) Measuring the tensile strength of an animal product bowstring and that of a plant fiber bowstring and determining which one is stronger

(B) Examining the materials of which ancient bows were made and forming a comparison with those used to manufacture modern-day bows

(C) Comparing the tensile strength of a modern-day bowstring with that of a new string made of animal parts or plant fibers

(D) Measuring the force of a projectile fired from a modern-day bow fitted with a bowstring made of animal/plant materials

(E) Comparing the force of a projectile fired from an ancient bow found in the tomb to that of a projectile fired from a modern-day bow

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nonametosoul · Answer

Why is the answer not A) since the comparisons are between 2 objects from before .

KarishmaB · Answer

Hypothesis - Originally these ancient bowstrings had superior strength to that of current synthetic bowstrings.

We are comparing ancient bowstrings with current synthetic bowstrings.

(A) Measuring the tensile strength of an animal product bowstring and that of a plant fiber bowstring and determining which one is stronger
 
No comparison between animal and plant bowstrings. The comparison is between synthetic and animal/plant bowstring.

(B) Examining the materials of which ancient bows were made and forming a comparison with those used to manufacture modern-day bows
 
No comparison of bows. Only bowstrings.

(C) Comparing the tensile strength of a modern-day bowstring with that of a new string made of animal parts or plant fibers
 
Correct. We should compare synthetic bowstrings with new animal or plant bowstrings. 
The synthetic bowstring may last even longer if they are stronger than animal/plant bowstrings of today.

(D) Measuring the force of a projectile fired from a modern-day bow fitted with a bowstring made of animal/plant materials
 
Measuring the force of a bowstring made of animal/plant material alone will not help. We need to compare animal/plan material bowstring with synthetic bowstring.

(E) Comparing the force of a projectile fired from an ancient bow found in the tomb to that of a projectile fired from a modern-day bow
 
We are not comparing bows.

Answer (C)

Oppenheimer1945 · Answer

1)Why info provided by E not helpful? It’s coming from pre-thinking. It could be a weakener that the force used in modern bows are more. Higher force will exceed the ultimate tensile strength of string , leading to its tearing.

2) would E be correct if we do not have option C given? I think it’s the Second best answer

Posted from my mobile device

KarishmaB · Answer

The question asks us to evaluate archaeologists' hypothesis.

Archaeologists hypothesized that originally these  ancient bowstrings  had superior strength to that of current  synthetic bowstrings .

The hypothesis is about the strength of the bowstring only. So if you put these two diff bowstrings on the same bow, which is stronger? Which bowstring lasts longer etc. The strength of the bow and its material is irrelevant. Focus on what is asked only. 
There is no second best answer. There is only one correct answer.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Archaeologists have found that strings from hunting bows used in ancient times were made of either animal parts such as sinews and hair or durable plant fibers such as linen or hemp. Several bows equipped with such bowstrings survived in sealed tombs, and were still capable of firing a projectile after being discovered. Archaeologists hypothesized that originally these ancient bowstrings had superior strength to that of current synthetic bowstrings.

Which of the following investigations is most likely to yield significant information that would help evaluate the archaeologists' hypothesis?

Which of the following investigations is most likely to yield significant information that would help evaluate the archaeologists' hypothesis?

(A) Measuring the tensile strength of an animal product bowstring and that of a plant fiber bowstring and determining which one is stronger

Incorrect.

In this variation of Investigation questions, you are required to find which method of investigation will be most useful in evaluating the archaeologists' conclusion. To do so, first break down the argument. The first two sentences are factual - premises. The last sentence contains the conclusion phrase hypothesized that, marking it as the conclusion:

Premise: strings from ancient hunting bows were made of either animal parts or durable plant fibers
 +
Premise: several such bows survived in sealed tombs, and were still capable of firing a projectile after being discovered
 =
Archaeologists' Hypothesis: originally the ancient bowstrings were stronger than present-day synthetic bowstrings

Relevant Investigation: ?

The correct answer is a method of investigation which could support or weaken the conclusion depending on its outcome, i.e., an investigation that tests the most crucial factor.

This answer choice suggests that we compare the strength of animal product bowstring with that of plant fiber bowstring. However, both these bowstrings are types of ancient bowstrings. Comparing them will not give us any information about how they rate in comparison to modern-day synthetic strings.

(B) Examining the materials of which ancient bows were made and forming a comparison with those used to manufacture modern-day bows

Incorrect.

This answer choice suggests that we focus on the materials from which the bows are made. However, the archaeologists' hypothesis focuses on the strength of the ancient bowstrings compared to modern bowstrings.

(C) Comparing the tensile strength of a modern-day bowstring with that of a new string made of animal parts or plant fibers

This answer choice presents an accurate test to confirm, or disprove, the hypothesis. If the tensile strength of a modern-day bowstring measures lower than the tensile strength of a newly manufactured animal/plant-based string, the archaeologists are right that the ancient technology was capable of producing strings that were superior in strength to today's bowstrings (thus also explaining how they were still able to fire projectiles after so many years).

Notice that the hypothesis talks about the natural bowstrings in their original state, not after hundreds or thousands of years. This answer choice correctly points out that the tested natural string must be new to teach us of what the original strings were like.

Notice that the hypothesis talks about the natural bowstrings in their original state, not after hundreds or thousands of years. This answer choice correctly points out that the tested natural string must be new to teach us of what the original strings were like.

(D) Measuring the force of a projectile fired from a modern-day bow fitted with a bowstring made of animal/plant materials

Incorrect.

In this variation of Investigation questions, you are required to find which method of investigation will be most useful in evaluating the archaeologists' conclusion. To do so, first break down the argument. The first two sentences are factual - premises. The last sentence contains the conclusion phrase hypothesized that, marking it as the conclusion:

Premise: strings from ancient hunting bows were made of either animal parts or durable plant fibers
 +
Premise: several such bows survived in sealed tombs, and were still capable of firing a projectile after being discovered
 =
Archaeologists' Hypothesis: originally the ancient bowstrings were stronger than present-day synthetic bowstrings

Relevant Investigation: ?

The correct answer is a method of investigation which could support or weaken the conclusion depending on its outcome, i.e., an investigation that tests the most crucial factor.

This answer choice suggests that we measure the force of a projectile fired from a modern bow fitted with a bowstring made with animal/plant materials. However, we need something to compare this measurement to. Without any data on the performance of a modern bowstring or the strength of a modern-day bowstring, this investigation is useless.

(E) Comparing the force of a projectile fired from an ancient bow found in the tomb to that of a projectile fired from a modern-day bow

Incorrect.

The archaeologists hypothesized that the ancient bowstrings were originally stronger than modern-day synthetic bowstrings. Testing the ancient bow itself, after the considerable length of time that it lay in the tomb, will hardly give us any information on what its bowstrings were like originally.

In order to examine the original properties of ancient bowstrings, our investigation must somehow recreate the ancient bowstrings.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Archaeologists have found that strings from hunting bows used in ancie

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Archaeologists have found that strings from hunting bows used in ancie

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