Pre-Columbian Mayan manuscripts represent extraordinarily scarce documents that have endured from ancient Mesoamerican societies. The vast majority of...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Pre-Columbian Mayan manuscripts represent extraordinarily scarce documents that have endured from ancient Mesoamerican societies. The vast majority of these texts were eliminated throughout the Spanish conquest period during the 1500s as a result of organized destruction efforts led by colonial officials. These elimination efforts expanded swiftly across communities throughout the Mesoamerican region from one settlement to another. Nevertheless, approximately in 1930, researchers uncovered multiple preserved manuscripts within isolated cave systems located in Guatemala's Sierra de las Minas mountain range. Scholars determined that these highland manuscripts had probably avoided the annihilation that wiped out other Mayan texts because ________
Which choice most logically completes the text?
they were situated in regions too isolated from the colonial communities where destruction efforts were implemented.
colonial officials had no knowledge that such texts were present.
the organized destruction efforts have only been recently recorded by academic historians.
the historical importance of these texts was broadly acknowledged.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Pre-Columbian Mayan manuscripts represent extraordinarily scarce documents that have endured from ancient Mesoamerican societies.' |
|
| 'The vast majority of these texts were eliminated throughout the Spanish conquest period during the 1500s as a result of organized destruction efforts led by colonial officials.' |
|
| 'These elimination efforts expanded swiftly across communities throughout the Mesoamerican region from one settlement to another.' |
|
| 'Nevertheless, approximately in 1930, researchers uncovered multiple preserved manuscripts within isolated cave systems located in Guatemala's Sierra de las Minas mountain range.' |
|
| 'Scholars determined that these highland manuscripts had probably avoided the annihilation that wiped out other Mayan texts because _________' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: While most Pre-Columbian Mayan manuscripts were systematically destroyed during Spanish conquest, some survived in isolated locations, and we need to determine the logical reason why.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage tells us destruction efforts 'expanded swiftly across communities throughout the Mesoamerican region from one settlement to another,' but these surviving manuscripts were found in 'isolated cave systems' in mountains
- The key contrast here is between widespread destruction across settlements and manuscripts hidden in isolated locations
they were situated in regions too isolated from the colonial communities where destruction efforts were implemented.
- Explains that the manuscripts were 'too isolated from the colonial communities where destruction efforts were implemented'
- Directly connects to the passage's emphasis on destruction spreading 'from one settlement to another' while these were in 'isolated cave systems'
- Makes logical sense: if destruction efforts were targeting communities/settlements, isolated locations would naturally be safe
colonial officials had no knowledge that such texts were present.
- Claims colonial officials didn't know the texts existed
- While possible, this isn't supported by the passage information
- The passage focuses on location isolation, not knowledge/awareness issues
the organized destruction efforts have only been recently recorded by academic historians.
- Discusses when destruction efforts were 'recently recorded by academic historians'
- Completely irrelevant to why manuscripts survived in the 1500s
- Confuses historical documentation with historical causation
the historical importance of these texts was broadly acknowledged.
- Claims the texts' 'historical importance was broadly acknowledged'
- This would actually make destruction more likely, not less likely
- Contradicts the logic - acknowledged importance would draw attention, not provide protection