A team of archaeologists led by Dr. Maria Santos investigated the spread of distinctive pottery techniques across ancient Mediterranean civilizations....
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
A team of archaeologists led by Dr. Maria Santos investigated the spread of distinctive pottery techniques across ancient Mediterranean civilizations. The team discovered that elaborate glazing methods originating in Phoenician settlements appeared in isolated Greek island communities that had no direct contact with Phoenician traders. This finding seemed puzzling because these island communities were known to be hostile to outside merchants and maintained strict isolation policies. However, the team concluded that the pottery techniques were indeed transmitted from Phoenician settlements to these Greek islands, either directly or indirectly, through cultural exchange.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support the team's conclusion?
Merchant ships that regularly traveled between Phoenician ports and other Mediterranean regions also stopped at intermediate islands where friendly relations existed with the isolated Greek communities.
The glazing techniques found on the Greek islands show minor variations from the original Phoenician methods.
Archaeological evidence suggests that isolated Greek island communities developed their own unique pottery styles independent of outside influence.
The glazing techniques provided no apparent practical advantages to the Greek island pottery compared to their traditional methods.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| A team of archaeologists led by Dr. Maria Santos investigated the spread of distinctive pottery techniques across ancient Mediterranean civilizations. |
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| The team discovered that elaborate glazing methods originating in Phoenician settlements appeared in isolated Greek island communities that had no direct contact with Phoenician traders. |
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| This finding seemed puzzling because these island communities were known to be hostile to outside merchants and maintained strict isolation policies. |
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| However, the team concluded that the pottery techniques were indeed transmitted from Phoenician settlements to these Greek islands, either directly or indirectly, through cultural exchange. |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Despite apparent isolation, archaeological evidence suggests pottery techniques were transmitted from Phoenician settlements to Greek island communities through some form of cultural exchange.
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 team concluded that pottery techniques were transmitted despite the Greek islands having no direct contact with Phoenician traders and being hostile to outsiders
- For this conclusion to make sense, we need evidence that explains how transmission could have occurred despite the barriers or provides a plausible mechanism for direct or indirect cultural exchange
Merchant ships that regularly traveled between Phoenician ports and other Mediterranean regions also stopped at intermediate islands where friendly relations existed with the isolated Greek communities.
- Shows merchant ships stopped at intermediate islands that had friendly relations with the isolated Greek communities
- This provides a clear mechanism for indirect transmission - the techniques could travel from Phoenicians to intermediate islands to Greek communities
- This matches the team's conclusion about direct or indirect transmission perfectly
The glazing techniques found on the Greek islands show minor variations from the original Phoenician methods.
- Minor variations would be expected whether transmission occurred or not
- This doesn't provide evidence that transmission actually happened
Archaeological evidence suggests that isolated Greek island communities developed their own unique pottery styles independent of outside influence.
- Suggests the Greek communities developed their own pottery styles independently
- This would actually contradict the team's conclusion about transmission from Phoenicians
The glazing techniques provided no apparent practical advantages to the Greek island pottery compared to their traditional methods.
- Whether the techniques provided practical advantages is irrelevant to whether transmission occurred
- This doesn't address the mechanism of how techniques could have spread