Archaeologist Dr. James Mitchell had been searching for evidence of pre-Columbian settlements in the Pacific Northwest. His team used ground-penetrati...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Archaeologist Dr. James Mitchell had been searching for evidence of pre-Columbian settlements in the Pacific Northwest. His team used ground-penetrating radar to survey a site near the Columbia River. In 2020, Mitchell's excavation uncovered a well-preserved ceremonial mask made from carved cedar wood, which was displayed at the Regional History Museum in Portland, Oregon. The mask, estimated to be over 800 years old, provided new insights into the artistic traditions of indigenous peoples in the region.
According to the text, what enabled Mitchell's team to locate the site for their successful excavation?
Archaeological surveys from previous expeditions
Ground-penetrating radar technology
Guidance from local indigenous communities
Historical records of cedar wood artifacts
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Archaeologist Dr. James Mitchell had been searching for evidence of pre-Columbian settlements in the Pacific Northwest." |
|
| "His team used ground-penetrating radar to survey a site near the Columbia River." |
|
| "In 2020, Mitchell's excavation uncovered a well-preserved ceremonial mask made from carved cedar wood, which was displayed at the Regional History Museum in Portland, Oregon." |
|
| "The mask, estimated to be over 800 years old, provided new insights into the artistic traditions of indigenous peoples in the region." |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Mitchell's archaeological team successfully discovered an 800-year-old ceremonial mask that provided new insights into indigenous artistic traditions.
Argument Flow: The passage follows a chronological narrative, starting with Mitchell's search mission, describing the radar survey method, then reporting their 2020 discovery and explaining its significance.
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
- Looking at the passage sequence: Mitchell was searching, then his team used ground-penetrating radar to survey a site, which led to the successful 2020 excavation
- The radar survey directly preceded and enabled the excavation success
Archaeological surveys from previous expeditions
- Claims previous archaeological surveys enabled the location
- The passage mentions no previous expeditions
Ground-penetrating radar technology
- Identifies ground-penetrating radar as the enabling factor
- Matches exactly what the passage states about using radar to survey the site
Guidance from local indigenous communities
- Suggests local indigenous communities provided guidance
- No mention of community involvement in the passage
Historical records of cedar wood artifacts
- Claims historical records enabled location
- The passage mentions no historical records being consulted