While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Archaeologist Jon Erlandson and colleagues argue that humans first arrived...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Archaeologist Jon Erlandson and colleagues argue that humans first arrived in the Americas by sea.
- They propose that humans traveled between Pacific Ocean islands and coastlines from northeast Asia to the Americas.
- Many of these islands and coastal zones were later submerged as glaciers melted and sea levels rose.
- The researchers think that 'a coastal route, including kelp forests and estuaries, would have provided a rich mix of marine, estuarine, riverine, and terrestrial resources' such as seaweeds, fish, and birds.
- This proposed scenario is known as the kelp highway hypothesis.
The student wants to summarize the kelp highway hypothesis. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Pacific Ocean islands and coastlines likely contained 'a rich mix of marine, estuarine, riverine, and terrestrial resources' such as seaweeds, fish, and birds, according to researchers.
One argument about how humans first arrived in the Americas is the kelp highway hypothesis proposed by Jon Erlandson and colleagues.
Humans may have first arrived in the Americas by sea, traveling between Pacific Ocean islands and coastlines and subsisting on a variety of resources.
As glaciers melted and sea levels rose, many Pacific Ocean islands and coastal zones were submerged.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Archaeologist Jon Erlandson and colleagues argue that humans first arrived in the Americas by sea." |
|
| "They propose that humans traveled between Pacific Ocean islands and coastlines from northeast Asia to the Americas." |
|
| "Many of these islands and coastal zones were later submerged as glaciers melted and sea levels rose." |
|
| "The researchers think that 'a coastal route, including kelp forests and estuaries, would have provided a rich mix of marine, estuarine, riverine, and terrestrial resources' such as seaweeds, fish, and birds." |
|
| "This proposed scenario is known as the kelp highway hypothesis." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Archaeologist Jon Erlandson and colleagues propose the kelp highway hypothesis, which argues that humans first reached the Americas by traveling along Pacific Ocean islands and coastlines that provided abundant marine resources.
Argument Flow: The notes present a specific theory about human migration to the Americas. First, we get the core argument that humans arrived by sea rather than land. Then we learn the proposed route and mechanism. The notes explain both why evidence might be scarce (submersion) and why the route was feasible (abundant resources). Finally, we get the official name for this theory.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The student wants to summarize the kelp highway hypothesis using information from the research notes.
What type of answer do we need? A comprehensive summary that captures the essential elements of this specific hypothesis, not just partial details about it.
Any limiting keywords? "Most effectively" means we need the choice that best captures the complete picture of the hypothesis, and "summarize" means we need the key elements, not just one aspect.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Since we need to summarize the kelp highway hypothesis, the correct answer should include three key elements from our notes: first, that it's about humans arriving in the Americas by sea (the main argument); second, that it involves traveling between Pacific Ocean islands and coastlines (the specific route); and third, that it explains how humans could survive this journey using coastal resources (the viability factor)
- The answer shouldn't focus on just the geological changes or just the resources available—those are supporting details, not the hypothesis itself
- It also shouldn't just identify that the hypothesis exists without explaining what it actually proposes
Pacific Ocean islands and coastlines likely contained 'a rich mix of marine, estuarine, riverine, and terrestrial resources' such as seaweeds, fish, and birds, according to researchers.
✗ Incorrect - Focuses only on the resources that were available along the route
- Misses the core argument about how humans actually arrived in the Americas
- This describes a supporting detail rather than summarizing the full hypothesis
One argument about how humans first arrived in the Americas is the kelp highway hypothesis proposed by Jon Erlandson and colleagues.
✗ Incorrect - Simply identifies that the kelp highway hypothesis exists
- Provides no information about what the hypothesis actually proposes
- Students might think mentioning the official name and proposer is sufficient for a summary, but this gives no content about the theory itself
Humans may have first arrived in the Americas by sea, traveling between Pacific Ocean islands and coastlines and subsisting on a variety of resources.
✓ Correct - Captures the core argument: humans arrived by sea
- Includes the specific mechanism: traveling between Pacific islands and coastlines
- Mentions the survival aspect: subsisting on a variety of resources
- This effectively summarizes all the key elements of the kelp highway hypothesis from our analysis
As glaciers melted and sea levels rose, many Pacific Ocean islands and coastal zones were submerged.
✗ Incorrect - Focuses only on the geological changes that occurred after the migration
- Provides background context but doesn't explain what the hypothesis actually proposes
- Students might confuse supporting information (why evidence is scarce) with the hypothesis itself