Archaeologist Maria Santos and her team excavated several clay tablets from a buried temple complex in ancient Mesopotamia. Carbon dating...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Archaeologist Maria Santos and her team excavated several clay tablets from a buried temple complex in ancient Mesopotamia. Carbon dating revealed the tablets to be approximately 4,000 years old. The team's analysis showed that the tablets contained administrative records written in cuneiform script from the Akkadian Empire. The discovery provides new insights into the economic systems of this early civilization.
Based on the text, which choice best describes the clay tablets?
They are remnants of an extinct civilization.
They contain religious texts and prayers.
They were created using modern writing techniques.
They are commonly found in Mesopotamian sites.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Archaeologist Maria Santos and her team excavated several clay tablets from a buried temple complex in ancient Mesopotamia." |
|
| "Carbon dating revealed the tablets to be approximately 4,000 years old." |
|
| "The team's analysis showed that the tablets contained administrative records written in cuneiform script from the Akkadian Empire." |
|
| "The discovery provides new insights into the economic systems of this early civilization." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Archaeological excavation of 4,000-year-old clay tablets from the Akkadian Empire provides new understanding of ancient economic systems.
Argument Flow: The passage follows a straightforward archaeological discovery narrative. We start with the physical discovery, then get scientific confirmation of age, followed by analysis of content, and finally the broader significance of the find for understanding ancient civilizations.
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
- Based on our analysis, the clay tablets are 4,000-year-old administrative records from the Akkadian Empire found in ancient Mesopotamia
- The key elements the correct answer must capture are: They're from an ancient time period (4,000 years ago), They're from a historical civilization (Akkadian Empire), They represent something from the past that no longer exists
- So the right answer should identify these tablets as artifacts from an ancient civilization that is no longer around today
They are remnants of an extinct civilization.
✓ Correct
- This accurately describes the tablets as artifacts from the Akkadian Empire, which existed 4,000 years ago and is no longer in existence
- Matches our prethinking perfectly - the tablets are indeed physical remnants left behind by a civilization that has long since disappeared
- The passage's emphasis on "ancient Mesopotamia" and the 4,000-year timeframe supports this characterization
They contain religious texts and prayers.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the tablets contain "religious texts and prayers"
- The passage explicitly states they contain "administrative records," not religious material
- This contradicts the direct evidence provided in the text
They were created using modern writing techniques.
✗ Incorrect
- States they were created using "modern writing techniques"
- The passage identifies cuneiform script, which is an ancient writing system, not modern
- This directly conflicts with the 4,000-year-old dating and ancient context
They are commonly found in Mesopotamian sites.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims they are "commonly found" in Mesopotamian sites
- The passage provides no information about how frequently such tablets are discovered
- This goes beyond what the text actually tells us about the rarity or commonality of such finds