Archaeologist Petra Vaiglova, anthropologist Xinyi Liu, and their colleagues investigated the domestication of farm animals in China during the Bronze...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Archaeologist Petra Vaiglova, anthropologist Xinyi Liu, and their colleagues investigated the domestication of farm animals in China during the Bronze Age (approximately 2000 to 1000 BCE). By analyzing the chemical composition of the bones of sheep, goats, and cattle from this era, the team determined that wild plants made up the bulk of sheep's and goats' diets, while the cattle's diet consisted largely of millet, a crop cultivated by humans. The team concluded that cattle were likely raised closer to human settlements, whereas sheep and goats were allowed to roam farther away.
Which finding, if true, would most strongly support the team's conclusion?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Archaeologist Petra Vaiglova, anthropologist Xinyi Liu, and their colleagues investigated the domestication of farm animals in China during the Bronze Age (approximately 2000 to 1000 BCE).' |
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| 'By analyzing the chemical composition of the bones of sheep, goats, and cattle from this era, the team determined that wild plants made up the bulk of sheep's and goats' diets, while the cattle's diet consisted largely of millet, a crop cultivated by humans.' |
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| 'The team concluded that cattle were likely raised closer to human settlements, whereas sheep and goats were allowed to roam farther away.' |
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Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Chemical analysis of Bronze Age animal bones suggests cattle were raised near human settlements while sheep and goats roamed farther from people.
Argument Flow: The passage follows a classic scientific structure: researchers studied Bronze Age animal bones through chemistry, discovered different diet patterns between cattle and sheep/goats, then drew conclusions about proximity to human settlements based on what the animals ate.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to find additional evidence that would strengthen the researchers' conclusion about animal proximity to settlements.
What type of answer do we need? A finding that would provide more support for the idea that cattle were near settlements while sheep/goats were farther away.
Any limiting keywords? 'Most strongly support' means we want the choice that provides the best additional evidence for their conclusion.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The researchers concluded that cattle were closer to settlements based on cattle eating millet (a human crop) while sheep/goats ate wild plants
- The right answer should either show cattle eating more human-cultivated crops, show sheep/goats had less access to human crops, or provide other evidence that cattle were more integrated with human agricultural activities
- Shows cattle also ate wheat, another human-cultivated crop
- Strengthens the evidence that cattle were eating human crops consistently
- Perfectly matches our prethinking - more evidence of cattle being integrated with human agriculture
- Shows sheep/goats also ate some millet (human crop)
- Actually weakens the conclusion by suggesting sheep/goats also had access to human crops
- Discusses nutritional requirements differences between animal types
- Doesn't address proximity to human settlements at all
- Says diets varied by what each settlement could grow
- Doesn't specifically support that cattle were closer to settlements