While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: British scholar Robert Plot described fossilized dinosaur bones in...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- British scholar Robert Plot described fossilized dinosaur bones in his 1676 book The Natural History of Oxfordshire.
- Plot earned a reputation for being the first person to have discovered dinosaur remains.
- In 1990, archaeologists in Lesotho, in southern Africa, discovered a fossilized phalanx of a Massospondylus carinatus dinosaur in a cave once inhabited by humans.
- Indigenous Khoesan and Basotho peoples had inhabited the cave beginning around 1100 CE.
- According to paleontologist Julien Benoit, these peoples may have found the phalanx and brought it to the cave centuries before Plot's descriptions.
The student wants to emphasize the significance of the 1990 discovery to Plot's reputation. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Benoit challenged Plot's reputation for being the first person to have discovered M. carinatus remains.
Evidence that Khoesan and Basotho peoples may have found an M. carinatus phalanx as long ago as 1100 CE suggests that Plot may not have been the first person to have discovered dinosaur remains.
According to Benoit's analysis of the 1990 discovery, Indigenous peoples in southern Africa may have brought the fossilized phalanx to the cave as long ago as 1100 CE.
In 1990, more than three centuries after Plot claimed in his book that he had found fossilized dinosaur bones, archaeologists uncovered evidence in southern Africa that disproved his claims.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "British scholar Robert Plot described fossilized dinosaur bones in his 1676 book The Natural History of Oxfordshire." |
|
| "Plot earned a reputation for being the first person to have discovered dinosaur remains." |
|
| "In 1990, archaeologists in Lesotho, in southern Africa, discovered a fossilized phalanx of a Massospondylus carinatus dinosaur in a cave once inhabited by humans." |
|
| "Indigenous Khoesan and Basotho peoples had inhabited the cave beginning around 1100 CE." |
|
| "According to paleontologist Julien Benoit, these peoples may have found the phalanx and brought it to the cave centuries before Plot's descriptions." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Recent archaeological evidence suggests that Indigenous peoples may have discovered dinosaur remains centuries before Robert Plot, potentially challenging his reputation as the first person to make such discoveries.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Plot's historical reputation as the first dinosaur discoverer, then introduces 1990 archaeological evidence of a dinosaur bone in a cave inhabited by Indigenous peoples from around 1100 CE. An expert interpretation suggests these peoples may have found the bone centuries before Plot, implying his first discoverer status may be incorrect.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The student's goal is to emphasize the significance of the 1990 discovery to Plot's reputation.
What type of answer do we need? This means we need to find the choice that best shows how the 1990 archaeological discovery impacts Plot's standing as the first person to discover dinosaur remains.
Any limiting keywords? N/A
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The 1990 discovery is significant to Plot's reputation because it provides evidence that Indigenous peoples may have found dinosaur remains much earlier than Plot did (around 1100 CE vs. 1676)
- This challenges his reputation as being the first person to have discovered dinosaur remains
- The right answer should make this connection clear and show how the 1990 discovery suggests Plot may not actually have been first
Benoit challenged Plot's reputation for being the first person to have discovered M. carinatus remains.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses too narrowly on M. carinatus specifically rather than dinosaur remains in general
- Doesn't effectively emphasize the broader significance to his overall reputation
Evidence that Khoesan and Basotho peoples may have found an M. carinatus phalanx as long ago as 1100 CE suggests that Plot may not have been the first person to have discovered dinosaur remains.
✓ Correct
- Directly connects the 1990 evidence to Plot's broader reputation as first dinosaur discoverer
- Shows the significance clearly by suggesting Plot may not have been the first person to have discovered dinosaur remains
- Uses the timeline effectively to emphasize the challenge to his reputation
According to Benoit's analysis of the 1990 discovery, Indigenous peoples in southern Africa may have brought the fossilized phalanx to the cave as long ago as 1100 CE.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on details about the Indigenous peoples bringing the fossil to the cave but doesn't connect this information to Plot or his reputation at all
In 1990, more than three centuries after Plot claimed in his book that he had found fossilized dinosaur bones, archaeologists uncovered evidence in southern Africa that disproved his claims.
✗ Incorrect
- Uses overly strong language that overstates what the evidence actually shows
- The evidence suggests Plot may not have been first, but doesn't definitively disprove anything