During his 2019 investigation of early Mesopotamian communities, archaeologist Dr. James Mitchell studied ceramic shards retrieved from excavations at...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
During his 2019 investigation of early Mesopotamian communities, archaeologist Dr. James Mitchell studied ceramic shards retrieved from excavations at Ur. Mitchell focused his efforts on examining ornamental designs—detecting nuanced differences in glazing methods and decorative symbols that had suffered substantial degradation through the centuries. This investigation became extraordinarily challenging due to the fragments' severe deterioration from weathering and their tendency to crumble during examination, forcing Mitchell to utilize magnification tools and dedicate extensive time to piecing together incomplete patterns from minuscule remnants.
What does the text most strongly suggest about the ornamental designs on the ceramic shards?
Comprehensive studies of the glazing methods and decorative symbols had rarely, if ever, been conducted prior to Mitchell's investigation.
The ceramic shards revealed a greater quantity of ornamental designs than scholars had originally anticipated discovering.
Mitchell determined that the decorative symbols demonstrated superior artistic complexity compared to the glazing methods.
The ornamental designs have gained broader academic attention following Mitchell's initial examination.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'During his 2019 investigation of early Mesopotamian communities, archaeologist Dr. James Mitchell studied ceramic shards retrieved from excavations at Ur.' |
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| 'Mitchell focused his efforts on examining ornamental designs—detecting nuanced differences in glazing methods and decorative symbols that had suffered substantial degradation through the centuries.' |
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| 'This investigation became extraordinarily challenging due to the fragments' severe deterioration from weathering and their tendency to crumble during examination, forcing Mitchell to utilize magnification tools and dedicate extensive time to piecing together incomplete patterns from minuscule remnants.' |
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Part B: Provide Passage Architecture and Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
Mitchell's 2019 Mesopotamian ceramic study → Examining ornamental designs (glazing and symbols) → Severe degradation over centuries → Special tools and extensive time needed
Main Point: Dr. Mitchell's 2019 study of ornamental designs on ancient Mesopotamian ceramics required extraordinary effort and specialized techniques due to the fragments' severe deterioration.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Mitchell's research subject (ornamental ceramic designs from ancient Ur), then explains that these designs had suffered substantial degradation over time. It concludes by detailing how this degradation made the work extraordinarily challenging, requiring special tools and extensive time investment to reconstruct patterns from tiny, fragile pieces.
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
- The passage emphasizes how Mitchell had to use special magnification tools and dedicate extensive time to detect 'nuanced differences' in these ornamental designs
- The work was 'extraordinarily challenging' because the designs had 'suffered substantial degradation' and the fragments 'crumble during examination'
- Mitchell had to piece together 'incomplete patterns from minuscule remnants'
- All of this suggests that studying these ornamental designs in detail was incredibly difficult work that required specialized approaches
- The passage implies this level of detailed examination was necessary because of the unique challenges presented by the deteriorated state of the materials
- So the right answer should indicate that this type of comprehensive, detailed study of the ornamental designs was particularly challenging or hadn't been done before, given the special methods and extensive effort Mitchell had to invest
Comprehensive studies of the glazing methods and decorative symbols had rarely, if ever, been conducted prior to Mitchell's investigation.
- This matches our prethinking perfectly - the passage's emphasis on how 'extraordinarily challenging' the work was, requiring special 'magnification tools' and 'extensive time,' strongly suggests this detailed examination hadn't been done before
- The passage describes Mitchell having to develop specific methods to 'detect nuanced differences' and 'piece together incomplete patterns,' indicating this was pioneering work
- The level of difficulty described implies previous scholars hadn't undertaken such comprehensive study of these particular ornamental features
The ceramic shards revealed a greater quantity of ornamental designs than scholars had originally anticipated discovering.
- The passage never mentions quantity of designs or compares findings to scholarly expectations
- The text focuses on the challenge of examining existing designs, not on discovering more designs than expected
Mitchell determined that the decorative symbols demonstrated superior artistic complexity compared to the glazing methods.
- Mitchell studied both decorative symbols and glazing methods, but the passage makes no comparison between their artistic complexity
- The text treats both elements equally as part of the ornamental designs he examined
The ornamental designs have gained broader academic attention following Mitchell's initial examination.
- The passage describes Mitchell's investigation but provides no information about what happened afterward or whether the designs gained broader attention following his work
- The text ends with Mitchell's methodology, not with subsequent academic developments