For decades, archaeological scholars maintained that remnants of the Indus Valley civilization—a Bronze Age urban society distinguished by its advance...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
For decades, archaeological scholars maintained that remnants of the Indus Valley civilization—a Bronze Age urban society distinguished by its advanced city design and uniform measurement systems—were found exclusively within the river basin regions of modern-day Pakistan and northwestern India. Through a breakthrough that broadens our comprehension of this ancient society's territorial extent, Dr. Kenoyer along with his multinational research team has identified Indus Valley relics and city planning elements at an excavation site in Afghanistan, establishing the culture's expansion well past its formerly recognized limits.
Based on the passage, what made Dr. Kenoyer's team's findings in Afghanistan important?
The findings represent the initial proof that Indus Valley civilization spread beyond Pakistan and northwest India.
The findings help demonstrate that Indus Valley civilization possessed greater urban planning sophistication than previously understood.
The findings help determine a more precise chronology for Bronze Age societies in South Asia.
The findings represent the initial proof that Indus Valley civilization employed uniform weights and measures.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| For decades, archaeological scholars maintained that remnants of the Indus Valley civilization—a Bronze Age urban society distinguished by its advanced city design and uniform measurement systems—were found exclusively within the river basin regions of modern-day Pakistan and northwestern India. |
|
| Through a breakthrough that broadens our comprehension of this ancient society's territorial extent, Dr. Kenoyer along with his multinational research team has identified Indus Valley relics and city planning elements at an excavation site in Afghanistan, |
|
| establishing the culture's expansion well past its formerly recognized limits. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Kenoyer's discovery of Indus Valley artifacts in Afghanistan proves this ancient civilization extended far beyond its previously known geographic boundaries.
Argument Flow: The passage moves from established scholarly consensus about geographic limits to a breakthrough discovery that challenges those limits, concluding with the significance of expanding our understanding of the civilization's territorial reach.
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 right answer should explain that these findings prove the Indus Valley civilization extended beyond its previously known geographic limits
- For decades, scholars thought these remains only existed in Pakistan and northwestern India
- Finding them in Afghanistan shows the civilization spread beyond those previously known boundaries
The findings represent the initial proof that Indus Valley civilization spread beyond Pakistan and northwest India.
✓ Correct
- This directly matches what the passage tells us - scholars maintained remains were found exclusively in Pakistan and northwestern India, but the Afghanistan discovery shows expansion well past formerly recognized limits
- This perfectly aligns with our prethinking about challenging previous geographic boundaries
The findings help demonstrate that Indus Valley civilization possessed greater urban planning sophistication than previously understood.
✗ Incorrect
- While the passage mentions advanced city design, this was already known about the civilization
- The significance wasn't about discovering new urban planning sophistication, but about geographic expansion
The findings help determine a more precise chronology for Bronze Age societies in South Asia.
✗ Incorrect
- The passage doesn't mention anything about chronology or dating Bronze Age societies
- The breakthrough was about territorial extent, not timing
The findings represent the initial proof that Indus Valley civilization employed uniform weights and measures.
✗ Incorrect
- The passage already states that uniform measurement systems were a known distinguishing feature of the civilization
- The Afghanistan findings didn't prove this existed - it was already established