In 2019, archaeologists excavating in Guatemala uncovered extensive evidence of a previously unknown Maya settlement dating to 600 CE. A...

Let's begin by understanding the meaning of this sentence. We'll use our understanding of pause points and segment the sentence as shown - understanding and assimilating the meaning of each segment bit by bit!

Sentence Structure

• In 2019,
• archaeologists excavating in Guatemala
• uncovered extensive evidence
• of a previously unknown Maya settlement
• dating to 600 CE.

• A densely populated urban center
• with elaborate stone temples
• and sophisticated agricultural systems,
• [?] demonstrated the advanced engineering capabilities
• of its inhabitants.

Understanding the Meaning

Let's start with the first sentence:

In 2019,
archaeologists excavating in Guatemala
uncovered extensive evidence
of a previously unknown Maya settlement
dating to 600 CE.

This tells us about a discovery:

• Archaeologists in Guatemala found evidence
• They discovered a Maya settlement
• This settlement was previously unknown
• It dates to 600 CE

Now the second sentence begins:

A densely populated urban center
with elaborate stone temples
and sophisticated agricultural systems,
_____

This is where we have the blank.

Let's look at the choices to see what varies:

• A. the site demonstrated...
• B. archaeologists determined...
• C. demonstrating... was evident...
• D. when researchers studied...

They're giving us completely different subjects and structures.

To see what works here, let's understand what we're reading:

'A densely populated urban center with elaborate stone temples and sophisticated agricultural systems'

• This is a descriptive phrase at the start of the sentence
• It's followed by a comma
• It's describing something - giving us characteristics

What is it describing?

• It's describing the Maya settlement from the first sentence
• It's telling us what the settlement was like

What do we notice about the structure here?

• This opening phrase is a modifier - a descriptive element
  • It comes at the beginning of the sentence
  • It's followed by a comma
  • It needs to be followed by the thing it's describing

• The thing being described is the settlement/site itself
  • The phrase "a densely populated urban center" is describing what the settlement WAS
  • So the word right after the comma must BE that settlement/site

Looking at our choices again:

• A. "the site" → This IS the settlement ✓
• B. "archaeologists" → These are people, not the settlement
• C. "demonstrating" → This is a verb form, not the site itself
• D. "when researchers studied" → This is about timing/action, not the site

The correct answer is A.

The opening modifier describes the settlement, so "the site" (which refers to the settlement) must come immediately after the comma. This makes the sentence mean: "The site - which was a densely populated urban center with elaborate stone temples and sophisticated agricultural systems - demonstrated the advanced engineering capabilities of its inhabitants."

GRAMMAR CONCEPT APPLIED

Introductory Descriptive Phrases (Modifiers)

When a sentence begins with a descriptive phrase followed by a comma, what comes immediately after that comma must be the specific thing being described (called an introductory appositive or noun phrase modifier in grammar terms).

The Pattern:

• Descriptive phrase: A prize-winning novelist
• Must be followed by: she has published twelve books
  • "she" (the novelist) comes right after the comma

• Descriptive phrase: An innovative solution to urban traffic
• Must be followed by: the new subway system has reduced congestion by 40%
  • "the subway system" (the solution) comes right after the comma

Why this matters:

The descriptive phrase at the beginning tells you characteristics or qualities. Whatever those characteristics apply to must be named immediately after the comma. If you put something else there, you create a mismatch - like saying "A brilliant scientist, the experiment was groundbreaking" (incorrect - the experiment isn't the scientist!).

In this question:

• Descriptive phrase: "A densely populated urban center with elaborate stone temples and sophisticated agricultural systems"
• Must describe: the site (the settlement)
• Incorrect if followed by: archaeologists, when researchers, or demonstrating

The phrase describes the settlement's characteristics, so "the site" must come right after the comma.