In the 1970s, a roughly 60,000-year-old piece of hyena bone marked with nine notches was discovered at a site in...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
In the 1970s, a roughly 60,000-year-old piece of hyena bone marked with nine notches was discovered at a site in western France once inhabited by Neanderthals. Although many believe that only modern humans developed systems for notating numbers, one archaeologist asserts that this artifact may be a sign that Neanderthals also recorded numerical information. The notches on the bone are unevenly spaced but approximately parallel, and microscopic analysis reveals that they were made with a single stone tool; according to the archaeologist, this suggests that the notches were all made at one time by one individual as a means of counting something.
Which finding, if true, would most directly weaken the underlined claim?
Parallel lines are a common feature in modern humans' early systems for recording numerical information.
More than nine approximately parallel notches made with a different stone tool are present on another artifact found at a site in western France.
It would have taken careful effort to make evenly spaced lines on bone with the stone tools typically used by Neanderthals.
Decorative art discovered at another Neanderthal site in western France primarily features patterns of unevenly spaced parallel lines.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| In the 1970s, a roughly 60,000-year-old piece of hyena bone marked with nine notches was discovered at a site in western France once inhabited by Neanderthals. |
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| Although many believe that only modern humans developed systems for notating numbers, one archaeologist asserts that this artifact may be a sign that Neanderthals also recorded numerical information. |
|
| The notches on the bone are unevenly spaced but approximately parallel, and microscopic analysis reveals that they were made with a single stone tool; |
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| according to the archaeologist, this suggests that the notches were all made at one time by one individual as a means of counting something. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: An archaeologist argues that a notched bone from a Neanderthal site represents evidence that Neanderthals, like modern humans, developed systems for recording numerical information.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces an archaeological discovery, then presents two competing views about who developed numerical notation systems. It concludes with the archaeologist's specific interpretation that the physical evidence supports Neanderthal numerical recording abilities.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to identify which finding would most directly weaken the underlined claim.
What type of answer do we need? Evidence that contradicts or undermines the archaeologist's interpretation.
Any limiting keywords? 'Most directly' indicates we want the strongest contradiction, and 'underlined claim' refers specifically to the archaeologist's conclusion that 'the notches were all made at one time by one individual as a means of counting something.'
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The archaeologist's claim rests on the idea that these notches represent numerical counting
- To weaken this claim effectively, we need evidence that suggests an alternative purpose for the notches
- The key elements the correct answer should have are:
- Present evidence of similar notch patterns from Neanderthal sites
- Show these patterns served a non-numerical purpose
- Directly challenge the 'counting' interpretation by offering a competing explanation
- The right answer should provide evidence that parallel notches at Neanderthal sites were used for something other than counting, making the numerical interpretation less likely
Parallel lines are a common feature in modern humans' early systems for recording numerical information.
✗ Incorrect
- States that parallel lines appear in modern humans' early numerical systems
- Actually supports the archaeologist's claim by showing that parallel lines are indeed associated with numerical notation
More than nine approximately parallel notches made with a different stone tool are present on another artifact found at a site in western France.
✗ Incorrect
- Describes finding more parallel notches made with a different tool
- This would support rather than weaken the claim by providing additional evidence of notch-making for potential numerical purposes
It would have taken careful effort to make evenly spaced lines on bone with the stone tools typically used by Neanderthals.
✗ Incorrect
- Discusses the difficulty of making evenly spaced lines with Neanderthal tools
- Doesn't address the purpose of the notches or challenge the counting interpretation
Decorative art discovered at another Neanderthal site in western France primarily features patterns of unevenly spaced parallel lines.
✓ Correct
- Provides evidence that unevenly spaced parallel lines were used for decorative art at another Neanderthal site
- Directly challenges the numerical interpretation by showing these patterns served an artistic/decorative function instead