Many ancient pottery fragments found in Mediterranean archaeological sites display a distinctive reddish-brown coloration. Standard clay in this regio...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Many ancient pottery fragments found in Mediterranean archaeological sites display a distinctive reddish-brown coloration. Standard clay in this region typically fires to a pale yellow or tan color in ancient kilns. However, pottery from certain coastal settlements shows the deeper reddish-brown hue. Archaeological researchers proposed that this coloration results from iron-rich sediments that were mixed into the clay by potters who lived near mineral deposits, giving the fired pottery its characteristic darker appearance.
Which finding, if true, would most directly challenge the researchers' explanation?
Reddish-brown pottery and pale yellow pottery from the same coastal settlements contain nearly identical levels of iron content.
Iron-rich sediments in coastal areas have a more pronounced reddish color than similar deposits found inland.
Pale yellow pottery shards are more commonly discovered than reddish-brown pottery in most excavation sites.
Pottery from inland settlements shows similar reddish-brown coloration despite being located far from coastal mineral deposits.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Many ancient pottery fragments found in Mediterranean archaeological sites display a distinctive reddish-brown coloration." |
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| "Standard clay in this region typically fires to a pale yellow or tan color in ancient kilns." |
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| "However, pottery from certain coastal settlements shows the deeper reddish-brown hue." |
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| "Archaeological researchers proposed that this coloration results from iron-rich sediments that were mixed into the clay by potters who lived near mineral deposits, giving the fired pottery its characteristic darker appearance." |
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Main Point: Researchers propose that the distinctive reddish-brown coloration of ancient coastal pottery results from iron-rich sediments mixed into the clay.
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
- To challenge this explanation most directly, we need evidence that either shows the reddish-brown pottery doesn't actually contain more iron than the pale pottery, or demonstrates the reddish-brown coloration appears even without iron-rich sediments
- The most direct challenge would attack the core mechanism - that iron content is responsible for the color difference
Reddish-brown pottery and pale yellow pottery from the same coastal settlements contain nearly identical levels of iron content.
✓ Correct
- This directly attacks the core theory
- If reddish-brown and pale pottery from the same locations have identical iron levels, then iron content cannot be causing the color difference
Iron-rich sediments in coastal areas have a more pronounced reddish color than similar deposits found inland.
✗ Incorrect
- This actually supports the researchers' explanation by showing coastal areas do have more iron-rich deposits, making their theory more plausible
Pale yellow pottery shards are more commonly discovered than reddish-brown pottery in most excavation sites.
✗ Incorrect
- This only tells us about frequency of pottery types found, not about the cause of coloration
Pottery from inland settlements shows similar reddish-brown coloration despite being located far from coastal mineral deposits.
✗ Incorrect
- While this could challenge the explanation, it's less direct than Choice A because it doesn't specifically test the iron content claim