Number and Origin of Clamshell Tools Found at Different Depths below the Surface in Neanderthal CaveDepth of tools found below...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Number and Origin of Clamshell Tools Found at Different Depths below the Surface in Neanderthal Cave
| Depth of tools found below surface in cave (meters) | Clamshells that Neanderthals collected from the beach | Clamshells that Neanderthals harvested from the seafloor |
|---|---|---|
| 2–3 | 7 | 0 |
| 3–4 | 99 | 33 |
| 4–5 | 2 | 0 |
| 5–6 | 18 | 7 |
| 6–7 | 1 | 0 |
Two kinds of clamshell tools used by Neanderthals were dug up in a cave on the western coast of Italy. Archaeologist Paola Villa and her colleagues studied the tools and determined that Neanderthals either collected clams that had washed onto the beach or harvested clams from the seafloor and then sharpened the shells to make tools. The highest number of tools made from clamshells that were collected from the beach was found at a depth of ______
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to complete the text?
\(5-6\) meters below the surface.
\(4-5\) meters below the surface.
\(3-4\) meters below the surface.
\(6-7\) meters below the surface.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Two kinds of clamshell tools used by Neanderthals were dug up in a cave on the western coast of Italy." |
|
| "Archaeologist Paola Villa and her colleagues studied the tools and determined that Neanderthals either collected clams that had washed onto the beach or harvested clams from the seafloor and then sharpened the shells to make tools." |
|
| "The highest number of tools made from clamshells that were collected from the beach was found at a depth of ______" |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Archaeological research revealed that Neanderthals used two different methods to obtain clamshells for tool-making, and the data shows where the most beach-collected tools were found.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes the archaeological context, explains the research methodology and findings about Neanderthal tool-making practices, then poses a specific question about the distribution of beach-collected tools that requires data analysis to complete.
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
- We need to look specifically at the beach collection column in the table
- We need to find which depth range has the highest number in that column
- Looking at the data: 2-3m has 7, 3-4m has 99, 4-5m has 2, 5-6m has 18, 6-7m has 1
- The highest number is clearly 99, which appears at the 3-4 meter depth
- So the right answer should be 3-4 meters below the surface
\(5-6\) meters below the surface.
5–6 meters below the surface.
✗ Incorrect
- At 5–6 meters depth, there were 18 beach-collected clamshell tools
- While this is a significant number, it's not the highest in the beach collection column
- What trap this represents: Students might confuse this with a relatively high number without carefully comparing all the values
\(4-5\) meters below the surface.
4–5 meters below the surface.
✗ Incorrect
- At 4–5 meters depth, there were only 2 beach-collected clamshell tools
- This is actually one of the lowest numbers in the table
- Easy to eliminate as it's clearly not the maximum
\(3-4\) meters below the surface.
3–4 meters below the surface.
✓ Correct
- At 3–4 meters depth, there were 99 beach-collected clamshell tools
- This is clearly the highest number in the beach collection column
- Matches our prethinking perfectly
\(6-7\) meters below the surface.
6–7 meters below the surface.
✗ Incorrect
- At 6–7 meters depth, there was only 1 beach-collected clamshell tool
- This is the lowest number in the entire beach collection column
- Clearly not the maximum we're looking for