Recent advances in ground-penetrating radar technology have revolutionized how archaeologists can study ancient settlements without physical intervent...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Recent advances in ground-penetrating radar technology have revolutionized how archaeologists can study ancient settlements without physical intervention. This non-invasive method allows researchers to create detailed subsurface maps and track changes in buried structures over multiple seasons of environmental exposure. Traditional archaeological excavation, while providing direct access to artifacts, cannot offer such longitudinal monitoring capabilities because _______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
the excavation process removes the site context needed for future comparative studies.
it requires specialized equipment that is too expensive for extended field seasons.
the documentation methods take longer than natural weathering processes.
the mapping process introduces measurement errors that accumulate over time.
Looking at this inference question about archaeological methods, I need to understand why traditional excavation can't provide longitudinal monitoring capabilities like ground-penetrating radar can.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Recent advances in ground-penetrating radar technology have revolutionized how archaeologists can study ancient settlements without physical intervention." |
|
| "This non-invasive method allows researchers to create detailed subsurface maps and track changes in buried structures over multiple seasons of environmental exposure." |
|
| "Traditional archaeological excavation, while providing direct access to artifacts, cannot offer such longitudinal monitoring capabilities because _______" |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Ground-penetrating radar offers advantages over traditional excavation for longitudinal archaeological studies.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces radar technology as revolutionary for non-invasive archaeology, explains that it allows long-term monitoring of buried structures, then contrasts this with traditional excavation which can't provide such monitoring capabilities for an unstated reason.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The logical completion of why traditional excavation cannot offer longitudinal monitoring capabilities.
What type of answer do we need? A reason/explanation that explains the inherent limitation of excavation for long-term studies.
Any limiting keywords? Cannot offer longitudinal monitoring capabilities
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The key insight is that longitudinal monitoring requires the ability to study the same site repeatedly over time
- The right answer should explain that excavation fundamentally changes or destroys the site in a way that prevents future monitoring
the excavation process removes the site context needed for future comparative studies.
✓ Correct
- This directly explains the limitation - excavation removes artifacts and context from their original positions
- Once you dig up a site, you can't track how those buried structures change over time because they're no longer buried in their original context
it requires specialized equipment that is too expensive for extended field seasons.
✗ Incorrect
- This talks about cost of equipment for excavation
- Doesn't explain why excavation can't offer longitudinal monitoring - cost issues don't prevent tracking changes over time
the documentation methods take longer than natural weathering processes.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims documentation methods are slower than weathering processes
- This doesn't explain why excavation can't track changes - even slow documentation could still monitor changes over multiple seasons
the mapping process introduces measurement errors that accumulate over time.
✗ Incorrect
- Discusses measurement errors in mapping processes
- Measurement errors don't prevent longitudinal monitoring - they might make it less accurate but wouldn't eliminate the capability entirely