Tatiana R. Feuerborn and colleagues analyzed the genomes of more than a hundred domesticated dogs from sites in Siberia dating...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Tatiana R. Feuerborn and colleagues analyzed the genomes of more than a hundred domesticated dogs from sites in Siberia dating from 11,000 years ago to the present. They found that the dogs constituted a genetically isolated population of Arctic breeds until approximately 2,000 years ago, at which point there was substantial interbreeding with Near Eastern dog breeds. Furthermore, beginning around 2,000 years ago, some sites contain artifacts consistent with a Near East origin, like glass beads, but the people show no evidence of having traveled extensively outside Siberia. From this, Feuerborn and colleagues concluded that around 2,000 years ago ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
dogs and artifacts like glass beads began to be transported from the Near East to Siberia.
people from Siberia began to reach the Near East, where they acquired dogs and artifacts such as glass beads.
glass beads and other artifacts from the Near East began to be exchanged for dogs from Siberia.
dogs from the Near East began to be exchanged for glass beads and other artifacts from Siberia.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Tatiana R. Feuerborn and colleagues analyzed the genomes of more than a hundred domesticated dogs from sites in Siberia dating from 11,000 years ago to the present.' |
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| 'They found that the dogs constituted a genetically isolated population of Arctic breeds until approximately 2,000 years ago, at which point there was substantial interbreeding with Near Eastern dog breeds.' |
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| 'Furthermore, beginning around 2,000 years ago, some sites contain artifacts consistent with a Near East origin, like glass beads, but the people show no evidence of having traveled extensively outside Siberia.' |
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| 'From this, Feuerborn and colleagues concluded that around 2,000 years ago' |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Researchers found that Siberian dogs were genetically isolated until 2,000 years ago, when they began interbreeding with Near Eastern breeds, coinciding with the appearance of Near Eastern artifacts despite no evidence of local people traveling extensively.
Argument Flow: The passage presents research findings that establish a timeline - Siberian dogs were isolated for thousands of years, then suddenly around 2,000 years ago showed genetic mixing with Near Eastern breeds. The researchers also found Near Eastern artifacts appearing at the same time, but critically, the local people hadn't traveled outside Siberia.
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
- The evidence creates a clear logical puzzle
- We have Near Eastern dog genetics and Near Eastern artifacts appearing in Siberia around 2,000 years ago, but the people living there didn't travel outside Siberia
- The correct answer must explain how both dogs and artifacts from the Near East ended up in Siberia without the local Siberian people traveling to get them
- This means the dogs and artifacts must have been brought TO Siberia FROM the Near East
dogs and artifacts like glass beads began to be transported from the Near East to Siberia.
- This directly matches our logical reasoning - dogs and artifacts were transported FROM the Near East TO Siberia
- Perfectly explains how Near Eastern dog genetics and artifacts appeared in Siberia without local people traveling extensively
people from Siberia began to reach the Near East, where they acquired dogs and artifacts such as glass beads.
- This suggests Siberian people traveled to the Near East to acquire dogs and artifacts
- Directly contradicts the evidence that people show no evidence of having traveled extensively outside Siberia
glass beads and other artifacts from the Near East began to be exchanged for dogs from Siberia.
- This suggests a trade exchange where glass beads went FROM Near East TO Siberia in exchange for dogs going FROM Siberia TO Near East
- Doesn't explain how Near Eastern dog genetics ended up in Siberian dogs
dogs from the Near East began to be exchanged for glass beads and other artifacts from Siberia.
- This reverses the direction - suggests Near Eastern dogs came to Siberia in exchange for Siberian artifacts going to Near East
- The evidence shows Near Eastern artifacts appearing in Siberia, not Siberian artifacts going to Near East