Traditional archaeological interpretations suggested that the Ancestral Puebloan people of the American Southwest lived primarily in dispersed family ...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Traditional archaeological interpretations suggested that the Ancestral Puebloan people of the American Southwest lived primarily in dispersed family units across the landscape, gathering only seasonally for trade and ceremony. However, recent excavations at sites like Mesa Verde have uncovered evidence of sophisticated water management systems, coordinated architectural planning, and standardized pottery production techniques that would have required sustained cooperation among large groups. These findings may suggest that _____
Which choice most logically completes the text?
the Ancestral Puebloan people developed complex social systems only during seasonal gatherings.
centralized social organization was more prevalent among Ancestral Puebloan communities than previously thought.
seasonal trade networks were necessary for maintaining dispersed family units across the landscape.
dispersed family units could have easily coordinated sophisticated water management systems independently.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Traditional archaeological interpretations suggested that the Ancestral Puebloan people of the American Southwest lived primarily in dispersed family units across the landscape, gathering only seasonally for trade and ceremony.' |
|
| 'However, recent excavations at sites like Mesa Verde have uncovered evidence of sophisticated water management systems, coordinated architectural planning, and standardized pottery production techniques that would have required sustained cooperation among large groups.' |
|
| 'These findings may suggest that _____' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Recent archaeological evidence suggests that Ancestral Puebloan social organization may have been more centralized and cooperative than previously believed.
Argument Flow: The passage starts with the traditional view that these people lived in scattered family groups. However, new evidence shows sophisticated systems that would require sustained group cooperation. This leads to a logical inference about their actual social organization being different from what was traditionally thought.
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 right answer should address the contrast between old and new evidence
- Reflect that the new evidence suggests more centralized or coordinated social organization
- Acknowledge that this differs from previous archaeological interpretations
- So the right answer should indicate that these people had more centralized or coordinated social organization than previously believed, based on evidence requiring sustained group cooperation
the Ancestral Puebloan people developed complex social systems only during seasonal gatherings.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests complex social systems only existed during seasonal gatherings, contradicts evidence of 'sustained cooperation' which implies ongoing organization
centralized social organization was more prevalent among Ancestral Puebloan communities than previously thought.
✓ Correct
- Directly addresses the contrast between traditional interpretations and new evidence
- 'More prevalent than previously thought' perfectly captures how the new evidence changes our understanding
seasonal trade networks were necessary for maintaining dispersed family units across the landscape.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on trade networks rather than social organization implications
- Doesn't address the main contrast between dispersed living and evidence of sustained cooperation
dispersed family units could have easily coordinated sophisticated water management systems independently.
✗ Incorrect
- Actually supports the traditional view rather than acknowledging the contradiction
- Claims dispersed units 'could have easily coordinated' but evidence suggests coordination required more centralized organization