When ancient oak planks were unearthed during subway construction in Rome, Mauro Bernabei and his team examined the growth rings...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
When ancient oak planks were unearthed during subway construction in Rome, Mauro Bernabei and his team examined the growth rings in the wood to determine where these planks came from. By comparing the growth rings on the planks to records of similar rings in oaks from Europe, the team could trace the wood to the Jura region of France, hundreds of kilometers from Rome. Because timber could only have been transported from distant Jura to Rome by boat, the team's findings suggest the complexity of Roman trade routes.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
It presents a conclusion about Roman trade routes based on the team's findings.
It questions how the team was able to conclude that the planks were used to build a boat.
It explains why the planks were made from oak rather than a different kind of wood.
It describes common methods used in Roman subway construction.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "When ancient oak planks were unearthed during subway construction in Rome, Mauro Bernabei and his team examined the growth rings in the wood to determine where these planks came from." |
|
| "By comparing the growth rings on the planks to records of similar rings in oaks from Europe, the team could trace the wood to the Jura region of France, hundreds of kilometers from Rome." |
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| "Because timber could only have been transported from distant Jura to Rome by boat, the team's findings suggest the complexity of Roman trade routes." |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Analysis of ancient Roman oak planks reveals evidence of sophisticated trade routes connecting Rome to distant regions like France.
Argument Flow: The passage starts with a discovery (planks in Rome), describes how scientists traced their origin (to France through growth ring analysis), and concludes by interpreting what this evidence suggests about Roman trade complexity.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The function of the underlined sentence (the final sentence) within the text as a whole
What type of answer do we need? How this specific sentence serves the overall structure and purpose of the passage
Any limiting keywords? "function" and "in the text as a whole" - we need to consider how this sentence works within the complete argument structure
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The underlined sentence takes the evidence we've just learned (planks from France found in Rome, requiring boat transport) and tells us what this evidence suggests - that Roman trade routes were complex
- This sentence is doing the interpretive work, moving from facts to their broader significance
- The right answer should recognize that this sentence draws a conclusion or interpretation based on the team's research findings about the planks' origin and transportation requirements
It presents a conclusion about Roman trade routes based on the team's findings.
✓ Correct
- This perfectly captures what the sentence does - it presents a conclusion about Roman trade routes based directly on the team's findings about the planks' origin and transport method
It questions how the team was able to conclude that the planks were used to build a boat.
✗ Incorrect
- The sentence doesn't question anything - it makes a definitive statement
- There's also confusion here about boat usage - the passage says timber was transported BY boat, not that planks were used TO BUILD a boat
It explains why the planks were made from oak rather than a different kind of wood.
✗ Incorrect
- The sentence says nothing about why oak was chosen over other wood types
- This completely misses the sentence's actual focus on trade route complexity
It describes common methods used in Roman subway construction.
✗ Incorrect
- The sentence discusses ancient Roman trade routes, not modern subway construction methods
- While subway construction is mentioned as the context for the discovery, it's not what the underlined sentence addresses