When pottery fragments are discovered in mixed archaeological deposits, determining their temporal origins presents significant challenges. Unlike art...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
When pottery fragments are discovered in mixed archaeological deposits, determining their temporal origins presents significant challenges. Unlike artifacts from well-documented excavation sites, which provide clear chronological information, these mixed-context pieces offer much less _______ data about their age. Archaeologists must therefore rely on specialized dating techniques such as thermoluminescence analysis.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
valuable
identifiable
interesting
authentic
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'When pottery fragments are discovered in mixed archaeological deposits, determining their temporal origins presents significant challenges.' |
|
| 'Unlike artifacts from well-documented excavation sites, which provide clear chronological information,' |
|
| 'these mixed-context pieces offer much less _______ data about their age.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Pottery from mixed archaeological contexts provides unclear age information, forcing archaeologists to use specialized dating methods.
Argument Flow: The passage sets up a dating challenge with mixed deposits, contrasts this with clearer well-documented sites, and concludes that the unclear nature of mixed contexts requires special techniques.
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 blank appears in a contrast structure
- We know well-documented sites provide 'clear chronological information,' while mixed-context pieces offer 'much less ______ data about their age'
- The word needs to parallel 'clear' - if well-documented sites give clear, obvious age information, then mixed contexts give less clear, less obvious age information
valuable
- 'Valuable' focuses on worth or importance
- Doesn't create the logical parallel with 'clear chronological information'
identifiable
- 'Identifiable' means recognizable or clearly determinable
- Creates perfect parallel: clear info vs. less identifiable info
interesting
- 'Interesting' relates to how engaging something is
- Doesn't address the dating challenge
authentic
- 'Authentic' means genuine or real
- The issue isn't whether pottery is real, but whether its age can be determined