Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardDetermining Stated Sequence of Events

Read the following passage carefully:

Before securing the official permit to excavate the subterranean granary at Alaca Höyük in 1988, Dr. Aris Thorne had spent two years analyzing satellite imagery at his university lab. It was during that initial imaging analysis, conducted in 1986, that he first identified the anomalous soil density patterns indicating buried structures. However, his actual field research did not begin until three months after receiving the permit, when his team cleared the outer trench. Prior to clearing the trench, Thorne had secured emergency funding from the Antiquities Board, a step he was forced to take only after his initial university grant was abruptly revoked just weeks following the permit approval. It was only after the outer trench was completely excavated that the team uncovered the bronze storage jars.

According to the passage, which of the following events occurred FIRST chronologically?

  1. Identifying the anomalous soil density patternsAnswer
  2. B
    Securing the official excavation permit
  3. C
    Securing emergency funding from the Antiquities Board
  4. D
    Clearing the outer trench at Alaca Höyük

Answer

Identifying the anomalous soil density patterns was the earliest event stated in the passage, occurring during the initial satellite imaging analysis in 1986.
Identifying the anomalous soil density patterns occurred during the initial satellite imaging analysis in 1986. Because this took place two years prior to obtaining the official excavation permit in 1988, it is the chronologically earliest event mentioned among the choices.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze temporal markers and flashbacks in the passage.
The text presents events out of chronological order: 1988 permit acquisition, 1986 satellite analysis, 3-month field research delay, post-permit grant revocation, emergency funding acquisition, trench excavation, and jar discovery.
Tracking explicitly stated temporal markers is necessary to reconstruct the true chronological sequence.
2
Map each event mentioned in the options to its relative position on the timeline.
Identifying soil density patterns occurred in 1986; securing the permit occurred in 1988; securing emergency funding occurred after the 1988 permit and grant revocation; clearing the outer trench occurred three months after the 1988 permit.
Comparing the dates and temporal qualifiers ('Before', 'during', 'Prior to', 'after') determines which event preceded the others.
3
Identify the earliest event among the choices.
Identifying the anomalous soil density patterns during the 1986 imaging analysis predates all other listed events.
The year 1986 is two years prior to the 1988 permit approval.

Key Concept

Determining Stated Sequence of Events in a Non-Linear Narrative
Rate this question

Topics

Determining Stated Sequence of Events

More questions from this topic