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Question

Difficulty: HardComprehending Explicit Comparisons and Contrasts

Passage:
For decades, field archaeology has been shaped by the debate between two primary excavation strategies: the Wheeler-Kenyon grid system and the open-area method. The Wheeler-Kenyon system utilizes a series of square trenches separated by narrow walls of earth called balks. These balks serve a critical purpose: they preserve the vertical soil layers (stratigraphy) in cross-section, allowing archaeologists to trace chronological sequences over time. In contrast, the open-area method involves the wholesale removal of these vertical walls to expose a single, expansive horizontal plane. While the open-area method is highly effective for examining the spatial layout of structures and artifacts within a specific historical era, it lacks the permanent stratigraphic reference points that the Wheeler-Kenyon method preserves for analyzing overlapping historical periods.

According to the passage, which of the following statements best describes how the open-area excavation method differs from the Wheeler-Kenyon grid system?

  1. A
    The open-area method focuses on tracing chronological soil layers over time, while the Wheeler-Kenyon system focuses on mapping the spatial layout of structures within a single era.
  2. B
    The open-area method relies on temporary stratigraphic reference points to examine artifacts, while the Wheeler-Kenyon system permanently preserves the entire horizontal excavation site.
  3. The open-area method prioritizes exposing expansive horizontal planes by removing soil walls, while the Wheeler-Kenyon system retains these walls to document stratigraphic layers in cross-section.Answer
  4. D
    The open-area method requires the wholesale removal of soil walls to preserve organic artifacts, while the Wheeler-Kenyon system uses balks to isolate and protect delicate structural ruins.

Answer

The open-area excavation method prioritizes exposing expansive horizontal planes by removing soil walls, while the Wheeler-Kenyon system retains these walls to document stratigraphic layers in cross-section.
The correct option is supported because the passage explicitly contrasts the two methods by stating that the open-area method removes vertical earth walls to expose a horizontal plane, whereas the Wheeler-Kenyon method utilizes these walls (balks) to preserve stratigraphic layers in cross-section.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key characteristics of both the open-area method and the Wheeler-Kenyon grid system as explicitly stated in the passage.
The passage states that the Wheeler-Kenyon system uses earth walls (balks) to preserve stratigraphic layers in cross-section, whereas the open-area method removes these walls to expose an expansive horizontal plane.
Establishing the explicitly stated features of both excavation strategies is necessary to find the correct comparison.
2
Evaluate the choices to find which one accurately reflects the contrast between the two methods without introducing errors or distortions.
The choice describing the open-area method removing walls to expose horizontal planes and the Wheeler-Kenyon method retaining walls to document stratigraphic layers matches the explicit description in the text.
This step eliminates incorrect choices that reverse details, distort the text, or introduce outside information.

Key Concept

Comprehending Explicit Comparisons and Contrasts
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Comprehending Explicit Comparisons and Contrasts

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