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Difficulty: HardEvaluating Intermediate Conclusions

Analyze the argument below. Match each statement from the argument to its corresponding structural role.

Philologists have traditionally classified the newly discovered Oakhaven runic script as a purely ceremonial alphabet used exclusively in religious rituals. However, this classification is almost certainly incorrect. Recent excavations at the Oakhaven site uncovered dozens of everyday commercial ledgers written entirely in this script. The presence of mundane transaction records demonstrates that the script was actually widely utilized for daily administrative and trade purposes. Because a script used for daily commerce must have been understood by a significant portion of the general populace, we can conclude that literacy in the Oakhaven region was much more widespread than previously believed.

  • The script was actually widely utilized for daily administrative and trade purposes.An intermediate conclusion that bridges the gap between recent archaeological evidence and a broader historical claim.
  • Recent excavations at the Oakhaven site uncovered dozens of everyday commercial ledgers written entirely in this script.A piece of empirical evidence used to establish a subsidiary conclusion.
  • Literacy in the Oakhaven region was much more widespread than previously believed.The ultimate conclusion that the argument seeks to establish regarding the historical society.
  • The newly discovered Oakhaven runic script was a purely ceremonial alphabet used exclusively in religious rituals.A traditional scholarly view that the argument as a whole is designed to refute.

Answer

The statement about daily administrative use is the intermediate conclusion. The discovery of ledgers is the empirical evidence. The claim about widespread literacy is the ultimate conclusion. The ceremonial alphabet claim is the refuted traditional view.
The correct mapping identifies the hierarchical structure of the argument. The traditional view is presented only to be rejected. The archaeological discovery serves as foundational evidence (a premise), which logically leads to the intermediate conclusion that the script was used for daily commerce. This intermediate conclusion then serves as a premise supporting the final ultimate conclusion that literacy was widespread.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main conclusion.
The main conclusion is that literacy in the Oakhaven region was much more widespread than previously believed.
The phrase 'we can conclude that' points to the final claim derived from all the preceding context and evidence.
2
Identify the intermediate conclusion.
The intermediate conclusion is that the script was widely utilized for daily administrative and trade purposes.
It is supported by the ledger evidence ('demonstrates that') and acts as a premise for the final conclusion about literacy ('Because a script used for daily commerce...').
3
Identify the primary evidence.
The discovery of everyday commercial ledgers written in the script is the primary empirical evidence.
This is a direct factual observation that triggers the subsequent inferences in the argument.
4
Identify the opposing view.
The claim that the script was a purely ceremonial alphabet is a discredited hypothesis.
It is introduced as what philologists 'have traditionally classified' and is immediately challenged by the author stating 'this classification is almost certainly incorrect'.

Key Concept

Identifying intermediate conclusions and mapping logical structures in multi-step arguments.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Evaluating Intermediate Conclusions

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