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Difficulty: MediumStrengthen

Archaeologist: Fragments of distinctively glazed pottery, known to have been produced exclusively in the coastal city of Aethel around 500 BCE, have been discovered in the ruins of the inland city of Bael, located 300 miles away across a harsh desert. Bael was founded around 450 BCE. From this, we can conclude that merchants from Aethel must have traveled directly across the desert to trade their pottery with the inhabitants of Bael.

Which of the following statements, if true, would most strengthen the archaeologist's argument? Select all that apply.

  1. Extensive surveys of ancient settlements that could have served as intermediaries between Aethel and Bael have found no evidence of this distinctive pottery.Answer
  2. The only geographical alternative to the desert route between Aethel and Bael was a coastal path that was entirely submerged by rising sea levels prior to 450 BCE.Answer
  3. C
    The founders of Bael migrated from the coastal regions near Aethel around 450 BCE, bringing their personal heirlooms with them.
  4. D
    Other types of artifacts found in Bael suggest that its inhabitants maintained extensive trade networks with several nearby inland cities.
  5. E
    The distinctive glaze found on the pottery from Aethel was originally designed to prevent the rapid evaporation of stored liquids.

Answer

The correct statements are the one eliminating intermediary settlements and the one ruling out an alternative coastal route.
To strengthen the archaeologist's conclusion that Aethel merchants traveled directly across the desert to trade, we must rule out alternative ways the pottery could have arrived. The statement eliminating intermediary settlements rules out indirect trade via middlemen. The statement ruling out the coastal path ensures that if trade happened, it must have been across the desert. Both independently increase the plausibility of the main conclusion.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the conclusion and premises of the argument.
Premises: Pottery exclusively from Aethel (500 BCE) was found in Bael (founded 450 BCE), 300 miles away across a desert. Conclusion: Aethel merchants traveled directly across the desert to trade with Bael.
Understanding the core argument structure is required to evaluate logical gaps.
2
Identify logical gaps or unstated assumptions in the argument.
The argument assumes that the trade was direct (not through middlemen), that the route was across the desert (not another path), and that the pottery arrived via trade (not by migrating settlers).
Strengthening an argument often involves providing evidence that bridges a gap or rules out alternative explanations.
3
Evaluate each option against the identified logical gaps.
The option about finding no pottery in intermediary settlements rules out indirect trade. The option about the flooded coastal path rules out an alternative route. Both bridge logical gaps.
To strengthen the conclusion, an option must make the specific scenario proposed by the conclusion more probable.

Key Concept

Strengthening an argument by ruling out alternative causal pathways and alternative explanations.
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Strengthen

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