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Difficulty: Very hardStrengthen

Linguist: Tarania's indigenous language features a complex tonal system, structurally identical to mainland languages 2,000 miles away, but unlike the non-tonal languages of neighboring islands. Anthropologists argue this tonal system evolved independently due to similar acoustic environments between Tarania and the mainland. However, geological records prove Tarania's environment has always resembled its non-tonal neighbors, not the mainland. Therefore, Tarania's tonal system must have been introduced by ancient mainland settlers who migrated to the island.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the linguist's conclusion?

  1. A
    The specific tonal structure of the mainland language has remained remarkably stable and largely unchanged for over three thousand years.
  2. B
    Recent archaeological excavations on Tarania have uncovered artifacts indicating that extensive, long-distance trade networks connected Tarania and the mainland.
  3. C
    Scientific studies have conclusively proven that the acoustic environment of a region has absolutely no impact on whether a language naturally develops a tonal system.
  4. Fundamental linguistic structures, such as a highly complex tonal system, are universally adopted only through long-term demographic integration and not through temporary contact.Answer
  5. E
    In documented cases where mainland settlers migrated to neighboring islands, the native populations rapidly abandoned their original languages in favor of the settlers' language.

Answer

Fundamental linguistic structures, such as a highly complex tonal system, are universally adopted only through long-term demographic integration and not through temporary contact.
The correct answer strengthens the argument by explicitly ruling out a highly plausible alternative explanation: temporary contact through trade networks. By establishing that such complex linguistic features strictly require long-term demographic integration, it bridges the gap between the observed phenomenon and the author's specific conclusion that settlers permanently migrated.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the argument's core structure (premises and main conclusion).
Premises: The tonal system matches the mainland but not neighbors; it didn't evolve independently via environment because Tarania's environment doesn't match the mainland's. Conclusion: Mainland settlers migrating to Tarania introduced the tonal system.
Understanding the core argument structure is required to isolate the logical gap.
2
Identify the logical gap in the reasoning.
The linguist assumes that ruling out independent environmental evolution leaves permanent migration as the only explanation, ignoring other forms of contact like historical trade.
Strengthening an argument often involves closing unstated gaps or ruling out alternative explanations.
3
Evaluate the options to find one that bridges the gap or rules out an alternative cause.
The option stating that complex tonal systems require long-term demographic integration rather than temporary contact perfectly eliminates the most plausible alternative mechanism (trade).
Ruling out alternative causes directly bolsters the author's proposed causal mechanism.

Key Concept

Ruling out alternative explanations to strengthen a causal claim.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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