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Difficulty: EasyCross-Text Connections: Relational Synthesis

Text 1
For many years, some archaeologists have argued that the polished stone spheres found at ancient Neolithic settlements in northern Europe were used as standardized weights for trade. They point to the remarkably uniform mass of these stones and the fact that they are frequently found clustered near communal grain storage structures, suggesting that a systematic method of measurement was crucial for distributing harvested crops.

Text 2
Recent excavations at a well-preserved Neolithic site in the Orkney Islands of Scotland uncovered dozens of these polished stone spheres stored directly alongside the remains of a primitive wooden balance scale. Furthermore, mathematical analysis of the spheres' masses showed that they represent precise multiples of a single base unit, which strongly reinforces the idea that these objects served a standardized social and economic function.

Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely characterize the argument of the archaeologists in Text 1?

  1. A
    As an unproven speculation that is contradicted by the mathematical analysis of the spheres.
  2. As a convincing argument that is supported by the discovery of new physical evidence.Answer
  3. C
    As an interesting idea that cannot be evaluated without further excavation of communal grain storage structures.
  4. D
    As a theory that incorrectly assumes Neolithic communities lacked a standardized system of measurement.

Answer

As a convincing argument that is supported by the discovery of new physical evidence.
The author of Text 2 describes recent findings—specifically, the discovery of a balance scale alongside the stone spheres and mathematical evidence that the spheres represent multiples of a single unit—which reinforces the idea that the spheres had a standardized economic function. This directly supports the argument of the archaeologists in Text 1 that the spheres were used as weights.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main argument in Text 1.
The archaeologists in Text 1 argue that polished stone spheres were used as standardized weights for trade.
This establishes the premise that needs to be compared with Text 2.
2
Analyze the findings and attitude in Text 2.
Text 2 presents new evidence (a balance scale and mathematical consistency in sphere masses) that strongly reinforces the economic function of the spheres.
This reveals how Text 2 relates to the argument in Text 1.
3
Synthesize the relationship to determine how the author of Text 2 would characterize Text 1.
Since Text 2's evidence reinforces the claim in Text 1, the author of Text 2 would view the argument in Text 1 as convincing and supported by new evidence.
This directly answers the prompt's question about how Text 2 characterizes Text 1's argument.

Key Concept

Evaluating cross-text relationships to synthesize arguments
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Cross-Text Connections: Relational Synthesis

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