Loading...
Archaeologists excavating an ancient Chi-Xua site found a small statue along with white-and-red striped pottery fragments and small bits of cloth in a one-room building approximately 6 meters by 5 meters. The building had a single entrance, opening to a narrow exterior porch. The building's walls were made of local sandstone.
Select the proposition that, if true, would provide the strongest evidence For the hypothesis that the room had a residential function and select the proposition that, if true, would provide the strongest evidence Against the hypothesis. Make only two selections, one in each column.
Local sandstone was rarely used for building in ancient Chi-Xua sites.
Nearly all Chi-Xua residential buildings had multiple rooms.
Some Chi-Xua buildings included multiple storage rooms measuring approximately 30 square meters.
The cloth fragments did not contain the pigments commonly used in Chi-Xua ceremonial robes.
Red-and-white striped pottery was used in Chi-Xua almost exclusively for personal food storage.
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Archaeologists excavating an ancient Chi-Xua site found a small statue along with white-and-red striped pottery fragments and small bits of cloth" |
|
| "in a one-room building approximately 6 meters by 5 meters" |
|
| "The building had a single entrance, opening to a narrow exterior porch" |
|
| "The building's walls were made of local sandstone" |
|
For residential function, we'd want evidence showing:
Against residential function, we'd want evidence showing:
Choice 1: "Local sandstone was rarely used for building in ancient Chi-Xua sites."
Choice 2: "Nearly all Chi-Xua residential buildings had multiple rooms."
Choice 3: "Some Chi-Xua buildings included multiple storage rooms measuring approximately 30 square meters."
Choice 4: "The cloth fragments did not contain the pigments commonly used in Chi-Xua ceremonial robes."
Choice 5: "Red-and-white striped pottery was used in Chi-Xua almost exclusively for personal food storage."
For Part 1 (For residential): Choice 5 - The pottery being used "almost exclusively for personal food storage" provides the strongest evidence that this was a residence. Personal food storage is a quintessential residential activity.
For Part 2 (Against residential): Choice 2 - The fact that "nearly all Chi-Xua residential buildings had multiple rooms" while this building has only one room provides the strongest evidence against residential function. It shows this building doesn't match the typical residential pattern.
Choice 4 might seem like good evidence FOR residential function since it rules out ceremonial use. However, it's weaker than Choice 5 because:
Choice 1 might seem like evidence AGAINST any typical function, but: