Island Museum analyzes historical artifacts using one or more techniques described below—all but one of which is performed by an...
GMAT Multi Source Reasoning : (MSR) Questions
Island Museum analyzes historical artifacts using one or more techniques described below—all but one of which is performed by an outside laboratory—to obtain specific information about an object's creation. For each type of material listed, the museum uses only the technique described:
Animal teeth or bones: The museum performs isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) in-house to determine the ratios of chemical elements present, yielding clues as to the animal's diet and the minerals in its water supply.
Metallic ores or alloys: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is used to determine the ratios of traces of metallic isotopes present, which differ according to where the sample was obtained.
Plant matter: While they are living, plants absorb carbon-14, which decays at a predictable rate after death; thus radiocarbon dating is used to estimate a plant's date of death.
Fired-clay objects: Thermoluminescence (TL) dating is used to provide an estimate of the time since clay was fired to create the object.
Which one of the following pieces of information would, on its own, provide the strongest evidence that the given artifact was actually produced on Kaxna?
OWNING THE DATASET
Understanding Source A: Text Source - Museum Analysis Techniques
| Information from Dataset | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Island Museum analyzes historical artifacts using one or more techniques described below—all but one of which is performed by an outside laboratory" |
|
| "Animal teeth or bones: The museum performs isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) in-house" |
|
| "Metallic ores or alloys: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is used to determine the ratios of traces of metallic isotopes present, which differ according to where the sample was obtained" |
|
| "Plant matter: ...radiocarbon dating is used to estimate a plant's date of death" |
|
| "Fired-clay objects: Thermoluminescence (TL) dating is used to provide an estimate of the time since clay was fired" |
|
Summary: Island Museum uses four specific analytical techniques matched to different material types, with only IRMS for animal remains performed in-house while metal, plant, and clay analyses require external laboratories.
Understanding Source B: Text Source - Kaxna Collection Background
| Information from Dataset | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Island Museum has acquired a collection of metal, fired clay, stone, bone, and wooden artifacts found on the Kaxna Islands, and presumed to be from the Kaxna Kingdom of 1250–850 BC" |
|
| "Researchers have mapped all the mines, quarries, and sources of clay on Kaxna" |
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| "wooden artifacts of that time were generally created within 2 years after tree harvest" |
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| "There is, however, considerable uncertainty as to whether these artifacts were actually created on Kaxna" |
|
| "radiocarbon dating is accurate to approximately ±200 years and TL dating is accurate to approximately ±100years" |
|
Summary: The museum's Kaxna collection includes five material types with uncertain origins from a 400-year period, where available testing techniques can analyze most materials and potentially determine whether artifacts were locally made, though dating precision limitations pose challenges.
Understanding Source C: Text Source - Testing Budget Constraints
| Information from Dataset | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "For outside laboratory tests, the museum's first-year budget for the Kaxna collection allows unlimited IRMS testing" |
|
| "a total of $7,000—equal to the cost of 4 TL tests plus 15 radiocarbon tests, or the cost of 40 ICP-MS tests—for all other tests" |
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| "For each technique applied by an outside lab, the museum is charged a fixed price per artifact" |
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Summary: The museum has unlimited testing for bone artifacts through in-house IRMS but only $7,000 for all external testing, creating difficult prioritization decisions given that ICP-MS offers 40 tests while TL dating offers only 4 tests, directly impacting the ability to answer questions about the collection's origins and dates.
Overall Summary
- The Island Museum faces a complex analytical challenge with its Kaxna collection
- The museum has appropriate testing techniques for four of the five material types (missing only stone)
- Budget constraints severely limit external testing options
- Unlimited in-house IRMS for bone analysis but only $7,000 for external labs
- The museum must prioritize between origin testing (40 possible ICP-MS tests for metals at full budget) and dating (only 4 TL tests for clay at full budget)
- Given the primary research question about whether artifacts were created locally versus imported, and the complete mapping of Kaxna's material sources, ICP-MS testing of metals offers the best value for definitively answering origin questions
- The ±100-200 year dating margins make precise period attribution challenging regardless of budget allocation
Question Analysis
Which single piece of information would best prove that an artifact was made on the Kaxna islands (not just found there or from that time period)?
Key Constraints:
- on its own
- strongest evidence
- actually produced on Kaxna
Answer Type Needed: Comparative evaluation of evidence strength
Connecting to Our Analysis
The cross-source analysis shows that ICP-MS can determine geographic origin of metals, researchers have mapped all local sources on Kaxna, and different techniques provide different types of information (origin vs. timing).
Can answer from analysis alone: YES - The analysis clearly shows which techniques can determine geographic origin versus just timing.
Extracting Relevant Findings
Evaluating each option against what the analysis reveals about each technique's capabilities. Evidence must directly link to Kaxna production, not just timing or location of discovery.
Hypothesis: ICP-MS analysis showing unique Kaxna mine signatures would be strongest evidence.
Individual Statement Evaluations
Statement 1 Evaluation
"A radiocarbon date of 1050 BC for a wooden bowl"
A radiocarbon date tells us when the wood died (around 1050 BC).
- Dating information only provides timing but not location of production
- This is weak evidence as it only tells us when, not where the artifact was made
Statement 2 Evaluation
"IRMS analysis of a necklace made from animal bones and teeth"
IRMS analysis reveals the animal's diet and water minerals.
- Animal habitat information indicates where animal lived, not where artifact was made
- This provides moderate evidence as it suggests local animals but is not definitive proof of production location
Statement 3 Evaluation
"A TL date for a fired-clay brick that places it definitively in the period of the Kaxna Kingdom"
TL dating tells us when the clay was fired to make the brick.
- Creation timing only provides when made but not where
- This is weak evidence as it only provides temporal information, not geographic proof
Statement 4 Evaluation
"ICP-MS analysis of a metal tool that reveals element ratios unique to a mine on Kaxna"
- Analysis states ICP-MS determines 'ratios of traces of metallic isotopes...which differ according to where the sample was obtained'
- Researchers have 'mapped all the mines...on Kaxna'
- This option directly links material to specific Kaxna mine - providing geographic proof of origin
Statement 5 Evaluation
"Determination that a stone statue was found near a quarry known to produce stone statues during the Kaxna Kingdom"
- Where found doesn't equal where made
- Analysis shows no testing technique exists for stone
- This provides location of discovery, not production evidence
Systematic Checking
Checking remaining options against analysis findings:
- Option 4 (ICP-MS): Analysis states ICP-MS determines 'ratios of traces of metallic isotopes...which differ according to where the sample was obtained' AND researchers have 'mapped all the mines...on Kaxna'
- Option 4 directly links material to specific Kaxna mine - this is geographic proof of origin
- Option 5 (stone statue): Where found doesn't equal where made, and analysis shows no testing technique exists for stone
- Only Option 4 provides direct evidence of Kaxna origin through material source identification
Final Answer
ICP-MS analysis of a metal tool that reveals element ratios unique to a mine on Kaxna
A radiocarbon date of 1050 BC for a wooden bowl
IRMS analysis of a necklace made from animal bones and teeth
A TL date for a fired-clay brick that places it definitively in the period of the Kaxna Kingdom
ICP-MS analysis of a metal tool that reveals element ratios unique to a mine on Kaxna
Determination that a stone statue was found near a quarry known to produce stone statues during the Kaxna Kingdom