Although most anthropologists believe humans first arrived in New Zealand in the late thirteenth century, others have dated the arrival...
GMAT Reading Comprehension : (RC) Questions
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Although most anthropologists believe humans first arrived in New Zealand in the late thirteenth century, others have dated the arrival to much earlier—around 200 BC. The earlier arrival date was based on 1996 research that carbon-dated bones of rats, which are thought to have been brought to New Zealand by humans. With no evidence of human settlements that early, critics suggested that the carbon dates were due to lab errors in preparing the bones.
Now, a team led by Janet Wilmshurst has applied an improved preparation technique to other rat bones collected from excavation sites where the oldest New Zealand rat remains were found. The new rat-bone dates are all more recent than AD 1280. The Wilmshurst team's carbon dating of bones from the previous study indicated that these, too, were more recent than AD 1280. They also carbon-dated seeds from the oldest rat-bone sites. Some of the seeds were nearly four thousand years old, but none of those with distinctive rat-gnaw marks was older than about AD 1290.
Wilmshurst's findings provide convincing evidence that neither rats nor people reached New Zealand before the thirteenth century AD. So the devastating ecological impact of humans on New Zealand, such as deforestation and the extinction of animal species (the rats themselves wiped out several species, including some birds and frogs), took only about six hundred years, rather than over two thousand years.
Ques. 1/3
The passage most strongly suggests that which of the following statements is true of the critics mentioned in the first paragraph (see highlighting)?
Solution
1. Passage Analysis:
Progressive Passage Analysis
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Although most anthropologists believe humans first arrived in New Zealand in the late thirteenth century, others have dated the arrival to much earlier—around 200 BC. | What it says: There's a disagreement about when humans first came to New Zealand - most experts say late 1200s AD, but some say around 200 BC. What it does: Introduces a scientific debate/controversy Source/Type: Factual summary of competing expert opinions Connection to Previous Sentences: This is our opening - no previous connections yet Visualization: Timeline comparison: • Most anthropologists: ~1280 AD • Some others: ~200 BC • Difference: About 1,500 years earlier! Reading Strategy Insight: Classic RC opening - presents a debate that the passage will likely resolve What We Know So Far: There's disagreement about human arrival timing What We Don't Know Yet: Which side is correct, what evidence exists |
| The earlier arrival date was based on 1996 research that carbon-dated bones of rats, which are thought to have been brought to New Zealand by humans. | What it says: The 200 BC date came from studying rat bones in 1996 - scientists assume humans brought the rats What it does: Explains the evidence behind the "earlier arrival" theory Source/Type: Description of previous research methodology Connection to Previous Sentences: This builds on sentence 1 by explaining HOW the "others" got their earlier date. We're getting the backstory of the debate. Visualization: Logic chain: Old rat bones (1996 study) → Humans brought rats → Humans arrived early (200 BC) Reading Strategy Insight: The passage is systematically explaining the debate - this feels organized, not chaotic What We Know So Far: Disagreement exists, early-date theory based on 1996 rat bone study What We Don't Know Yet: Why this might be wrong, what new evidence exists |
| With no evidence of human settlements that early, critics suggested that the carbon dates were due to lab errors in preparing the bones. | What it says: Critics doubted the 1996 study because there were no human settlements from 200 BC, so they blamed lab mistakes What it does: Presents the criticism/weakness of the early-date theory Source/Type: Critics' objections and alternative explanation Connection to Previous Sentences: This directly challenges sentence 2's evidence. We're seeing the counter-argument to the 1996 research. Visualization: Problem with early date theory: • Rat bones suggest: 200 BC human arrival • BUT no human settlements from that time • Critics' explanation: Lab made mistakes Reading Strategy Insight: Feel confident here - you're following a logical debate structure, not drowning in random facts What We Know So Far: Early date based on rat study, but critics doubt it due to lab errors and missing settlements What We Don't Know Yet: What newer research shows |
| Now, a team led by Janet Wilmshurst has applied an improved preparation technique to other rat bones collected from excavation sites where the oldest New Zealand rat remains were found. | What it says: A new team (Wilmshurst) used better lab methods to test rat bones from the same important sites What it does: Introduces the new research that will resolve the debate Source/Type: Description of new research methodology Connection to Previous Sentences: This directly addresses sentence 3's concern about "lab errors." New team = better methods = more reliable results Visualization: Research progression: 1996 study: Old techniques → Questionable results Wilmshurst study: "Improved preparation technique" → More reliable results Reading Strategy Insight: Classic RC pattern - Old flawed study → New improved study. You should anticipate this resolves the debate. What We Know So Far: Old study questioned, new team using better methods on same sites What We Don't Know Yet: What the new results show |
| The new rat-bone dates are all more recent than AD 1280. | What it says: The improved testing showed all rat bones dated to after 1280 AD (much later than 200 BC) What it does: Provides the key finding that challenges the early-arrival theory Source/Type: Wilmshurst team's research results Connection to Previous Sentences: This is the payoff! Remember sentence 1 said "most anthropologists believe late thirteenth century" (around 1280). The new results SUPPORT the mainstream view. Visualization: Results comparison: • 1996 study suggested: ~200 BC • New improved study shows: After 1280 AD • Difference: New dates are ~1,500 years LATER Reading Strategy Insight: Major simplification moment! The debate is being resolved in favor of the mainstream view. What We Know So Far: New study contradicts early arrival, supports late 1200s arrival What We Don't Know Yet: Additional supporting evidence |
| The Wilmshurst team's carbon dating of bones from the previous study indicated that these, too, were more recent than AD 1280. | What it says: When Wilmshurst's team retested the original 1996 bones with better methods, those also dated after 1280 AD What it does: Provides additional confirmation by directly refuting the original evidence Source/Type: Further results from Wilmshurst team Connection to Previous Sentences: This RESTATES and REINFORCES the previous sentence's finding! It's not new complexity - it's the same conclusion from different bones. Visualization: Double confirmation: • New rat bones from same sites: After 1280 AD • Original 1996 bones (retested): Also after 1280 AD • Conclusion: The 1996 dating was wrong due to poor lab technique Reading Strategy Insight: Feel relieved - this is confirmation, not new information! Authors often give multiple examples of the same point. What We Know So Far: Both new bones AND retested old bones show post-1280 dates What We Don't Know Yet: Any additional supporting evidence |
| They also carbon-dated seeds from the oldest rat-bone sites. Some of the seeds were nearly four thousand years old, but none of those with distinctive rat-gnaw marks was older than about AD 1290. | What it says: The team also tested seeds from the same sites - old seeds existed for thousands of years, but seeds with rat bite marks only go back to around 1290 AD What it does: Provides a third type of supporting evidence using a different approach Source/Type: Additional research results from Wilmshurst team Connection to Previous Sentences: This gives us a THIRD confirmation of the same timeframe! Seeds with rat marks = evidence of rats = evidence of humans around 1290 AD. Visualization: Triple confirmation of ~1280-1290 timing: 1. New rat bones: After 1280 AD 2. Retested old bones: After 1280 AD 3. Seeds with rat marks: After 1290 AD Reading Strategy Insight: Again, this is REINFORCEMENT of the same conclusion, not new complexity! Three different tests, same result. What We Know So Far: Multiple evidence types all point to late 1200s human/rat arrival What We Don't Know Yet: What this means for the broader implications |
| Wilmshurst's findings provide convincing evidence that neither rats nor people reached New Zealand before the thirteenth century AD. | What it says: The research proves that both rats and humans arrived no earlier than the 1200s AD What it does: States the clear conclusion that resolves the opening debate Source/Type: Author's interpretation of the research findings Connection to Previous Sentences: This is pure RESTATEMENT in simple terms! Remember sentence 1's debate? This declares the winner: the mainstream view was correct. Visualization: Debate resolution: • Opening question: 200 BC vs 1200s AD? • Multiple evidence sources: All point to 1200s • Final answer: 1200s AD wins Reading Strategy Insight: Classic RC conclusion sentence - takes all the complex evidence and gives you the simple takeaway! What We Know So Far: Debate resolved in favor of late arrival (1200s) What We Don't Know Yet: Why this timing matters |
| So the devastating ecological impact of humans on New Zealand, such as deforestation and the extinction of animal species (the rats themselves wiped out several species, including some birds and frogs), took only about six hundred years, rather than over two thousand years. | What it says: Since humans arrived in the 1200s (not 200 BC), the environmental damage they caused happened in about 600 years, not 2000+ years What it does: Explains the broader significance/implications of the timing debate Source/Type: Author's explanation of why the timing matters Connection to Previous Sentences: This explains WHY the whole debate matters! It's not just academic - it changes how we understand the speed of human environmental impact. Visualization: Ecological impact timeline: • If 200 BC arrival: ~2,300 years to cause damage • If 1280 AD arrival: ~600 years to cause damage • Implication: Humans damaged the environment much faster than previously thought Reading Strategy Insight: Classic RC ending - shows you why the seemingly academic debate has real-world significance! Final Takeaway: Improved dating methods resolved a scientific debate and showed human environmental impact was much more rapid than previously believed. |
2. Passage Summary:
Author's Purpose:
To explain how new scientific research methods resolved a long-standing debate about when humans first arrived in New Zealand
Summary of Passage Structure:
In this passage, the author walks us through how improved scientific techniques settled a historical controversy:
- First, the author introduces a scientific debate between experts who disagree about when humans first came to New Zealand - most say the late 1200s, but some argued for much earlier around 200 BC
- Next, the author explains that the early date came from a 1996 study of rat bones, but critics doubted these results because of missing human settlements and possible lab errors
- Then, the author describes how a new research team used better lab techniques to test both new rat bones and the original bones, plus seeds with rat bite marks - all the evidence pointed to dates after 1280 AD
- Finally, the author explains why this timing matters - it shows that humans caused massive environmental damage to New Zealand much faster than previously thought
Main Point:
Better scientific methods proved that humans arrived in New Zealand in the late 1200s (not 200 BC as some claimed), which means the devastating environmental damage they caused happened in just 600 years rather than over 2000 years
3. Question Analysis:
The question asks us to determine what the passage most strongly suggests about the critics mentioned in the first paragraph. These critics questioned the 1996 research that dated human arrival to 200 BC based on rat bones.
Connecting to Our Passage Analysis:
From our passage analysis, we know that:
- Critics doubted the 1996 study because "there were no human settlements from 200 BC" and they blamed "lab mistakes"
- The critics' skepticism was based on the absence of corroborating evidence (no human settlements), not on any carbon-dating results
- The Wilmshurst research came AFTER the critics voiced their concerns - it was conducted to address the very lab error concerns the critics raised
- The critics questioned the reliability of the dating method itself, not the assumption about rats arriving with humans
Prethinking:
The critics were skeptical of the 200 BC date BEFORE any of the new research was conducted. Their skepticism was based on the logical inconsistency between finding rat bones from 200 BC but no human settlements from that period. They attributed this to lab errors in the original 1996 study. This suggests their belief in a later human arrival date was independent of the carbon-dating evidence - they relied on the absence of human settlements and general skepticism about lab techniques, not on carbon-dating results themselves.
Answer Choices Explained
A
Their skepticism regarding the 200-BC carbon dating of the rat bones was based on the results of the research project that is described in the second paragraph.
Why It's Wrong:
- The critics expressed their skepticism BEFORE Wilmshurst's research was conducted
- The passage clearly states the critics' concerns, then introduces Wilmshurst's work as a response: "Now, a team led by Janet Wilmshurst..."
- The temporal sequence shows critics' skepticism preceded the second paragraph's research
- Did the critics base their views on Wilmshurst's findings?
→ No - reread the sequence: critics questioned 1996 study, THEN Wilmshurst conducted new research - Are all carbon-dating studies the same?
→ No - distinguish between the 1996 study (which critics questioned) and Wilmshurst's later study
B
Their position regarding the 200-BC carbon dating of the rat bones was motivated by the fact that the 1996 research did not date any rat-gnawed seeds from the excavation sites.
Why It's Wrong:
- The passage doesn't indicate that the 1996 research failed to date seeds - it only mentions rat bones
- The critics' motivation was the absence of human settlements, not missing seed analysis
- Seed dating was introduced by Wilmshurst's team as additional evidence, not as something missing from 1996
- Were seeds part of the original 1996 study?
→ The passage doesn't mention seeds in connection with the 1996 research - What specifically motivated the critics' skepticism?
→ Focus on "no evidence of human settlements that early" - this was their main concern
C
They questioned the assumption that rats first arrived in New Zealand at the same time as humans.
Why It's Wrong:
- The passage shows critics accepted that rats arrived with humans - they didn't question this assumption
- Their skepticism was about the dating accuracy, not about the rats-humans connection
- The logic chain "rats brought by humans" is presented as generally accepted throughout
- Did critics question the rats-humans connection?
→ No - they questioned the lab dating methods, not the assumption about how rats arrived - What aspect of the study did critics actually challenge?
→ The accuracy of carbon-dating due to potential lab errors
D
They were skeptical of the claim that humans' importation of rats had a devastating impact on New Zealand's ecosystems.
Why It's Wrong:
- Critics' skepticism was about timing (200 BC vs later), not about ecological impact
- The ecological impact discussion appears only at the passage's end as a consequence of timing
- No indication that critics questioned the devastation itself
- Did critics dispute the environmental damage?
→ No - they disputed WHEN humans arrived, not WHETHER damage occurred - What was the critics' main concern?
→ Dating accuracy, not ecological impact assessment
E
Their belief that humans first arrived in New Zealand much later than 200 BC did not depend on any of the carbon-dating of rat-bones mentioned in the passage.
Why It's Right:
- Critics based their skepticism on the absence of human settlements from 200 BC, not on carbon-dating evidence
- They attributed the 200 BC dates to "lab errors," showing they dismissed rather than relied on carbon-dating
- Their belief in later arrival was logically independent - based on archaeological evidence (or lack thereof)
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