An unstable climate was probably

Answer choices

1. A

   Weakens4% picked this

   Political failures within the Roman empire during its last years led to conflicts that

   This suggests that the causal relationship is reversed. It suggests the fall of the Roman empire was responsible for a decline in agricultural production—something the argument attributed to climatic instability.

   4%
2. B

   Weakens9% picked this

   The areas of the Roman empire that had the greatest climatic instability between 250 A.D. and 550 A.D. did not experience unusual

   This undermines the correlation between the climate and the stability of the Roman empire.

   9%
3. C

   Weakens4% picked this

   Poor farming practices led to depleted soil in many parts of Europe during the last years

   This undermines the argument by providing an alternative cause of the poor agricultural production experienced during the fall of the Roman empire.

   4%
4. D

   Correct82% picked this

   During periods when the Roman empire was thriving, Europe consistently experienced weather that was

   Why this is right

   This strengthens the correlation between the climate and the stability of the Roman empire.

   Skill tested: Strengthen · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   82%
5. E

   Weakens1% picked this

   Total food production in Europe was likely greater in the years around 550 A.D. than in the

   The argument correlates a decline in food production caused by climatic instability with the fall of the Roman empire between 250 A.D. and 550 A.D. This would suggest that food production increased during the fall of the Roman empire.

   1%