PT151 S3 Q16 ExplanationWood that is waterlogged

Answer choices, explained

1. A

   Too Specific: most / the individuals12% picked this

   Most of the small ceramic models of early wheeled vehicles were made by the very individuals who made the vehicles upon which

   We don't have enough information to say that 51% or more of the ceramic models were made by the exact same people who went on to make the real vehicle.

   12%
2. B

   Out of Scope20% picked this

   Few, if any, small models of early wheeled vehicles were made of wood or other materials equally susceptible

   Out of Scope: non-ceramic models Only One Mentioned ? Only One Just because the passage only mentions finding ceramic models doesn't mean that only ceramic models were created. There may very well have been wooden models as well, which we wouldn't be finding since we know that wood disintegrates.

   20%
3. C

   Out of Scope: aware7% picked this

   The individuals who made the early wheeled vehicles were not always aware that wood can be preserved

   We have no information about what the vehicle-makers were or weren't aware of, in regards to the deterioration rate of different materials.

   7%
4. D

   Unknown Comparison5% picked this

   An artifact will be more difficult for archaeologists to find if it has been preserved through waterlogging or desiccation than if it has

   We don't have any information about "normal preservation methods" to make any comparison between those methods and an object being waterlogged/desiccated. It's unclear whether "preserved under more normal conditions" means that humans did something to preserve it or whether it means that nature preserved it in a way that's more typical than being waterlogged / desiccated. If it's the former, than we know nothing about it. If it's the latter, then we have counterevidence (desiccated / waterlogged wood is easier for archaeologists to find than normally preserved wood).

   5%
5. E

   Correct56% picked this

   Of the early wheeled vehicles not preserved, more were made of wood than were made of materials no more susceptible to

   Why this is right

   MAN, it is going to cause me an aneurysm to process what this sentence is saying. It's playing off the final line, that the main evidence regarding early wheeled vehicles comes from ceramic models as well as the idea that "because wood disintegrates within a couple centuries, we have been unable to find many remains". Pretend the opposite of this answer were true: of the early wheeled vehicles, a minority were made of wood and a majority were made of materials at least as resilient as ceramic. In that case, we'd be finding many remains of early wheeled vehicles (since we find many ceramic models, we should be able to find many actual vehicles, if they were made of something at least as sturdy as ceramic). Since we don't find many actual vehicles, but we do find many ceramic models, it stands to reason that "vehicles weren't frequently made of ceramic, or anything as resilient as ceramic". Ultimately, the answer is just saying that more of the lost vehicles were made of wood than of something as resilient as ceramic, which is supportable given that we know that wood deteriorates and doesn't get found, whereas ceramic lasts longer and apparently does get found.

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

   56%