Question 47·Medium·Text Structure and Purpose
Some historians believe the sudden abandonment of certain Ancestral Puebloan settlements in the late 1200s CE was triggered mainly by prolonged drought. Archaeologist Leehi Toffolo, however, argues that drought was only one component of a larger suite of stresses. She points to pollen data indicating that maize yields had already been declining, evidence of social conflict in neighboring regions, and signs of overhunting in surrounding forests. Taken together, she says, these factors suggest the settlements were already vulnerable; an extended drought merely delivered the decisive blow.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
For function-of-a-sentence questions, first quickly paraphrase the underlined part in your own words, then look one to two sentences before and after to see how it connects: does it introduce evidence, summarize, contrast, concede, or conclude? Next, describe its role in a simple phrase (for example, "ties evidence to a conclusion" or "gives a counterexample"), and then eliminate answer choices that don’t match that role, especially ones that introduce ideas not present in the text (like new counterarguments, missing data, or repeated claims). Always base your choice on what the sentence actually does in context, not on whether its content seems important or interesting.
Hints
Notice the transition phrase
Look closely at the words "Taken together" at the start of the underlined portion. What does that usually signal about how this sentence relates to the information just before it?
Connect "these factors" to earlier sentences
Identify what "these factors" refers to. How many different kinds of evidence are listed just before the underlined sentence, and what is the underlined sentence doing with them?
Ask what new information the sentence adds
Does the underlined sentence introduce a new example, restate something already said, point out a problem with the evidence, or explain what the earlier evidence shows overall? Think about which of those jobs it is actually doing.
Step-by-step Explanation
Locate and paraphrase the underlined portion
Focus on the sentence in bold: “Taken together, she says, these factors suggest the settlements were already vulnerable; an extended drought merely delivered the decisive blow.”
Paraphrase it in your own words: based on all the factors she just listed (declining maize yields, social conflict, overhunting), she concludes that the settlements were already weak, and the drought was just the final push that caused abandonment.
See how it connects to what comes before
Look at the sentence right before the underlined part: it lists three different kinds of evidence: pollen data about maize, evidence of social conflict, and signs of overhunting.
The underlined sentence starts with "Taken together" and refers to "these factors." That tells you it is combining or summarizing the meaning of those pieces of evidence and explaining what they show about the settlements.
Determine the role in the argument
Ask: in the overall argument (drought was only one part of a larger suite of stresses), what is this underlined sentence doing?
It:
- Does not add a new piece of evidence.
- Does not attack another explanation.
- Does explain what the earlier evidence implies and states Toffolo’s interpretation: the settlements were already vulnerable and drought finished the process.
So its role is to connect the evidence to a conclusion about why the settlements were abandoned.
Match that role to the best answer choice
Now compare each option to the role you identified:
- One option should say that the sentence is summarizing or pulling together several pieces of evidence to present the archaeologist’s conclusion.
- The other choices mention restating a claim, giving a counterexample, or pointing out missing data—none of which match what the sentence actually does.
The correct answer is: It provides a summary of multiple lines of evidence to support the archaeologist's conclusion.