Question 150·Hard·Inferences
Recent excavations at the Lakeside archaeological site unearthed several complete clay figurines characteristic of the region’s Late Period (about 600 CE). Beneath the floor of the same structure, archaeologists uncovered a sequence of refuse layers securely dated by associated charcoal to between 200 CE and 400 CE. Unexpectedly, a few broken fragments of figurines identical in style to the Late Period examples were recovered from these earlier layers, and radiocarbon analysis of soil adhering to the fragments corroborated the 200–400 CE range. However, the refuse layers also contained several animal burrows and root channels, indicating later disturbance of the soil. Because this particular figurine style is otherwise unknown before 600 CE, the archaeologists most plausibly concluded that ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
For text-completion inference questions, identify the tension or puzzle the passage sets up and then use any given contextual clue (e.g., evidence of disturbance, limitations like “otherwise unknown”) to pick the option that resolves the tension with the fewest unsupported assumptions. Eliminate choices that make broad historical claims or contradict the passage’s stated evidence.
Hints
Locate the conflict in the dates
Focus on the mismatch: the figurine style is associated with around 600 CE, but some fragments were found in layers dated 200–400 CE. What needs explaining?
Notice the added detail about the soil layers
The passage mentions animal burrows and root channels in the refuse layers. How could these affect where an artifact fragment ends up?
Prefer an explanation that uses stated evidence
Which option best uses what the passage explicitly gives you (secure layer dates, style unknown earlier, and signs of disturbance) rather than making a sweeping claim about regional art history?
Match the conclusion to the word "Because"
The blank follows "Because this particular figurine style is otherwise unknown before 600 CE." The best completion should explain the surprising find without contradicting that statement.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the core puzzle in the passage
The text sets up a contradiction:
- Complete figurines of a certain style are known from the Late Period (around 600 CE).
- Earlier refuse layers (200–400 CE) under the same structure are securely dated by charcoal.
- Fragments in those earlier layers look identical to the Late Period figurines, and soil on them is also dated to 200–400 CE.
- Yet the passage says this figurine style is otherwise unknown before 600 CE. So the puzzle is: How can a style supposedly not appearing before 600 CE show up in deposits dated 200–400 CE?
Use the additional site information to resolve the contradiction
The passage also notes that the refuse layers contain animal burrows and root channels, which indicates the soil was disturbed after the layers formed. Such disturbance can move artifacts from later deposits down into earlier strata while leaving the charcoal dates for the layers intact.
Eliminate choices that overgeneralize or contradict the setup
Consider what the wrong choices require:
- Some choices rewrite the entire history of the style based on a few fragments, even though the style is said to be otherwise unknown before 600 CE.
- One choice claims the dating is likely invalid even though the text describes the layers as securely dated and provides corroborating evidence.
- Another choice infers a long, unchanging tradition from minimal, anomalous evidence. These conclusions are less consistent with the passage than an explanation tied to the explicitly mentioned soil disturbance.
Choose the conclusion that best fits all stated evidence
Because the style is otherwise unknown before 600 CE and the site shows signs of later disturbance (burrows/root channels), the most plausible explanation is that the fragments were originally deposited later but were moved into older layers by post-depositional processes. Therefore, the best completion is: the figurine fragments must have migrated into the earlier layers after their original deposition, probably because of later disturbances of the soil.