Question 6·Hard·Inferences
Marine archaeologists have recovered clay amphoras from two wrecks located along the same ancient maritime trade route, one wreck dated to 500 BCE and the other to 200 BCE. Chemical analyses of residue inside the amphoras show that both groups contain trace amounts of a resin derived from a Mediterranean pine species historically used to help preserve wine during transport. Only the amphoras from the 500 BCE wreck, however, contain significant residues of imported Near Eastern spices known to slow spoilage. On the basis of these findings, the archaeologists propose that over the intervening centuries merchants on the route came to rely increasingly on the pine resin alone to keep shipped wine from spoiling.
If this proposal is correct, which inference about trade on the route is most strongly supported?
For inference questions that hinge on a stated proposal, treat the proposal as true and then pick the choice that most directly follows from it. Prefer inferences that explain the specific observed shift (spices present earlier but not later) without introducing new causes (availability) or new, unmeasured details (exact amounts or new uses).
Hints
Compare the two wrecks
List what both time periods share and what only the earlier wreck shows.
Assume the proposal is true
If merchants trusted pine resin by itself more over time, what would you expect to happen to their use of additional preservatives in wine?
Watch for new, unsupported ideas
Eliminate choices that add causes or details not supported (availability problems, exact increases in resin, or new uses of spices for other goods).
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what changes across time
The 500 BCE amphoras show pine resin and significant Near Eastern spice residues, while the 200 BCE amphoras show pine resin but not significant spice residues.
Apply the proposal as true
The proposal says merchants came to rely increasingly on pine resin alone to keep wine from spoiling. If so, merchants would be less likely to include additional preservative spices in wine shipments over time.
Choose the inference that matches that implication
The best-supported inference is that the reduced spice presence reflects merchants’ belief that those spices were no longer needed for wine preservation, so the correct answer is: After 500 BCE, merchants on the route likely viewed Near Eastern spices as unnecessary for preventing wine spoilage.