Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?

Reanna July 15, 2019

I am also curious why B is not correct, it seems so similar to A.

Reanna July 15, 2019

Is it because A says the pollen evidence corrects, while B says that they work in tandem with the historical documents?

Ravi July 15, 2019

@nishkrish,

Happy to help. Let's take a look at (A) and (B).

(B) says, "Analyses of historical documents, together with pollen
evidence, have led to the revision of some previously accepted
hypotheses regarding changes in the Irish landscape"

The passage does present revisions of what historians had previously
thought, but the revisions are both based on the new pollen analysis,
not a combination of historical documents and pollen evidence. Thus,
we can get rid of (B).

(A) says, "Analysis of fossilized pollen is a useful means of
supplementing and in some cases correcting other sources of
information regarding changes in the Irish landscape."

The conclusion of the passage states that analyzing pollen samples can
supplement and correct the documentary record. This is just what (A)
gives us, so it's the correct answer choice, as the main point is the
same thing as the conclusion.

Does this make sense? Let us know if you have any questions!

Irina July 15, 2019

That's right, the passage does not discuss any analyses of historical documents