Based on the discussion in the passage, the author would be most likely to agree with which one of the following stat...

Emil-Kunkin on January 27, 2022

Hi @Rita,

This question is asking us what the author would be most likely to agree with. In the passage, the author documents a theory that does indeed rely on facts that were not determined only from the excavated remains. In particular, Olsen relies on hypothetical information about the ratio of buried horses' ages and genders- which supports D.

A is worded very strongly. We do know that the author thinks mortality patterns were important in ascertaining if this specific culture domesticated animals, but the answer choice tells us that the author thinks this analysis is ALWAYS required. I don't think we have any support for the author believing that this analysis is always required. Perhaps a domestic animal's bones look significantly different from that of its wild cousins- or the animal had gone extinct in the wild.

Mazen on July 11, 2022

Hi Emil,

I noticed that in eliminating A, you focused on the word "always." I eliminated A based on the word "required." Overall, I am on the same page with you insofar as the language in A is too strong by comparison to the author's take on Olsen's method, but I attributed the differential in the rethoric strength to the word "required."

My question is: does the word "required" meet the strength test by which we can eliminate A, or does it have to be "always"?

Thank You
Mazen

Mazen on July 11, 2022

In reference to my previous post, absent the word "always" in answer-choice A, could we still have eliminated A solely on the basis of the word "required"?

Up until I read Emil's post, I was confident that yes: "required" is strong enough and does not match the author's.

Am I wrong? Please let me know!

Thank You
Mazen

Emil-Kunkin on July 11, 2022

Hi Mazen,

Required is definitely strong enough. Rereading my post- I would probably have noted that "always required" as a unit is the problem. That said, I think that required is actually stronger than always. That is, if I say that "it is required to be over 35 to be president, I think that implies that it is "always required." I think your decision to eliminate A on the basis of "required" is completely correct.

Mazen on July 12, 2022

Thank You Emil