Here we have a set of facts. We are told that there are ancient disturbances in the dark surface material of a desert--these include two groups of lines. One branches out like rays from a single point. This group crosses over another group of curved lines that form a very large bird figure. Then a quote is included by one who advocates that the lines serve the purpose of landing strips for space-ship traveling aliens: "What use to the Inca would have been closely spaced roads that ran parallel? That intersected in a sunburst pattern? That came abruptly to an end in the middle of an uninhabited plain?"
The question stem asks us to find the answer choice that effectively counters an objection to the statement that the crossing of the line patterns serves as unrelated purposes. That's quite a hefty question stem. Here's a better way to ask the same question: If one who interpreted the lines as referring to astronomical phenomena were to object to the theory that the two groups of lines served unrelated purposes, which answer choice would counter their objection?
Answer choice (B) states: "The straight lines are consistent with sight lines to points on the horizon where particular astronomical events could have been observed at certain plausible dates, and the figure could represent a constellation."
Answer choice (B) explains how each group of lines serves a different purpose, i.e. the straight lines are sight lines that help people see specific astronomical events and the curved lines represent a constellation.
Hope that helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Claudia-FrankelMay 27, 2020
Can you please reiterate what the question stem is asking in simpler terms? I'm getting incredibly confused. Is it saying that the people who believe in the astronomical phenomena believe the events are related, and if we want to counter those people what would we say to counter that idea that they are related?
