Commemorative plaques cast from brass are a characteristic art form of the Benin culture of West Africa. Some scholars, noting that the oldest surviving plaques date to the 1400s, hypothesize that brass casting techniques were introduced by the Portuguese, who came to Benin in 1485 A.D. But Portuguese records of that expedition mention cast-brass jewelry sent to Benin's king from neighboring Ife. So it is unlikely that Benin's knowledge of brass casting derived from the Portuguese.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?
Commemorative plaques cast from brass are a characteristic art form of the Benin culture of West Africa. Some scholars, noting that the oldest surviving plaques date to the 1400s, hypothesize that brass-casting techniques were introduced by the Portuguese, who came to Benin in 1485 A.D. But Portuguese records of that expedition mention cast-brass jewelry sent to Benin’s king from neighboring Ife. So it is unlikely that Benin’s knowledge of brass casting derived from the Portuguese.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?
A. The Portuguese records do not indicate whether their expedition of 1485 included metalworkers.
B. The Portuguese had no contact with Ife until the 1500s.
C. In the 1400s the Portuguese did not use cast brass for commemorative plaques.
D. As early as 1500 A.D., Benin artists were making brass plaques incorporating depictions of Europeans.
E. Copper, which is required for making brass, can be found throughout Benin territory.
C错得很明显啊,In the 1400s the Portuguese did not use cast brass for commemorative plaques不等于葡萄牙人在1400s没有brass casting技术(有可能只是还不会做纪念碑啊),如果有这技术,这不就weak了作者的结论了
A.无关选项,因为1400年就有plaques了,1485年带没带工匠就不重要了。
B.正确,如果葡萄牙人没有和Ife的交流,那么Ife的传到Benin的技术肯定就和葡萄牙无关了。所以加强了观点。
C. 这个选项不能算完全错误,毕竟gmat不是一个完美性的测试,但是它以偏概全了,不会使用brass for commemorative plaques不能推出不会brass-casting techniques。
D.1500年发生的事情已经不重要了
E.能找到原材料不一定和技术有关,无关选项
首先不是1400年,而是1400s. 1400s refers to the period from 1400 to 1499, almost synonymous with the 15th century (1401 to 1499) ---- from wikipedia.
证据关于在1485A.D.有没有metalworkers很重要。
A. The Portuguese records do not indicate whether their expedition of 1485 included metalworkers.
records既没有说有metalworkers也没有说一定没有metalworkers,基本就是没有提关于metalworkers。所以这个选项不能strengthen or weaken the argument.
如果A写成"The Portuguese records indicate that their expedition of 1485 did NOT include metalworkers. 这是strengthen the argument. 反之,weaken。