Critical Reasoning

Traces of cultivated emmer wheat have been found among the earliest agricultural remains of many archaeological sites in Europe and Asia. The only place where the wild form of emmer wheat has been found growing is a relatively narrow strip of southwest Asia. Since the oldest remains of cultivated emmer wheat yet found are from village sites in the same narrow strip, it is clear that emmer wheat was first domesticated somewhere in that strip.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

A. The present-day distribution of another wild wheat, einkorn, which was also domesticated early in the development of agriculture, covers a much larger area of southwest Asia.

B. Modern experiments show that wild emmer wheat can easily be domesticated so as to yield nearly as well as traditionally domestic strains.

C. At the time when emmer wheat was first cultivated, it was the most nutritious of all the varieties of grain that were then cultivated.

D. In the region containing the strip where wild emmer wheat has been found, climatic conditions have changed very little since before the development of agriculture.

E. It is very difficult, without genetic testing, to differentiate the wild form of emmer wheat from a closely related wild wheat that also grows in southwest Asia.

For me correct answer is D

A. The present-day distribution of another wild wheat, einkorn, which was also domesticated early in the development of agriculture, covers a much larger area of southwest Asia.--out of scope. our case is with emmer wheat. We should exclude other plants.
B. Modern experiments show that wild emmer wheat can easily be domesticated so as to yield nearly as well as traditionally domestic strains.--> "easily domesticated" does not indicate or help prove that it is grown in that narrow strip.
C. At the time when emmer wheat was first cultivated, it was the most nutritious of all the varieties of grain that were then cultivated.--> again out of scope.

D. In the region containing the strip where wild emmer wheat has been found, climatic conditions have changed very little since before the development of agriculture.-->correct. if climatic conditions slightly changed, it is more likely that the emmer wheat is cultivated somewhere else in that strip..

E. It is very difficult, without genetic testing, to differentiate the wild form of emmer wheat from a closely related wild wheat that also grows in southwest Asia.-->"genetic testing" weakens the argument.

IMO D

+1 for D.

my take D

Agree with D. Try denying that answer. If you say the climate HAS changed dramatically, it becomes unlikely that emmer grew wild in that area before the climate change.

hey,

For adding strength to option A its important that the einkorn wheat in the option links sumwhere to the emmer wheat stated in the argument. Then wid analogy option A cud be a gud contender.

P.S. just sum thoughts..

Option A only tells us where einkorn grows. It doesn't help us locate the emmer. A is out of scope.

This is somehow not clear to me .
Argument : Since the oldest remains of cultivated emmer wheat yet found are from village sites in the same narrow strip, it is clear that emmer wheat was first domesticated somewhere in that strip.


Option D :In the region containing the strip where wild emmer wheat has been found, climatic conditions have changed very little since before the development of agriculture.

How does Climate Change indicate that emmer wheat was first domesticated somewhere in that strip and not somewhere else . None of the choices make sense to me .

A consistent climate doesn't prove anything, it just eliminates a possible weakener. Remember, strengtheners only have to make a conclusion more likely.