by researcher Paul Martin, the wave
of species extinctions that occurred
Line in North America about 11,000 years
(5) ago, at the end of the Pleistocene era,
can be directly attributed to the arrival
of humans, i.e., the Paleoindians, who
were ancestors of modern Native
Americans. However, anthropologist
(10) Shepard Krech points out that large
animal species vanished even in areas
where there is no evidence to demonstrate
that Paleoindians hunted them.
Nor were extinctions confined to large
(15) animals: small animals, plants, and
insects disappeared, presumably not
all through human consumption. Krech
also contradicts Martin's exclusion of
climatic change as an explanation by
(20) asserting that widespread climatic
change did indeed occur at the end of
the Pleistocene. Still, Krech attributes
secondary if not primary responsibility
for the extinctions to the Paleoindians,
(25) arguing that humans have produced
local extinctions elsewhere. But,
according to historian Richard White,
even the attribution of secondary
responsibility may not be supported
(30) by the evidence. White observes that
Martin's thesis depends on coinciding
dates for the arrival of humans and the
decline of large animal species, and
Krech, though aware that the dates
(35) are controversial, does not challenge
them; yet recent archaeological
discoveries are providing evidence
that the date of human arrival was
much earlier than 11,000 years ago.
Which of the following is true about Martin's theory, as that theory is described in the
passage?
A. It assumes that the Paleoindians were primarily dependent on hunting for survival.
B. It denies that the Pleistocene species extinctions were caused by climate change.
C. It uses as evidence the fact that humans have produced local extinctions in other
situations.
D. It attempts to address the controversy over the date of human arrival in North
America.
E. It admits the possibility that factors other than the arrival of humans played a role
in the Pleistocene extinctions
OA B
Whats wrong with A???
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken Krech's objections to Martin's
theory?
A. Further studies showing that the climatic change that occurred at the end of the
Pleistocene era was even more severe and widespread than was previously
believed
B. New discoveries indicating that Paleoindians made use of the small animals,
plants, and insects that became extinct
C. Additional evidence indicating that widespread climatic change occurred not only
at the end of the Pleistocene era but also in previous and subsequent eras
D. Researchers' discoveries that many more species became extinct in North
America at the end of the Pleistocene era than was previously believed
E. New discoveries establishing that both the arrival of humans in North America
and the wave of Pleistocene extinctions took place much earlier than 11,000 years
ago
OA B
In the last sentence of the passage, the author refers to "recent archaeological
discoveries" (lines 36-37) most probably in order to
A. refute White's suggestion that neither Maritn nor Krech adequately account for
Paleoindians' contributions to the Pleistocene extinctions
B. cast doubt on the possibility that a more definitive theory regarding the causes of
the Pleistocene extinctions may be forthcoming
C. suggest that Martin's, Krech's, and White's theories regarding the Pleistocene
extinctions are all open to question
D. call attention to the most controversial aspect of all the current theories regarding
the Pleistocene extinctions
E. provide support for White's questioning of both Martin's and Krech's positions
regarding the role of Paleoindians in the Pleistocene extinctions
OA E - finally got it right
