Prior to the arrival of Europeans

[patanjali.purpose]

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the area now known as the Joshua Tree National Park was inhabited by several native American tribes, the most dominant of which were the Serrano, the Chemehuevi, and the Mojave. Control over the immense desert region, comprised of the lower Colorado desert and the higher Mojave desert, was divided or shared between those tribes, whereas the southern part of the Park was considered Cahuilla territory.

The Serrano tribe claims to the earliest presence in the Joshua Tree National Park. The Serrano's center of culture was situated in the village of Mara, an ancient oasis settlement still exiting nowadays in its modern reincarnation. According to their creation myth, the Serrano have occupied the region since their arrival upon earth, thousands of years ago. The Serrano's occupation of the region lasted until roughly 1860.

Consequently, Chemehuevi have taken control over certain areas in the park; being a tribe of a more nomadic nature, they expanded their ranging from the upper regions of the Mojave desert in relatively small companies. The size of the Chemehuevi clans was a result of their constant migration in the desert parts of modern day Arizona, Nevada and California and the scarce resources available there. Due to the same reasons, the tribe's control of the Park region was sporadic and seasonal, alternating with periods of Serrano domination.

Another people who restricted the area controlled by the Chemehuevi was the Mojave tribe, struggling over the relatively rich bounty of the Mara oasis, which provided plant, animal and possibly even ore resources. Other than serving as a ritual center, the Mara oasis also functioned as a restocking point on the long route to the coast traced by the Mojave, who were, according to some researchers, tradesmen. Others claim that what set the Mojave traveling through the Mara oasis was a desire for exploration and sightseeing, which constituted an important part of the Mojave culture and lifestyle.


The author most probably refers to Arizona, Nevada, and California in order to
a) show the vastness of the region roamed by Chemehuevi
b) illustrate the sporadic and fragmented control of the Chemehuevi
c) appeal to readers from these regions
d) make it possible for contemporary readers to understand what area is discussed
e) connect modern day culture in these regions with ancient practices at the Mara Oasis

Pls explain your pick.

OA - D

[sam2304]

IMO A.

[BTG Expert Team]

What we see: a Reading Comprehension "why does the author mention this" question. We need the job the three state names do inside their own sentence.

Step 1. Read the whole sentence around the names.
What we see: "The size of the Chemehuevi clans was a result of their constant migration in the desert parts of modern day Arizona, Nevada and California and the scarce resources available there."
What it means: the sentence gives a cause. The clans were small because they kept moving and resources were scarce. The states only say where that moving happened.
What we do and why: look hard at the words "modern day." The tribe lived there long before these states existed. The author uses today's names so a reader can picture where this desert is on a map.

Step 2. Test each choice.
A (show the vastness of the region): the sentence is about why the clans were small, not about how big the territory was. No word in it says huge, wide, or vast.
B (illustrate sporadic control): the next sentence does mention sporadic control, but it blames migration and scarce resources ("Due to the same reasons"), not the states. The names add nothing to that idea.
C (appeal to readers from these regions): the passage never speaks to readers or hints at an audience.
Making it possible for today's readers to understand what area is discussed: this is exactly what "modern day" plus familiar place names does.
E (connect modern culture with the Mara Oasis): the Mara Oasis is not in this sentence, and no modern culture is discussed anywhere.

The trap: A. Three states sounds like a big area, so it is tempting to read "vastness" into it. But the author never makes a point about size. Choosing A means adding an idea the passage does not state.
Faster way: spot "modern day" in front of the place names. That phrase almost always means the author is helping the reader find the place.
Takeaway: When a passage gives an old place its modern name, the purpose is usually to orient the reader. Find the main point of the sentence before you read a bigger meaning into one detail.

Answer: D