PrepTest 130, Section 2, Question 2
Traditional sources of evidence about ancient history are(454 more words not shown)
The author's attitude concerning the(11 more words not shown)
- Askeptical regarding the(10 more words not shown)
- Bdoubtful that any(13 more words not shown)
- Cimpatient about the(9 more words not shown)
- Doptimistic that recent(8 more words not shown)
- Esatisfied that considerable(7 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
The outlook is positive: researchers have learned a great deal despite poor surviving evidence, and improved methods keep giving them useful information. I'd describe the author as pleased with the progress. Let's make sure the answer's whole claim fits, not just its opening attitude word.
Working the answers
- A
The author reports successful ways of testing ideas, not doubts about the validity of new hypotheses.
- B
This is the opposite direction. Limited evidence creates a problem, but the point is that researchers have still learned a great deal.
- C
There's no complaint that research is moving too slowly.
- D
Optimistic initially sounds right. But optimistic about what? The author doesn't predict that advances will recruit more researchers. The positive assessment concerns what we're learning, not how many people will enter the field.
- ECorrect
The opening says researchers have “learned a great deal,” and the rest explains how. Satisfaction with considerable progress captures that assessment without inventing a prediction about recruitment.
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