PT121.S3.P1.Q1 > Analytics

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One of the intriguing questions considered by anthropologists concerns the purpose our early ancestors had in first creating images of the world around them. █████ █████ ██████ ███ ███████████████ ████ █████████ ████ ██ ███ █████████████ █ ██████ ███ ██████████ ███ ████████████ ██ ██████ ███ ███ ████████ ███ ████████ █████ ████████ ██ ████████████████ ████ ███

Phenomenon · Aurignacian cave paintings

Question: What was the purpose of the cave paintings?

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OP Hypothesis 1 · It was art; it was luxury meant for enjoyment

Evidence: paintings are astonishingly well-executed; suggests creators were professional artists; suggests that Aurignacian culture was wealthy enough to support an artistic class.

Counter Evidence · Paintings' location too inconvenient if purpose was truly for aesthetic enjoyment

If it really was for aesthetic enjoyment, why hide the paintings deep in hard to get to caves? Doesn't make sense.

OP Hypothesis 2 · It was religious; intended to secure prey for hunting

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Argument for Hypothesis 2 · Superstitious beliefs were common; paintings outline vital organs in red; evidence of ceremonies around the paintings

Passage Style

Critique or debate

Phenomenon-hypothesis (RC)

Which one of the following ████ ██████████ █████████ ███ ████████ ████████ █████████ ███ ██████ ██████████ ██ ███████████████ ██ ███ █████ ██████████

Question Type

Author’s attitude

Implied

The anthropologists in P3 hypothesize that the paintings were at least partially intended to grant power over the Aurignacians’ prey. There’s evidence the author agrees with this hypothesis. Notice that she claims that the explanation is “supported” by various features of the paintings.

implicit acceptance

This is the best answer. As explained below the question stem, the author claims that various features of the paintings “support” the anthropologists’ explanation. This is evidence of unstated agreement with that explanation.

87%

hesitant agreement

There’s no evidence the author is “hesitant” about her agreement. We don’t get any expression of doubt concerning the anthropologists’ explanation in P3.

noncommittal curiosity

The author claims that various features of the paintings “support” the anthropologists’ explanation. This goes beyond mere “curiosity” — there’s evidence the author agrees with the explanation.

detached skepticism

There’s no evidence the author is skeptical of the anthropologists’ explanation. She never expresses doubt or raises potential counterevidence.

broad disagreement

There’s no evidence the author disagrees with the anthropologists’ explanation. She never expresses doubt or raises potential counterevidence.

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PrepTest 121 - Section 3 - Passage 1 - Question 1

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PrepTest 121 - Section 3 - Passage 1 - Question 1

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