Toba Supereruption

Welcome! You are encouraged to register with the site and login (for free). When you register, you support the site and your question history is saved.

Geologists believe that one of the largest volcanic eruptions in human history occurred 74,000 years ago, the Toba supereruption. In one area, Middle Paleolithic tools of similar styles have been found and dated to closely before and after the Toba supereruption, indicating that the humans who lived after the supereruption were members of the population that had lived in that area prior to the eruption.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

Most tools used by the population prior to the supereruption were destroyed in the aftermath of the eruption.

Other evidence indicates that tools of similar styles had been used in the area long prior to the supereruption.

Some populations under the massive supereruption traveled long distances to attempt to find a better place to live.

After the supereruption, a new population might have found and adopted use of the tools that had originally belonged to a population that was destroyed by the supereruption.

Research has suggested that many animal species went extinct as a consequence of the supereruption.

Review: Toba Supereruption

Explanation

Reading the question: the final clause harbors the conclusion, which is that people after the Toba eruption were members of the same population as before. We sense a term mismatch:

The evidence doesn't talk about populations; it talks about tools. The assumption is, crudely, "Same tools? Same population!" To weaken it, we expect an answer that says, "Same tools doesn't mean same population." That's our filter.

Applying the filter: choice (D) matches our prediction and is the only answer choice to discuss both tools and populations.

Logical proof: We can confirm (D) by the negation test. If it were impossible for another people to adopt and use the tools, that would greatly strengthen the argument that the people before and after the eruption were the same folks. The correct answer is (D).

If you believe you have found an error in this question or explanation, please contact us and include the question title or URL in your message.

Continue »

GMAT Free

The Free GMAT Prep Course

Toba Supereruption