homework 2, passage #4, q5

[lbayliyeva@unm.edu]

Why is the answer to question 5 is C) and not D)?

Choice D states that "they occupied a less hostile environment than the Neanderthals did." This claim is supported in lines 8-10: "Some anthropologists see these paintings as evidence that the Aurignacians had a more secure life than the Neanderthals."

What am I misreading?

Thank you.

[KelseyWoods]

Hi!

There are a couple of issues with answer choice (D) here. One is that we're looking for what the author would be most likely to agree with and, as the sentence you quote says, answer choice (D) is closer to what "some anthropologists" believe, not necessarily what the author believes. The author is even careful to use the phrase in the next sentences "the reasoning goes" to further show that he is presenting the beliefs of a group which he may or may not subscribe to. In this sense, answer choice (C) is a better answer because we can be more sure that the author agrees that they had specialized roles because that is what he states in lines 17-22.

The other issue is that "more secure life" does not necessarily equal "less hostile environment." The environment may be just as hostile as it was for the Neanderthals but perhaps the Aurignacians made some technological developments or social advances which allowed them to deal with their hostile environment in a better way.

Hope this helps!

Best,
Kelsey