Lesson 7 HW 7-109 Question 26 (Passage 1)

[mpoulson]

Hello,

I struggled to choose between A and E for this question and was hoping for insight. I read the referenced passage provided in the answer key, but it still seems a bit of an overreach to assume the author thinks it is "impossible" to confirm the accuracy of reconstructed historical data. I chose A because it seemed plausible that the author would believe data was accurate if it was stronger data was available. The only thing I can see that makes A wrong is that it is prefaced with "with care analysis" which isn't really the problem with the data or discussed in detail in the passage. Please help me understand what I've missed. Thank you.

V/r,

Micah

[David Boyle]

Hello,

I struggled to choose between A and E for this question and was hoping for insight. I read the referenced passage provided in the answer key, but it still seems a bit of an overreach to assume the author thinks it is "impossible" to confirm the accuracy of reconstructed historical data. I chose A because it seemed plausible that the author would believe data was accurate if it was stronger data was available. The only thing I can see that makes A wrong is that it is prefaced with "with care analysis" which isn't really the problem with the data or discussed in detail in the passage. Please help me understand what I've missed. Thank you.

V/r,

Micah

Hello Micah,

Maybe Lowe did careful analysis, but despite that, new research and data could overturn his picture, see lines 55-56. Therefore, answer A is much too optimistic, and the pessimism of answer E is much more in line with the passage.

Hope this helps,
David