LSAT Explanation PT 19, S4, Q7: The cumbersome spears that were the

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, most supports the archaeologists' claim? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Strengthen question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The passage discusses early and late Bronze Age tribes and their methods of warfare. In the early Bronze Age, these tribes used cumbersome spears as their principal weapons, which limited the number of casualties during intertribal conflicts. However, recent excavations of late Bronze Age settlements show a higher number of warrior tombs, indicating more frequent wars and a higher casualty rate. The conclusion of the argument is that some archaeologists claim that by the late Bronze Age, these tribes had developed new methods of warfare designed to inflict many casualties.

To better understand this argument, let's use a simple example. Imagine two groups of people playing a game of tag. In the first round, they can only use a heavy, cumbersome ball to tag each other, making it difficult to tag many people. In the second round, they are allowed to use a lighter, more efficient ball, which makes it easier to tag more people. The conclusion here would be that the new method of playing the game (using a lighter ball) resulted in more people being tagged.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument would be: "Did the late Bronze Age tribes use new weapons or methods that were more efficient in causing casualties?"

Now, let's discuss the question type and the answer choices. This is a Strengthen question, asking us to identify the answer choice that most supports the archaeologists' claim.

a) This answer choice talks about pottery depicting battle scenes with spears in the early Bronze Age. This doesn't help us strengthen the claim that new methods of warfare were developed in the late Bronze Age, so it's not the correct answer.

b) This answer choice mentions evidence of buildings built by prisoners of war in the late Bronze Age, but it doesn't provide any information about new methods of warfare or a higher casualty rate. It's not the correct answer.

c) This answer choice discusses scenes of violent warfare on pottery found in early Bronze Age tombs. It doesn't provide any information about the late Bronze Age or new methods of warfare, so it's not the correct answer.

d) This answer choice talks about tombs of late Bronze Age warriors containing armor and weapons believed to be trophies taken from enemies in battle. However, it doesn't specify that these weapons were different from the cumbersome spears or that they were more efficient in causing casualties. It's not the correct answer.

e) This answer choice is the correct one. It states that the marks on the bones of late Bronze Age warriors are consistent with wounds inflicted by arrowheads, which were also found in many late Bronze Age settlements. This directly supports the archaeologists' claim that new methods of warfare were developed in the late Bronze Age, as it provides evidence of a new weapon (arrows) being used during this time period.

In conclusion, the correct answer is (E), as it provides evidence of a new weapon being used in the late Bronze Age, supporting the archaeologists' claim that new methods of warfare were developed to inflict more casualties.