Critical Reasoning: Conclusion Weakening Questions
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the author's contention that a lack of imported ceramics in archaeological digs is a sign of decreased economic activity and disappearing markets?
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This statement strengthens, not weakens, the author's assertion. If there were fewer cities, this would indicate that markets were indeed contracting.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]The quality of Roman pottery has no bearing on the author's assertion. The author's assertion relies on the fact that archaeologists could not find imported pottery from the post-Roman era (i.e. the Early Middle Ages).
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This statement strengthens, not weakens, the author's assertion. If imports of wine in Britain decreased, this would provide another example of a contracting economy.
Incorrect.
[[snippet]]This statement neither weakens nor strengthens the author's assertion. If true, this would apply equally to Roman and post-Roman sites and therefore we cannot use this fact to explain why there is less pottery in post-Roman Britain.
Very good!
[[snippet]]This answer choice provides an alternative explanation for the lack of imported pottery. The existence of domestic pottery indicates that there was a market for these goods and suggests that domestic production of pottery simply displaced imported products.
