- Mon Feb 20, 2023 7:43 pm
#99293
Hi quan-tang!
Happy to address answer choices (B) and (E).
As to why (B) is correct, we're asked about what strengthens the views of the critics of for-profit archaeology and the declaration on underwater cultural heritage. The latter refers to the entire Passage B, while the former is specifically about the final paragraph of Passage A. Answer choice (B) states, "Selling artifacts that have substantial archaeological value encourages the looting of archaeological sites by nonscientists."
The critics are doubtful about selling underwater cultural heritage, specifically because the sale of such artifacts "inhibits scholarly analysis and public display." If (B) were true, this would strengthen the view of the critics because looting by nonscientists would inhibit scholarly analysis. To your point about ambiguity in the word "substantial," we're told in Passage A that the value is approximately $4 billion. Answer choice (B) would also strengthen the declaration made in Passage B; this declaration prioritizes leaving such artifacts as they are as much as possible, as opposed to alternatives like selling them. If (B) were true, this would strengthen the recommendations in Passage B of leaving these artifacts undisturbed over selling them.
As to why (E) is incorrect, that answer choice states, "The excavation and recovery of valuable cargo and artifacts from shipwrecks almost always involves disturbing human remains." The critics and the draft convention presumably wouldn't dispute this. However, this answer choice leaves open questions in assessing whether or not it would strengthen their positions. We don't necessarily know whether this would inhibit scholarly analysis--it might make scholarly analysis of human remains more difficult while helping such analysis of the recovered cargo and artifacts. Similarly, the convention in Passage B would likely agree with this point, but leaving these remains undisturbed only come in at #5 of 7 on its prioritized list. This answer choice thus doesn't clearly strengthen its prioritization.