Digital SAT® Practice Test 1: Reading and Writing Module 2 (Hard): Question 13 Explanation

Digital SAT Reading and Writing Test 5 Question 13

Which finding, if true, would most directly support Heather’s argument?

Overfarming and soil erosion increased the amount of abandoned farmland, which put many farmers out of work.
Only a fraction of the agricultural practices before the fall of the Roman Empire is known, as not many historical documents from that time have survived.
The general consensus among medieval historians was that the Roman Empire’s agricultural system prevented potential food shortages.
Analysis of ancient Roman coins, pottery, and urban ruins indicates that the empire always experienced vibrant trade and commerce.

Answer:

Explanation

Scholars of Roman history have long emphasized the crucial role of agriculture in the Roman economy, although there have been disagreements about the empire’s agricultural condition during its final years. Scholars such as Geoffrey Kron posit that Roman agricultural practices remained efficient and technologically advanced, maintaining high levels of production until the end. Scholars such as Peter Heather, on the other hand, argue that while some regions were still productive, the Roman Empire as a whole experienced a significant reduction in agricultural output, characterized by decreased crop yields and less frequent cultivation of land.

Choice A is the best answer. Peter Heather claims that the agricultural practices of the Roman Empire witnessed a reduction in its output and less cultivation of the land. The finding in this answer choice provides evidence of reduced crop yields and less farming activity; therefore, it most directly supports Heather’s argument.

Choice B: This finding is not relevant to the disagreements of the scholars, since these disagreements arose within the information already available to them.

Choice C: If there were no food shortages because of the empire’s agricultural system, it would weaken Heather’s argument.

Choice D: This choice neither supports nor weakens Heather’s argument, since it is not about the agricultural practices of the Roman Empire during its final years.

✨ Expert's Tip ✨

Identify the argument that Peter Heather presents. Then, choose the finding that would have led to the consequence outlined in the argument.