Q26

[KatiaK713]

Hi,
Could someone please explain why B is a wrong answer?

Third paragraph says "Historians thought that such soils were not tilled to any significant extent until the introduction of moldboard plough in the 7th century". Doesn't it mean that "at least some historians believed that cereal grain was not cultivated anywhere in Ireland until the 7th century?" Is it about all historians vs at least some (which seems correct) or "anywhere in Ireland" vs the sample county in the paragraph?

Thanks!

[ohthatpatrick]

(B) is wrong because of the extreme "anywhere in Ireland" modifier, and because it's about whether cereal was cultivated, as opposed to whether clay soil was tilled.

The 3rd paragraph is only about Long Lough in County Down. There is particularly high clay content in the soil "in this part of Down (line 24-25).

Historians thought such soils were not tilled until 7th century.

The pollen record suggests that these soils in Long Lough WERE tilled before the 7th century.

Correct answer (E) is supported by lines 42-47.

The only two line references about what 'historians believed' are line 26 and line 42, so the other answers besides (B) and (E) have no chance to get off the ground.