▶ Your Answer :
The
reading passage suggests that a serious drought was the main cause of the disappearance
of the Anasazi civilization, which once flourished. It supports its idea by
providing such evidence as bones with lack of nutrition, abandonment of the
settlement, and resettlement in areas with plenty amount of water. However, the
lecture is opposing to the idea by pointing out that each supporting
information is not appropriate.
First,
the lecture argues that the clear signs of malnutrition of children means
nothing. According to the reading these signs shows that people were having
hard times growing sufficient crops to feed the whole population, which
eventually forced the Anasazi to leave their homes. Nevertheless, the lecture
mentions that lack of nutrition was common among the Anasazi regardless of the
drought. In fact, up to 45 percent of Anasazi children were suffering with lack
of food, because most crops were used for religious ceremonies.
Second,
the lecture points out that if drought was the main problem, the Anasazi should
have come back after the drought. According to the reading the Anasazi abandoned
their settlement in order to preserve the place so that they can come back
later. Still, the lecture argues that there are no signs showing that the
Anasazi returned to resettle their homes. From about 1300 to 1340, when drought
was supposed to be gone, there is no evidence that the Anasazi resettled the
original settlements.
Finally,
the lecture asserts that drought was not a real cause of disappearance since
the new settlement of the Anasazi was an even harsher region for droughts. The
reading mentions that they settled in areas with plentiful amount of water.
However, according to the lecture the Anasazi moved to the region with even
more arid climate, which is current Arizona. If drought was really the main
problem, why would they have moved to an even harsher place? This shows that
drought was not a real issue for the Anasazi.
In
conclusion, the lecture argues that the reading’s suggestion that drought was
the main cause for the Anasazi’s sudden disappearance is not credible. |