Question

Text 1
Geologist Dr. Elena Vance analyzed sediment core samples from the northern bay, identifying high concentrations of heavy metals, including lead and copper. She concluded that the high levels represent the first tangible evidence of large-scale, industrialized metal smelting occurring in the area as early as 1200 CE, marking a significant environmental shift driven by human activity.
Text 2
Environmental archaeologist Dr. Marcus Thorne contends that heavy metal concentrations in sediment cores are frequently misinterpreted as indicative of industrial activity. Similar elevated levels can be produced naturally by geological weathering of mineral-rich rock layers or by localized volcanic deposits. Thorne points out that Vance's study did not include microscopic analysis of micro-slags or isotopic sourcing of the lead, which would allow for differentiating between industrial pollution and natural geological deposits.
Based on the texts, how would Dr. Marcus Thorne (Text 2) most likely characterize the conclusion presented in Text 1?
A) As premature, because too few sediment cores were sampled to establish a regional timeline of industrial activity.
B) As innovative, because it introduces a new, reliable method for identifying early environmental pollution that other researchers had overlooked.
C) As speculative, because it assumes an industrial source for the metals while ignoring natural geological processes that could produce the same findings.
D) As incorrect, because subsequent studies have definitively proven that the sediments in that bay are not from the 13th century.

Answer 1

C

Thorne argues the metals could be natural (weathering or volcanic) and criticizes the lack of micro-slag analysis and isotopic sourcing, so he'd call Vance's industrial attribution speculative.