Question

some historians believed that the nebra sky disk, discovered in germany in 1999, was an artifact from the iron age. however, a team of archaeologists and chemists analyzed the disk’s materials and _____ the iron age dating: from their findings, they were able to conclude definitively that the disk was created around 1600 bce, during the bronze age.

which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

choose 1 answer:
a confirmed
b seized
c disproved
d predicted

Explanation:

1. Analyze the context: Historians initially thought the disk was from the Iron Age, but the team's findings showed it was from the Bronze Age. So the team's analysis should contradict the initial Iron Age dating.
2. Evaluate each option:

• Option A ("confirmed"): If they confirmed the Iron Age dating, the conclusion would be it's from the Iron Age, but the text says it's from the Bronze Age. So A is incorrect.
• Option B ("seized"): "Seized" means to take possession, which doesn't fit the context of analyzing dating. So B is incorrect.
• Option C ("disproved"): "Disproved" means to show something is false. Since the initial Iron Age dating was wrong (it's actually Bronze Age), the team disproved the Iron Age dating. This fits.
• Option D ("predicted"): "Predicted" means to forecast, but the team analyzed and concluded, not predicted. So D is incorrect.

Answer:

C. disproved