The following text discusses historical research methods.
Historians once relied almost exclusively on written documents to understand the past. Today, however, many historians incorporate evidence from archaeology, oral traditions, and even DNA analysis. This multi-disciplinary approach has been particularly valuable for studying societies that left few written records, such as many pre-colonial African civilizations. By combining different types of evidence, researchers can construct more complete and nuanced pictures of the past.
According to the text, why is the multi-disciplinary approach valuable?
It is faster than traditional research methods
It allows study of societies with limited written records
It proves that written documents are unreliable
It was developed by African historians
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the correct answer. The text explicitly states this approach "has been particularly valuable for studying societies that left few written records."
- Evidence: Direct statement about value for societies with limited records.
- Reasoning: The example of pre-colonial African civilizations illustrates this point.
- Conclusion: Studying societies without extensive written records is the main benefit cited.
Choice A is incorrect because speed is not mentioned. Choice C is incorrect because the text doesn't suggest documents are unreliable. Choice D is incorrect because the origin of the approach is not discussed.