medium · SAT Reading & Writing
Historians have traditionally viewed the decline of the Mayan civilization as a sudden collapse triggered by catastrophic drought. However, recent sediment analysis from lakes in the Yucatan suggests a more complex reality: while dry periods were frequent, many Mayan centers persisted for decades after the initial environmental shifts, adapting their agricultural techniques to survive in a changing climate. The narrative of an overnight disappearance, therefore, lacks archaeological support.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
- The decline was likely a prolonged process characterized by local resilience and adaptation.
- The environmental shifts were actually much less severe than historians had previously believed.
- The civilization's disappearance can be attributed to political unrest rather than climate change.
- Mayan agriculture was ultimately unable to withstand the pressure of long-term climatic changes.
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