The first people to inhabit North America came from Asia. Scientists had hypothesized that
The first people to inhabit North America came from Asia. Scientists had hypothesized that these people traveled across a now-submerged landmass that connected the two continents until 14,000 years ago, depending for food only on the land animals they hunted as they traveled. Recent discoveries have led to the new hypothesis that the first people came by boat a-long the southern shore of the landmass, eating fish and sea mammals. Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the new hypothesis by casting doubt on the earlier hypothesis？
A．The landmass connecting North America and Asia extended very far to the north.
B．In Europe, maritime cultures primarily dependent on the sea for food developed no earlier than 10,000 years ago.
C．People living in Asia at the time the two continents were connected hunted land animals for food.
D．The landmass was so bitterly cold that its vegetation would have been too sparse to support land animals.
E．Sophisticated and mature North American and Asian cultures that display great similarities to each other existed as far back as 8,000 years ago.
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参考答案；(A)为无关选项；(B)易被误选，选(B)的人会认为(B)对第二种假说构成了支持，但应注意两种观点所争执的是发生在1．4万年前的事，因此1万年前海洋文化的开始削弱了人们乘船到达北美的假说；(C)对第一种假说构成了支持；(E)与两种假说的结论无关。