how to strengthen. CR.

[thanghnvn]

The following is from gmatprep absolutely. I have a problem.

some persons said that a strengthener can be
a, an assumption
b, new information which validate/increases belief in an assumption
other persons said that a strengthenre can be
1, an assumption
2, new information which validate/increases belief in the conclusion.
regarding b, and 2,. are they the same? of course, the new information which validates an assumption must be validate the conclusion. My question is Dose new information validate the conclusion only when it validates an assumption???.
if the answer is yes, b, and 2, are the same. if the answer is no, then there is new information which validate the conclusion but dose not validate any assumption.

This is important because if our approach is to look for an answer choice which validates an assumption , this approach will be dangerous because there is a case in which the correct answer directly validate the conclusion and dose not validate any assumption.

our approach should be to look for an answer choice which validate the conclusion directly. this approach includes the case in which the correct answer choices validates an assumption.

pls, commen/confirm of my thinking. Thank you.

the folowing, oa is b which directly validate the conclusion without validating any assumption.

Archaeologists in Michigan have excavated a Native American camp near Dumaw Creek. Radiocarbon dating of animal bones found at the site indicates that the camp dates from some time between 1605 and 1755. However, the camp probably dates to no later than 1630, since no European trade goods were found at the site, and European traders were active in the region from the 1620's onward.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

(A) Due to trade among Native Americans, some European trade goods would have reached the area before the European traders themselves did.
(B) At all camps in the region that have been reliably dated to the late 1620's, remains of European trade goods have been found.
(C) The first European trade goods to reach the area would have been considered especially valuable and preserved as much as possible from loss or destruction.
(D) The first European traders in the area followed soon after the first European explorers.
(E) The site is that of a temporary camp that would have been used seasonally for a few years and then abandoned.

[jlucero]

There is already a thread on this question. Please post any additional questions about this problem here:

archaeologists-in-michigan-have-excavated-a-native-t3013.html