Question

the uto - aztecan language family is divided into a northern branch, which includes the shoshone language of present - day idaho and utah, and a southern one, whose best - known representative is nahuatl, the language of the aztec empire in mexico. lexical similarities across the family, including of botanical terms, confirm descent from a single language spoken millennia ago, and the familys geographical distribution suggests an origin in what is now the us southwest. however, vocabulary pertaining to maize isnt shared between northern and southern branches, despite the crops universal cultivation among uto - aztecan tribes. given archaeological evidence that maize originated in mexico and diffused northward into what became the us southwest, some linguists reason that —. which choice most logically completes the text? a) southern uto - aztecan tribes likely acquired maize at roughly the same time as northern uto - aztecan tribes did, though from different sources. b) the familys division into northern and southern branches likely preceded the acquisition of maize by the uto - aztecan tribes. c) northern uto - aztecan tribes likely obtained the crop directly from a southern uto - aztecan tribe rather than from a non - uto - aztecan tribe. d) variation in maize - related vocabulary within each branch of the uto - aztecan family likely reflects regionally specific methods for cultivating the crop.

Explanation:

The text states that the Uto - Aztecan language family has northern and southern branches. There are lexical similarities (like botanical terms) suggesting a single - language origin, but no shared maize - related vocabulary. Maize originated in Mexico (southern area) and diffused northward. If the language family was already divided (into northern and southern branches) before maize was acquired (since there's no shared maize vocabulary), this would explain the lack of common maize - related words.

• Option A: The text doesn't suggest that northern and southern tribes got maize at the same time. It focuses on the non - sharing of maize vocabulary and the origin and diffusion of maize.
• Option C: There is no indication in the text that northern tribes got maize from southern Uto - Aztecan tribes. The text is about the non - sharing of vocabulary and the origin and spread of maize.
• Option D: The text is not about regional cultivation methods and how they relate to vocabulary variation within each branch. It is about the non - sharing of maize vocabulary between branches.

Answer:

B. the family’s division into northern and southern branches likely preceded the acquisition of maize by the Uto - Aztecan tribes.