Some people have speculated that two helmets with attached horns discovered in Denmark in 1942 belonged to Vikings, but
scholars have long been skeptical. Archaeologist Helle Vandkilde and colleagues recently provided radiocarbon dates for the
helmets, and their ﬁndings ______ scholars’ skepticism: the helmets date to the Nordic Bronze Age, centuries before the
Vikings existed.
anticipate
inspect
reveal
justify
Choice D is the best answer because it most logically completes the text’s discussion of the helmets found in Denmark. In
this context, “justify” means conﬁrm or give reasons for. The text indicates that scholars have long been skeptical about the
supposed Viking origin of two helmets found in Denmark. The radiocarbon dating of the helmets conducted by Vandkilde
and colleagues demonstrates that the helmets date from the Nordic Bronze Age, making the helmets too old to have
belonged to Vikings. This context supports the idea that the scholars’ skepticism is justiﬁed.
Choice A is incorrect because “anticipate” means expect or come before, neither of which would make sense in context. The
text indicates that scholars have long been skeptical of the idea that the helmets belonged to Vikings. Because the
skepticism has existed for a long time, Vandkilde and colleagues’ research couldn’t be said to anticipate it. Instead, the
radiocarbon dating results justify or conﬁrm the scholar’s skepticism. Choice B is incorrect because “inspect” means
examine or review, which wouldn’t make sense in this context. Research ﬁndings are inanimate and therefore unable to
inspect scholars’ skepticism. The text focuses on the origin of two helmets, which some people believe belonged to Vikings.
Vandkilde and colleagues found that the helmets are from the Nordic Bronze Age and therefore much older than the Vikings.
This context suggests that the researchers’ ﬁndings justify, not inspect, the scholars’ skepticism. Choice C is incorrect
because “reveal” means uncover or report, which wouldn’t make sense in context. The text focuses on the origin of two
helmets, which some people believe belonged to Vikings. Vandkilde and colleagues tested the helmets and found that they
date to the Nordic Bronze Age and therefore are much older than the Vikings. This context suggests that the researchers’
ﬁndings conﬁrm or justify the scholars’ skepticism, which was already known so didn’t need to be revealed.