The domestic sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) descends from a wild plant native to South America. It also populates the Polynesian Islands, where evidence confirms that Native Hawaiians and other Indigenous peoples were cultivating the plant centuries before seafaring first occurred over the thousands of miles of ocean separating them from South America. To explain how the sweet potato was first introduced in Polynesia botanist Pablo Muñoz-Rodriguez and colleagues analyzed the DNA of numerous varieties of the plant, concluding that Polynesian varieties diverged from South American ones over 100,000 years ago. Given that Polynesia was peopled only in the last three thousand years, the team concluded that __ Mark for Review Which choice most logically completes the text? A the cultivation of the sweet potato in Polynesia likely predates its cultivation in South America. B Polynesian peoples likely acquired the sweet potato from South American peoples only within the last three thousand years. C human activity likely played no role in the introduction of the sweet potato in Polynesia. D Polynesian sweet potato varieties likely descend from a single South American variety that was domesticated not wild.

## Step 1<br />The problem presents a scenario where the domestic sweet potato, a plant native to South America, has also been found in Polynesian Islands. The DNA analysis of various varieties of the plant suggests that the Polynesian varieties diverged from South American ones over 100,000 years ago. However, Polynesia was only populated in the last three thousand years.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />Given this information, we need to determine the most logical conclusion. The options suggest different possibilities about how the sweet potato reached Polynesia.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />Option A suggests that the cultivation of sweet potato in Polynesia predates its cultivation in South America. This is not supported by the information given, as the DNA analysis suggests the Polynesian varieties diverged from South American ones over 100,000 years ago.<br /><br />## Step 4<br />Option B suggests that Polynesian peoples acquired the sweet potato from South American peoples only within the last three thousand years. This is also not supported by the information given, as the DNA analysis suggests the Polynesian varieties diverged from South American ones over 100,000 years ago.<br /><br />## Step 5<br />Option C suggests that human activity likely played no role in the introduction of the sweet potato in Polynesia. This is not supported by the information given, as the DNA analysis suggests the Polynesian varieties diverged from South American ones over 100,000 years ago.<br /><br />## Step 6<br />Option D suggests that Polynesian sweet potato varieties likely descend from a single South American variety that was domesticated, not wild. This is supported by the information given, as the DNA analysis suggests the Polynesian varieties diverged from South American ones over 100,000 years ago.