Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

The indigenous people of America had been completely isolated from the rest of the world for millions of years. Because of this long isolation, they had never been exposed to European diseases like smallpox. As a result, their bodies had developed no biological immunity — that is, no natural resistance — against these diseases.

When Spanish conquerors arrived carrying germs of smallpox on their persons, the disease spread rapidly among the native population. It killed and decimated whole communities. Guns could be captured and used against the conquerors, but diseases could not be fought the same way, since the conquerors were mostly immune while the natives were completely defenceless.

Source: Chapter 3, Section 1.3 — Conquest, Disease and Trade

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• Key concept to highlight: "biological immunity" — the absence of prior exposure = no resistance developed.
• Examiners look for: (1) reason for vulnerability = long isolation, (2) no immunity to European diseases, (3) devastating effect (decimated communities / paved way for conquest).
• The contrast — conquerors were immune, natives were not — is a scoring point worth including.
• Don't over-explain; three clear points at this word count is exactly right for 3 marks.