Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Germs proved more decisive than military force because they destroyed entire indigenous populations before the Spanish even arrived. The original inhabitants of America had lived in long isolation from the rest of the world and had no immunity against European diseases like smallpox. Once introduced, smallpox spread deep into the continent ahead of the conquerors themselves, killing and decimating whole communities, thus paving the way for conquest. Crucially, the indigenous people could not "fight back" against disease the way they could against guns — weapons could be captured and turned against invaders, but not the diseases to which the Spanish were already immune.

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

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• The examiner expects two things: (1) the reason germs were more powerful (no immunity among natives, spread faster than soldiers), and (2) evidence/contrast (guns could be seized and used against invaders; disease could not). Both points together earn full marks.
• Stick to the passage — don't bring in outside facts.
• The phrase "paving the way for conquest" is directly from the text and signals you're using textbook language, which examiners appreciate.