Hikers who found a human body at high altitude in the Italian Alps thought the man had died recently, but tests indicated he was shot with an arrow more than 5,300 years ago. Which of the following would be the best reason for prolonged preservation of the body? .
A. The food that the person ate contained toxins that killed the bacteria that would have otherwise destroyed the body
B. The arrow wound caused blood to flow out of the body, which led the enzymes that would break down tissue to be cleared from the body
C. The body was frozen in the cold temperature of the Alps shortly after he died and remained frozen until it was found
D. The ultraviolet rays at such a high altitude caused all the body's molecules to be preserved.
The best reason for the prolonged preservation of the body is that it was frozen in the cold temperature of the Alps shortly after he died and remained frozen until it was found.
Freezing can preserve a body by slowing down or stopping the decomposition process.
Choice A is not correct because the food that the person ate would not have contained toxins that killed the bacteria that would have otherwise destroyed the body.
Choice B is not correct because the arrow wound would not have caused blood to flow out of the body in a way that would have cleared enzymes that break down tissue from the body.
Choice D is not correct because ultraviolet rays at high altitude would not have caused all of the body’s molecules to be preserved.
Therefore, the Correct Answer is C.