SAT Question 757077f9: Words In Context answer and explanation

English - Words In Context - Fill In Blank Single Word
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During a 2014 archaeological dig in Spain, Vicente Lull and his team uncovered the skeleton of a woman from El Algar, an Early Bronze Age society, buried with valuable objects signaling a high position of power. This finding may persuade researchers who have argued that Bronze Age societies were ruled by men to ______ that women may have also held leadership roles.
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Difficulty:Medium
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?