Clay Tokens

Answer choices

1. A

   Correct74% picked this

   Based on her analysis of inscription-bearing clay envelopes containing tokens dating to roughly 4000 B.C., Schmandt-Besserat concludes that this system of tokens eventually

   Why this is right

   The main clause here is that Schmandt-Besserat concludes that this system of tokens eventually evolved into an abstract written language. That seems like what we were looking for. At the end of the first paragraph, we hear the thesis of the book summarized as "Schmandt-Besserat identifies these tokens as overlooked predecessors to the written word". At the very end of the passage, Schmandt-Besserat is saying, "Check it out -- with these three signs, an abstract and flexible written form had arrived!" Since the main clause is solid, we would verify the details of the warm-up clause, but it looks accurate. She analyzed clay envelopes that date back to 4000 B.C.

   Skill tested: Main Point · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

   74%
2. B

   Wrong Emphasis / Too Narrow1% picked this

   The discovery of clay tablets bearing inscriptions representing the tokens they contain confirms the belief of Schmandt-Besserat that these tokens served to designate the

   The main clause here is The discovery of clay tablets confirms the belief of Schmandt-Besserat that these tokens served to designate the products given by villagers. That's not the main takeaway. She didn't write her book to say, "Check it out, world -- these tokens really DID serve to designate the products given by villagers to their temples". That was a small idea from the 2nd paragraph. The big idea is, "Check it out, world -- these tokens might be our earliest example yet of people developing a written language!"

   1%
3. C

   Out of Scope: puzzlement over crafts4% picked this

   Inscription-bearing clay envelopes containing tokens discovered in modern Iraq have provided Schmandt-Besserat with the evidence required to resolve the puzzlement of archaeologists over

   The main clause here is The clay envelopes have provided Schmandt-Besserat with evidence needed to resolve the puzzlement of archaeologists over the sudden appearance of sophisticated crafts. The passage never says that any archaeologists are puzzled at the sudden appearance of sophisticated crafts. We are told that they have long been puzzled by the "seemingly sudden appearance of such abstract writing" as that found on the clay tablets found in Uruk.

   4%
4. D

   Unsupported Causal Claim: evolved into modern19% picked this

   The inscriptions found on clay envelopes containing small clay tokens have enabled Schmandt-Besserat to formulate a more detailed picture of the way in which

   The main clause here is The inscriptions on the clay envelopes have enabled Schmandt-Besserat to formulate a more detailed picture of the way in which a simple system of 3D nouns evolved into modern languages. That's fairly close to the right main point. It's weird to say that the clay tablets enabled "a more detailed" picture, because nothing in the passage suggests that there was already a picture developed that this is refining. The passage seemed to be saying, "She thinks she just discovered the earlier example of written language!" But the most offending part of this answer is the notion that this simple system of 3D nouns evolved into modern languages. We have no support for that causal claim. Modern languages might have evolved from a totally different starting point. The passage is merely saying that this may be the earliest example of anything resembling a written language.

   19%
5. E

   Unsupported Causality: crafts affect language1% picked this

   The discovery of inscription-bearing clay envelopes containing small tokens confirms Schmandt-Besserat’s hypothesis that a language becomes increasingly abstract as the arts and crafts of

   The main clause here is The discovery of clay envelopes confirms Schmandt-Besserat's hypothesis that a language becomes increasingly abstract as the arts and crafts become more abstract. The passage never insinuated this causal connection that as crafts become more abstract, it causes the language to become more abstract. In fact, the passage never even talks about crafts becoming more abstract. It just talks about them becoming more diverse and sophisticated. Schmandt-Besserat's discovery/hypothesis is simply, "The stuff these guys were doing with these clay envelopes is basically an abstract and flexible written language!"

   1%