HREDU82 Assignment 1 (DETAILED ANSWERS)
2024 --2025 DISTINCTION GUARANTEED
Answer:
A. "plainer headdresses and fewer neck-rings"
B. "belts hung with
... [Show More] small crocodile heads"
C. "the heads and shoulders of two tiny Europeans" - ANS-To either side kneel two
high-court functionaries, dressed very like the Oba, but with plainer headdresses and
fewer neck-rings. They wear belts hung with small crocodile heads, the emblem of
those authorized to conduct business with Europeans - and the heads and shoulders of
two tiny Europeans can be seen floating in the background.
The Europeans are Portuguese, who from the 1470s were sailing down the west coast
of Africa in their galleons on their way to the Indies, but who were also seriously
interested in West African pepper, ivory and gold.
-A History of the World in 100 Objects, Neil MacGregor
Which details from the passage help readers visualize the plaque? Check all that apply.
A. "plainer headdresses and fewer neck-rings"
B. "belts hung with small crocodile heads"
C. "the heads and shoulders of two tiny Europeans"
D. "sailing down the west coast of Africa"
E. "West African pepper, ivory and gold"
Answer:
A. a person who studies the earth - ANS-Darwin's voyage on the Beagle and his
subsequent work on evolution pushed human origins - and indeed the origins of life
itself - into an unthinkably distant past. Geologists had already demonstrated that the
Earth was far older than previously believed, undermining the calculation made by
Archbishop Ussher (see Chapter 2).
-A History of the World in 100 Objects, Neil MacGregor
Based on context clues in the passage, what is the best definition of the word geologist?
A. a person who studies the earth
B. a kind of ship used for exploration
C. a type of religious leader
D. a period of change and uncertainty
Answer:
B. "sailing"
C. explanation
A. a kind of ship - ANS-The Europeans are Portuguese, who from the 1470s were
sailing down the west coast of Africa in their galleons on their way to the Indies, but who
were also seriously interested in West African pepper, ivory and gold.
-A History of the World in 100 Objects, Neil MacGregor
Which context clue best helps readers determine the meaning of the word galleon?
A. "from the 1470s"
B. "sailing"
C. "ivory and gold"
What type of context clue is this?
A. definition
B. synonym
C. explanation
Based on the context clue, what is the meaning of the word galleon in the passage?
A. a kind of ship
B. a gold coin
C. a type of spice
Answer:
B. "your distance north or south of the equator"
A. definition - ANS-If you wanted to sail, it was impossible to keep a precise record of
time. And at sea, if you can't tell the time, you don't how far east or west you are. It is
relatively easy to calculate latitude - your distance north or south of the equator - by
measuring the height of the Sun above the horizon at noon; but this won't let you
calculate longitude - your position east or west.
-A History of the World in 100 Objects, Neil MacGregor
Which context clue can best help you determine the meaning of the word latitude?
A. "precise record of time"
B. "your distance north or south of the equator"
C. "your position east or west"
What type of context clue is this?
A. definition
B. synonym
D. antonym
Answer:
B. The Benin plaques reveal the importance of trade between Europe and Africa. -
ANS-The brass needed to make the plaques was usually transported in the form of
large bracelets - called manillas - and the quantities involved are staggering. In 1548
just one German merchant house agreed to provide Portugal with 432 tons of brass
manillas for the West African market. When we look again at the plaque, we can see
that one of the Europeans is holding a manilla, and this is the key to the whole scene:
the Oba is with his officials who manage and control the European trade.
-A History of the World in 100 Objects, Neil MacGregor
What central idea is best supported by details in the passage?
A. The Benin plaques demonstrate why brass is not typically used in sculpture.
B. The Benin plaques reveal the importance of trade between Europe and Africa.
C. The Benin plaques highlight the great skill of sixteenth-century African artists.
D. The Benin plaques show that the Oba was not a powerful or valued leader.
Answer:
D. "[The plaques] changed European understanding of African history and African
culture." - ANS-Many wild theories were put forward. It was thought that the plaques
must have come from ancient Egypt, or perhaps that the people of Benin were one of
the lost tribes of Israel. Or the sculptures must have derived from European influence
(after all, these were the contemporaries of Michelangelo, Donatello and Cellini). But
research quickly established that the Benin plaques were entirely West African
creations, made without European influence. The Europeans had to revisit, and to
overhaul, their assumptions of easy cultural superiority.
-A History of the World in 100 Objects, Neil MacGregor
Which idea from the text is best supported by details in the passage?
A. "Modern British life and culture now have a strong African component."
B. "All European visitors were struck by the Oba's position as both the spiritual and the
secular head of the kingdom . . ."
C. "This plaque is dominated by the majestic figure of the Oba himself."
D. "[The plaques] changed European understanding of African history and African
culture."
Answer:
D. "The chronometer for the first time allowed absolutely accurate charting of the
oceans, with all that implied for establishing safe and rapid shipping routes." - ANSWhich detail from the text best supports the idea that the invention of the chronometer
had a significant effect on British and world culture?
A. "During what is sometimes called the 'long' nineteenth century . . . the countries of
western Europe and America were transformed from agricultural societies into industrial
powerhouses."
B. "There are twenty-four hours in the day so, as the Earth rotates, every hour the Sun
apparently 'moves' across the sky one twenty-fourth of a complete circle of the globe . . [Show Less]