It might seem illogical that the development of modern currency rests

Question

It might seem illogical that the development of modern currency rests on a scientific discovery, but the invention of the “touchstone” allowed ancient societies to create a standard by which valuable metals could be judged. In its most basic form, a touchstone is any dark, ɹnely grained stone upon which soft metals leave traces. When rubbed, a process known as “probing,” precious metal alloy cleaves to the stone, leaving a stripe. The color of the stripe (which reveals the percentage of its content that is base metal) can then be compared to a stripe of a known grade of standard alloy. Despite its primitiveness, this probing process allowed merchants to examine alloys quickly and with reasonable certainty. Though civilizations were using gold and silver currencies as early as 500 B.C., coins were easily forged or diluted with less valuable metals, such as tin or lead. The invention and popularization of the touchstone ensured that pure gold and silver could become a standard expression of value.    1 
 1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

A. demonstrate that science can inɻuence non-scientific progress
B. underline the touchstone’s importance in the history of currency
C. explain how the touchstone is able to measure the purity of an alloy
D. explore the etymology of the word “touchstone”
E. refute an historical misconception

2  
 2. The author’s description of how coins were adulterated is included in the passage in order to

A. illustrate the historical precedent replaced by the invention
B. outline for the reader the chronology of the events in the passage
C. explain the larger importance of the details just provided
D. give the passage a cultural context
E. dismiss a misleading counterargument

3 
 3. The passage indicates that the advances brought about by the probing process included

I. an eficient means of ascertaining the purity of a metal
II. a means by which governments could standardize currency values
III. a measure of security against adulterated coins

A. I only
B. I and II
C. I and III
D. II and III
E. I, II, and III

svsivakrishna · Answer

I think the options in question 2 are not given properly. Such as option A: included in the passage in order to
This should be part of the question 2 right? Please check whether there is a typo error in the options for question 2.

apoo151997 · Answer

The answer of Q3 should be E all the above. Since passage does talk about standard expression in the last line

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Fixed the issue. Thank you!

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

The text is primarily concerned with showing the ancient origin of modern currency and underlines the touchstone’s importance within this history; therefore,  choice (B)  is correct.

Choice (A)  is too broad—the passage is concerned only with currency, not science in general. Conversely,  choice (C)  is too narrow; the passage talks about the touchstone’s historical importance, not just the science behind it.

The passage does not discuss where the word came from, so  choice (D)  is incorrect.

Choice (E)  is also wrong because there is no historical misconception that needs to be cleared up.

Answer: C

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. The author’s description of how coins were adulterated is

Explanation

Choice (C)  accurately describes the reason for including the details concerning the inclusion of lesser metals in early coins: It takes the details of how the touchstone works and shows why the touchstone was important for trade. The passage does not state how individuals previously tested metals, so  choice (A)  cannot be true.

Choice (B)  is also incorrect because the date given in the passage is of the earliest use of coins; it does not talk about the date of the touchstone. The purpose of the sentence is not to give a cultural context because the passage does not identify the cultures involved, so eliminate  choice (D) . There is no counterargument given, making  choice (E)  incorrect.

Answer: C

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. The passage indicates that the advances brought about by the probing process included

Explanation

Choices (I)  and  (II)  are supported by the phrases this probing process allowed merchants to examine alloys quickly and with reasonable certainty. You know that the certainty referred to is about adulterated coins because the passage later mentions that coins were easily forged or diluted.

Choice (II)  is incorrect because although the passage does mention standardization, it does not mention speciɹcally that it would be a function of the government.

Answer: C

It might seem illogical that the development of modern currency rests

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

It might seem illogical that the development of modern currency rests

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