bjp2007 wrote:
The OA is D. But the discussion says it is B. My pick is D. Could you please explain.
Hi bjp2007,
The first thing you need to do in a BF question is identify the Main Conclusion (MC) of the argument. So, let's do so by reading and understanding the argument carefully:
Although the earliest surviving Greek inscriptions written in an alphabet date from the eighth century B.C.,
the fact that the text of these Greek inscriptions sometimes runs from right to left and sometimes from left to right indicates that the Greeks adopted alphabetic writing at least two centuries before these inscriptions were produced. After all, the Greeks learned alphabetic writing from the Phoenicians, and presumably, along with the alphabet, they also adopted the then-current Phoenician practice with respect to the direction of text.
And although Phoenician writing was originally inconsistent in direction, by the eighth century B.C. Phoenician was consistently written from right to left and had been for about two centuries.
1.
Although the earliest surviving Greek inscriptions written in an alphabet date from the eighth century B.C.,
- the author basically says that (even though) some particular inscriptions date from the 8th century BC. "Although" marks a contrast, so the author will go in a different line of thought as we read further.
2.
the fact that the text of these Greek inscriptions sometimes runs from right to left and sometimes from left to right - In this part, the author says that the fact that the text in these inscriptions run sometimes in one direction and at other times in the other direction...
3.
indicates that the Greeks adopted alphabetic writing at least two centuries before these inscriptions were produced.
- OK. So, basically the author links the directions of the text to make a statement and says that this whole direction bit shows or indicates something. In other words,
on the basis of the fact about the directions, the author says that the people who wrote the inscriptions, the Greeks, adopted the alphabetic writing - the inscriptions are written in this form -
at least two centuries before these inscriptions were actually written. So, this is the
author's opinion.Now pause over here for a moment. You need to understand the timing aspect given in statement 3 carefully. Since
we are dealing with BC and not AD, the regression in centuries will be counted forward -
that is if we take the 8th century BC as the base point, then 2 centuries earlier is the 10th century BC and NOT the 6th century BC. So basically, the author concludes that from the two different directions of the text, it is indicated that the Greeks adopted the alphabetic writing either around the 10th century BC or before it.
Let's move forward.
4.
After all, the Greeks learned alphabetic writing from the Phoenicians, and presumably, along with the alphabet, they also adopted the then-current Phoenician practice with respect to the direction of text. - Look at the keywords "After all". They should tell you that the author is carrying on in the same line of thought and is likely to share some
reason for the conclusion drawn in statement 3. In this part, the author says that the Greeks adopted this form of writing from another set of people, and supposedly, alongwith the form, the Greeks also adopted the manner (direction-wise) in which this form was being written by those people
at the time of adoption (notice then-current portion in the statement).5.
And although Phoenician writing was originally inconsistent in direction, by the eighth century B.C. Phoenician was consistently written from right to left and had been for about two centuries. - The author carries on in the same direction (notice the use of the word "and" in the beginning). He says that even though these people (from whom the Greeks adopted the whole thing) wrote the text in an inconsistent way originally, by the 8th century BC they had been writing consistently for about two centuries. So, timing-wise, this means that from some-time in the 10th century they fixed the direction of the text and carried it on in one direction only. Now, this
information makes the author's conclusion more believable -
before 10th century.
So, timing-wise this is what we get:
Phonecians originally inconsistent----
Greeks adopt writing form alongwith the inconsistent direction ---- sometime in 10th century Phonecians fix direction ---- 8th century Greek inscriptions written.
Now, when you look back at the analysis, you see that practically everything in the argument, except for statement no.1, helps the author draw the conclusion given in statement 3. The two bold-face portions also fall in the reason/support category.
Choice D says just the same and is, hence, correct.
You should be able to discount B after going through the above analysis. However, do let me know if you get stuck somewhere.
Cheers!