The government of Mali passed a law against excavating and exporting

Question

The government of Mali passed a law against
excavating and exporting the wonderful terra-cotta
sculptures from the old city of Djenne-jeno, but it
could not enforce it. And it certainly could not afford
  (5)   to fund thousands of archaeological excavations.
The result was that many fine Djenne-jeno terra-cotta
sculptures were illicitly excavated in the 1980s and
sold to foreign collectors who rightly admired them.
Because these sites were looted, much of what we
  (10)   would most like to know about this culture—much that
we could have learned had the sites been preserved by
careful archaeology—may now never be known.

It has been natural to condemn such pillaging.
And, through a number of declarations from UNESCO
  (15)   and other international bodies, a protective doctrine
has evolved concerning the ownership of many forms
of cultural property (the “UNESCO doctrine”).
Essentially the doctrine provides that cultural artifacts
should be regarded as the property of the culture. For an 
  (20)  individual belonging to that culture, such works are,
using UNESCO’s terminology, part of an “artistic and
cultural patrimony.” Further, a number of countries
have strengthened the UNESCO doctrine by declaring
all antiquities that originate within their borders to be
  (25)   state property that cannot be freely exported.

Accordingly, it seems reasonable that the
government of Mali, within whose borders the
Djenne-jeno antiquities are buried, be the one to
regulate excavating Djenne-jeno and to decide where
  (30)   the statues should go. Regrettably, and this is a
painful irony, regulations prohibiting export and requiring
repatriation can discourage recording and preserving
information about cultural antiquities, one of the key
reasons for the UNESCO regulations. For example, if
  (35)   someone in London sells a figure from Djenne-jeno
with documentation that it came out of the ground
there after the regulations were implemented, then the
authorities committed to the restitution of objects
taken illegally out of Mali have the very evidence
  (40)   they need to seize the figure.

Suppose that from the beginning, Mali had been
helped by UNESCO to exercise its trusteeship of the
Djenne-jeno terra-cotta sculptures by licensing
excavations and educating people to recognize that such
  (45)  artifacts have greater value when they are removed
carefully from the earth with accurate records of
location. Suppose Mali had required that objects be
recorded and registered before leaving the excavation
site, and had imposed a tax on exported objects to
  (50)   fund acquisitions of important pieces for the national
museum. The excavations encouraged by such a
system may have been less well conducted and less
informative than proper, professionally administered
excavations by accredited archaeologists. Some people
  (55)   would still have avoided the rules. But would this not
have been better than what actually happened?    1 
 1. Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?

(A) Declarations from UNESCO and other international bodies concerning the ownership of cultural artifacts gave rise to a doctrine based on the notion of artistic and cultural patrimony.
(B) Preserving cultural knowledge at sites like Djenne-jeno requires solutions that are more flexible than simply passing laws prohibiting the excavation and export of antiquities.
(C) Rather than acceding to the dictates of international bodies, countries like Mali must find their own unique solutions to problems concerning the preservation of cultural heritage.
(D) The government of Mali should have exercised its trusteeship of the Djenne-jeno terracotta sculptures by licensing only accredited archaeologists for the excavations.
(E) The idea that a culture’s artistic and cultural patrimony is the property of the state does more harm than good in countries like Mali.

2 
 2. The passage indicates that some countries have made use of the UNESCO doctrine in which one of the following ways?

(A) requiring the origins of all antiquities sold to collectors to be fully documented
(B) restricting the export of antiquities and declaring all antiquities originating within the country’s borders to be state property
(C) adopting plans to teach people to recognize that antiquities have greater value when they arem removed carefully from the earth with accurate records of location
(D) encouraging trade in a particular ancient culture’s artifacts among countries each of which contains within its boundaries a portion of that ancient culture’s territory
(E) committing substantial resources to the restoration of antiquities taken illegally out of countries like Mali

3 
 3. The author asks the reader to suppose that Mali had imposed a tax on exported objects (lines 49–51) primarily in order to

(A) draw attention to the role of museums in preserving cultural patrimonies
(B) praise one of the Malian government’s past policies concerning cultural antiquities
(C) present one part of a more pragmatic approach to regulating the trade in cultural antiquities
(D) suggest a means of giving people who excavate cultural antiquities incentive to keep careful records
(E) highlight a flaw in the UNESCO doctrine

4 
 4. The author of the passage would be most likely to agree with which one of the following statements about UNESCO?

(A) It can play an important role in stemming abuses that arise from the international trade in cultural artifacts.
(B) Its stance on cultural artifacts emerged for the most part in response to Mali’s loss of terracotta sculptures from Djenne-jeno.
(C) It is more effective with initiatives that involve individual states than initiatives that involve several states.
(D) It pays too little attention to the concerns of countries like Mali.
(E) Its effectiveness in limiting the loss of cultural knowledge has been hampered by inadequate funding.

5 
 5. The author of the passage would be most likely to agree with which one of the following statements about regulations governing the trade in cultural antiquities in countries like Mali?

(A) Such regulations must be approved by archaeologists before being enacted.
(B) Such regulations must have as their goal maximizing the number of cultural antiquities that ultimately remain in these countries.
(C) Such regulations can be beneficial even if not all people strictly comply with them.
(D) Such regulations must be accompanied by very strict punishments for violators.
(E) Such regulations are most effective when they are very simple and easily understood.

6 
 6. The author of the passage would be most likely to agree with which one of the following statements about cultural antiquities?

(A) They must be owned and protected by a country’s national museum.
(B) They must remain within the boundaries of the country in which they were found.
(C) They are too valuable to be owned exclusively by the state.
(D) They should be excavated by professional archaeologists when possible.
(E) They belong to whoever finds them and registers them with the state.

7 
 7. Which one of the following is an element of the author’s attitude toward foreign collectors of terra-cotta sculptures from Djenne-jeno?

(A) appreciation of their efforts to preserve cultural artifacts
(B) approval of their aesthetic judgment
(C) dismay at their failure to take action against illegal exportation of cultural artifacts
(D) frustration with their lack of concern for the people of Mali
(E) sympathy with their motives

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

5. The author of the passage would be most likely to agree with which one of the following statements about regulations governing the trade in cultural antiquities in countries like Mali?

Explanation

The question asks which answer the author would be most likely to agree with regarding regulations governing trade in antiquities in countries like Mali. Since these regulations are discussed throughout the passage, look for an answer choice that is proved by a statement in the passage about the regulations. Avoid answers that contradict the Bottom Line or include strongly worded language or comparisons that are not supported by statements in the passage.

A. No.  This answer contradicts the tone of the passage. The passage argues for flexible regulations, not regulations that must be approved by archaeologists.

B. No.  This answer contradicts the Bottom Line of the passage. The fourth paragraph suggests that it may be preferable to allow cultural antiquities to be exported, so long as information about the artifacts is recorded and registered.

C.  Yes.   This answer is supported by a statement in the passage. In the fourth paragraph,  lines 54–55  state that some people would still have been able to avoid the proposed regulations, and yet this may still be preferable to the actual results with the current regulations.

D. No.  This answer contradicts the tone of the passage. The passage argues for flexible regulations, not for strict punishment of violators.

E. No.  This answer makes an unsupported comparison. The passage does not discuss the idea that the regulations would be most effective when they are easy to understand.

Answer: C

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

7. Which one of the following is an element of the author’s attitude toward foreign collectors of terra-cotta sculptures from Djenne-jeno?

Explanation

The question asks about the author’s attitude toward foreign collectors of terra-cotta sculptures from Djenne-jeno. Look for a statement about the foreign collectors that includes words indicating the author’s attitude: In line 8, the passage states that terra-cotta sculptures were sold to foreign collectors who rightly admired them, which indicates that the author believes the foreign collectors correctly thought the sculptures were admirable.

A. No.  This answer does not match the author’s attitude. The author is critical of such collecting, calling it  “pillaging”  that is  “natural to condemn”  in  line 13.

B.  Yes.   This answer matches the author’s attitude. The author states that the foreign collectors rightly admired the sculptures, which indicates that the author approved of their artistic judgment.

C. No.  This answer does not match the author’s attitude. The author does not discuss the idea of foreign collectors taking action against illegal exportation.

D. No.  This answer does not match the author’s attitude. The author does not discuss whether the foreign collectors are concerned for the people of Mali.

E. No.  This answer does not match the author’s attitude. The author states that the foreign collectors rightly admired the sculptures, which indicates that the author approved of their artistic judgment, but this does not mean the author had sympathy with their motives.

Answer: B

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

1. Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?

Explanation

Use the Bottom Line to choose an answer. Watch out for answers that contradict the Bottom Line, are too narrow (a point that is not the main point), or go beyond the statements in the passage.

A. No.  This answer is too narrow; it matches the main point of the second paragraph only.

B.  Yes.   This answer matches the Bottom Line. The passage suggests in the fourth paragraph that a more flexible solution may be preferable to the damage caused by the restrictive policies described in the second and third paragraphs.

C. No.  This answer does not match the tone of the passage, and it goes beyond the passage. The passage does not suggest that Mali should resist the dictates of international bodies or that Mali must find a unique solution.

D. No.  This answer contradicts the passage. The passage does not suggest that only accredited archaeologists should be licensed for excavations.

E. No.  This answer does not match the passage. The passage does state that Mali’s restrictive policies seem to have done more harm than good, but the passage does not suggest that the idea that cultural artifacts are the property of the state does more harm than good.

Answer: B

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

6. The author of the passage would be most likely to agree with which one of the following statements about cultural antiquities?

Explanation

The question asks which statement about cultural antiquities the author would be most likely to agree with. Since cultural antiquities are discussed throughout the passage, look for an answer choice that is proved by a statement in the passage about the antiquities. Avoid answers that contradict the Bottom Line or include strongly worded language or comparisons that are not supported by statements in the passage.

A. No.  This answer goes beyond the passage. The passage suggests a policy that would provide funding for the country’s national museum to acquire important pieces, but the passage does not suggest that artifacts must be owned and protected by the national museum.

B. No.  This answer contradicts the Bottom Line of the passage. The passage suggests that a flexible policy allowing the export of artifacts would be preferable to restrictive policies prohibiting export of cultural artifacts.

C. No.  This answer contradicts the passage. The fourth paragraph suggests that the country’s national museum should acquire important artifacts.

D.  Yes.   This answer is supported by a statement in the passage. In the fourth paragraph, lines 51–54 state that excavations not conducted by accredited archaeologists may be inferior and less informative, which implies that excavations conducted by accredited archaeologists would be preferred.

E. No.  This answer contradicts the passage. The fourth paragraph suggests that only licensed excavations of artifacts should be permitted; the passage does not state that artifacts belong to anyone who finds and registers them.

Answer: D

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

3. The author asks the reader to suppose that Mali had imposed a tax on exported objects (lines 49–51) primarily in order to

Explanation

The question asks for the author’s purpose in asking the reader to suppose that Mali had imposed a tax on exported objects. Look for the claim that this request supports, likely within five lines of the statement. In this case, the request is made in support of the main point of the fourth paragraph: A flexible plan of licensing would be preferable to a strict prohibition on excavation and export of antiquities.

A. No.  This answer does not match the purpose of the request. While the new tax would help fund the acquisition of pieces by the national museum, the purpose of the discussion of the new task is to support the main idea of the fourth paragraph: A more flexible policy would be preferable to the more restrictive policies currently in place.

B. No.  This answer contradicts the tone of the passage. The passage is critical of the Malian government’s past policies concerning cultural antiquities.

C.  Yes.   This answer matches the purpose of the request. Thepurpose of the discussion of the new task is to support the main idea of the fourth paragraph: A more flexible, pragmatic approach may be preferable to past restrictive policies.

D. No.  This answer does not match the purpose of the request. While the passage does suggest requiring that records be kept, the purpose of the discussion of the new tax is to support the main idea of the fourth paragraph: A more flexible policy would be preferable to the more restrictive policies currently in place.

E. No.  This answer is from the wrong part of the passage. The UNESCO doctrine is discussed in the second paragraph, while the purpose of the discussion of the new tax is to support the main idea of the fourth paragraph: A more flexible policy would be preferable to the more restrictive policies currently in place.

Answer: C

The government of Mali passed a law against excavating and exporting

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

The government of Mali passed a law against excavating and exporting

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards