OpenSAT

Question #N284

The following passage discusses the challenges of interpreting and understanding ancient civilizations. "Historians studying ancient civilizations often have to grapple with the fact that they’re analyzing a culture that’s long gone. The civilization may have left behind evidence of its customs, art, and ways of life, but much of its language, beliefs, and history are lost to time. Researchers must rely on the fragments of information that have survived, piecing together a picture of a complex society from incomplete data." What is the main point made by the author of this passage?

The author of this passage suggests that interpreting ancient civilizations is difficult because

A. ancient civilizations left behind little evidence of their existence.

B. researchers often lack the necessary skills to analyze ancient artifacts.

C. the study of ancient civilizations is often based on incomplete information.

D. ancient civilizations were very different from modern society.

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Correct Answer is: C

The passage emphasizes the difficulty of piecing together a complete understanding of an ancient civilization from limited evidence. The author's point is that researchers can only interpret ancient civilizations based on the fragments of information that have survived, and it is often difficult to get a full picture from incomplete data.