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Difficulty: Very hardTranslating Literal Statements to Paraphrases

For centuries, medieval and Renaissance artists prized ultramarine, a brilliant blue pigment ground from the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli. Imported exclusively from the remote mines of Badakhshan in modern-day Afghanistan, this pigment was so costly that its use was often restricted by contract to the robes of the Virgin Mary. However, the pigment's value lay not merely in its rarity, but in its unique chemical stability. Unlike cheaper copper-based blues such as azurite, which degraded to green when exposed to atmospheric sulfur or humidity, ultramarine remained impervious to chemical change, preserving its intense hue across centuries. Consequently, patrons viewed the inclusion of ultramarine as both a display of piety and a deliberate long-term investment, ensuring that the commissioned altarpieces would retain their vivid appearance long after the artists themselves had perished.

According to the passage, ultramarine was considered a reliable long-term investment because it:

  1. was less vulnerable to the environmental degradation that affected copper-based alternatives.Answer
  2. B
    possessed chemical properties that converted atmospheric sulfur into a protective green coating.
  3. C
    gradually replaced cheaper copper-based compounds in altarpieces as they began to decay.
  4. D
    remained chemically stable only when protected from contact with atmospheric humidity.

Answer

ultramarine was less vulnerable to the environmental degradation that affected copper-based alternatives.
The passage states that, unlike copper-based pigments like azurite which degraded to green when exposed to environmental elements like sulfur or humidity, ultramarine was impervious to chemical change and preserved its hue over centuries. The correct option accurately paraphrases this statement by explaining that ultramarine was less vulnerable to the environmental degradation that affected copper-based alternatives.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the portion of the passage that explains why ultramarine was a reliable long-term investment.
Identify the sentence stating that ultramarine was chemically stable and impervious to change, whereas cheaper copper-based blues degraded when exposed to sulfur or humidity.
This sentence directly provides the literal facts regarding ultramarine's durability.
2
Evaluate the answer choices to find a precise paraphrase of these facts.
Select the option stating that ultramarine was less vulnerable to the environmental degradation affecting copper-based alternatives.
This choice accurately translates the literal meaning of the passage without introducing distortions.

Key Concept

Translating Literal Statements to Paraphrases
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Translating Literal Statements to Paraphrases

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