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Difficulty: MediumRhetorical Synthesis: Supporting Claims

While preparing a presentation on Rongorongo, a script from Easter Island, a student takes the following notes:
* Rongorongo is a system of glyphs discovered on Easter Island in the 19th century.
* In 1958, linguist Thomas Barthel published a catalog of the glyphs, identifying 120 basic signs.
* Barthel's work established a standardized numbering system for the glyphs, facilitating modern analysis.
* Some researchers claim that Rongorongo developed independently without external influence.
* Despite decades of study, scholars have not yet reached a consensus on the meaning or translation of the glyphs.

The student wants to support the claim that Rongorongo remains undeciphered despite historical efforts to systematically organize the script. Which choice most effectively uses information from the given notes to accomplish this goal?

  1. A
    Rongorongo is a system of glyphs discovered on Easter Island in the 19th century that some researchers claim developed independently without external influence.
  2. B
    Because the Rongorongo script was carved onto wooden tablets that have degraded over time, scholars have been unable to decipher the meaning of the 120 basic signs cataloged by Thomas Barthel.
  3. Although linguist Thomas Barthel systematically cataloged and numbered 120 basic Rongorongo signs in 1958, scholars have still not reached a consensus on the meaning of the glyphs.Answer
  4. D
    Linguist Thomas Barthel successfully deciphered the Rongorongo script in 1958 by organizing the 120 basic signs into a standardized numbering system.

Answer

The correct answer is the option explaining that although Thomas Barthel cataloged and numbered the Rongorongo signs in 1958, scholars have not reached a consensus on their meaning.
The correct option effectively supports the claim because it connects the systematic cataloging of the Rongorongo signs by Thomas Barthel (representing organizational efforts) with the fact that scholars have not yet agreed on the meaning of the glyphs (representing its undeciphered status).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the prompt's claim requirements.
The student needs to support a two-part claim: 1) the script remains undeciphered, and 2) there were historical efforts to systematically organize it.
Understanding the target claim ensures we select the choice that addresses both elements using only the notes.
2
Evaluate the choices against the notes.
The choice stating that Barthel cataloged and numbered the signs in 1958 (organizing efforts) but scholars still have not reached a consensus on their meaning (remains undeciphered) accurately uses only the provided information.
This establishes which option meets both criteria without adding outside assumptions.

Key Concept

Selecting the option that uses relevant facts from the provided notes to support a specific rhetorical claim.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Rhetorical Synthesis: Supporting Claims

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