Questions 9-11 refer to the following passage.

The author’s description of how coins were adulterated is included in the passage in order to

a. Illustrate the historical precedent replaced by the invention

b. Outline for the reader the chronology of the events in the passage

c. Explain the larger importance of the details just provided

d. Give the passage a cultural context

e. Dismiss a misleading counterargument

Transcribed Image Text:

It might seem illogical that the development of modern currency rests on a scientific dis- covery, but the invention of the "touchstone" Line allowed ancient societies to create a standard (5) by which valuable metals could be judged. In its most basic form, a touchstone is any dark, finely grained stone upon which soft metals leave traces. When rubbed, a process known as "probing," precious metal alloy cleaves to the (10) stone, leaving a stripe. The color of the stripe (which reveals the percentage of its content that is base metal) can then be compared to a stripe of a known grade of standard alloy. Despite its primitiveness, this probing process allowed (15) merchants to examine alloys quickly and with reasonable certainty. Though civilizations were using gold and silver currencies as early as 500 B.C., coins were easily forged or diluted with less valuable metals, such as tin or lead. The (20) invention and popularization of the touchstone ensured that pure gold and silver could become a standard expression of value.