Question

Read the excerpt from "Benin Plaque: The Oba with Europeans.” The Portuguese galleons, cutting out all the middlemen and able to carry much bigger cargoes, offered a totally new kind of trading opportunity. They and their Dutch and English competitors, who followed later in the sixteenth century, carried gold and ivory to Europe and in return brought commodities from all over the world that were greatly valued by the Oba’s court, including coral from the Mediterranean, cowry shells from the Indian Ocean to serve as money, cloth from the Far East and, from Europe itself, larger quantities of brass than had ever before reached West Africa. This was the raw material from which the Benin plaques were made. Which central idea is best supported by the details in the excerpt? The Benin people had access to the riches of the world through trade. The members of the Oba’s court were richer than other Benin people. European traders treated the Benin people unfairly in trade agreements. The Benin plaques were highly valued by Portuguese traders.

Answer 1

Answer:

The Benin people had access to the riches of the world through trade.

Explanation:

Consider the other answer choices:

• Though it is probably true that members of the Oba's court were richer than other Benin people, that is not mentioned in the excerpt.

• Very probably Benin people were treated unfairly in trade agreements, but that is not mentioned in the excerpt.

• The value the Portuguese placed on Benin plaques is not mentioned in the excerpt.

What is mentioned is the variety of goods available as a result of trade.

Answer 2

Answer:

The answer is A on EDGEN.

Explanation:

A. The Benin people had access to the riches of the world through trade.