Central Ideas and Purpose in The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone
Question 9 • DAEP-English 7 A(20 Day Term)
Read the excerpt from The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone, by James Cross Giblin.The hieroglyphic passage took the longest to translate, partly because the hieroglyphs were the least understood of the three languages, and partly because so much of the text was missing. Champollion succeeded in deciphering a large part of the passage, but the meaning of many hieroglyphs was still unknown when he did his major work in the 1820s.Which line from the excerpt best states the central idea?
Answer
A
The hieroglyphic passage presented the biggest challenge of the three inscriptions.
B
Most of Champollion’s major work was accomplished in the 1820s.
C
Champollion’s persistence helped him decipher a large part of the hieroglyphic passage.
D
Hieroglyphs were the least understood because scholars had misinterpreted their meaning.
Explanation
The excerpt emphasizes why translating the hieroglyphic passage took the longest: hieroglyphs were the least understood, and much of the text was missing. Together, these details show that the hieroglyphic passage presented the biggest challenge of the three inscriptions. Choice C mentions Champollion’s success, but that is a supporting detail rather than the central idea.
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