Question

supporting details and central ideas

the brass needed to make the plaques was usually transported in the form of large bracelets - called manillas - and the quantities involved are staggering. in 1548 just one german merchant house agreed to provide portugal with 432 tons of brass manillas for the west african market. when we look again at the plaque, we can see that one of the europeans is holding a manilla, and this is the key to the whole scene: the oba is with his officials who manage and control the european trade.
-a history of the world in 100 objects, neil macgregor

what central idea is best supported by details in the passage?

• the benin plaques demonstrate why brass is not typically used in sculpture.
• the benin plaques reveal the importance of trade between europe and africa.
• the benin plaques highlight the great skill of sixteenth-century african artists.
• the benin plaques show that the oba was not a powerful or valued leader.

Explanation:

Analyze the passage details

The passage describes how brass was transported to West Africa in the form of large bracelets called "manillas" to make plaques. It highlights the massive scale of this trade, noting that in 1548, a single German merchant house agreed to provide Portugal with 432 tons of brass manillas for the West African market. It also notes that the plaques depict Europeans holding these manillas, which represents the Oba and his officials managing and controlling European trade.

Evaluate the options against the text

• Option 1: "The Benin plaques demonstrate why brass is not typically used in sculpture." This is incorrect because the text shows brass was heavily used for these plaques.
• Option 2: "The Benin plaques reveal the importance of trade between Europe and Africa." This is supported by the text, which details the massive quantities of brass traded (432 tons) and explains that the plaques depict the Oba controlling this European trade.
• Option 3: "The Benin plaques highlight the great skill of sixteenth-century African artists." While true historically, the provided passage focuses on the trade of materials and the representation of trade control, not artistic skill.
• Option 4: "The Benin plaques show that the Oba was not a powerful or valued leader." This is contradicted by the text, which states the Oba and his officials "manage and control" the trade, indicating power.

Determine the best-supported central idea

The details regarding the massive quantities of imported brass manillas and the depiction of the Oba controlling European trade directly support the central idea that the plaques reveal the importance of trade between Europe and Africa.

Answer:

• The Benin plaques demonstrate why brass is not typically used in sculpture.
• The Benin plaques reveal the importance of trade between Europe and Africa. (Correct answer)
• The Benin plaques highlight the great skill of sixteenth-century African artists.
• The Benin plaques show that the Oba was not a powerful or valued leader.