Question

the ancient greek historian herodotus (c. 484–425 bce), who encountered many nomadic groups during his travels in the eurasian steppe, described pastoralist scythians as:
\having neither cities nor forts and carrying their dwellings with them wherever they go: accustomed, moreover, one and all of them, to shoot from horseback: and living not by husbandry but on their cattle, their wagons the only houses that they possess, how can they fall of being unconquerable, and unassailable even.\
according to source 11, what is central argument of herodotus’s excerpt?
○ because the scythians carry everything with them, they have no cities that can be taken away
○ because the scythians can shoot from horseback, they have a military advantage in battle
○ because the scythians live off their cattle and not farming, they were not worried about disease.
○ because the scythians live in their wagons, they are easy for enemies to ambush and attack

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option against the excerpt. The excerpt says Scythians have no cities/forts, carry dwellings, shoot from horseback, live by husbandry (cattle), and are unassailable.

• Option 1: "carry everything with them, no cities to take" matches "neither cities nor forts and carrying their dwellings with them".
• Option 2: "shoot from horseback, military advantage" matches "to shoot from horseback".
• Option 3: "live off cattle, not farming" matches "living not by husbandry but on their cattle" (husbandry here refers to cattle - based living, not farming).
• Option 4: The excerpt says they are "unassailable" and mobile (live in wagons), so being easy to ambush is the opposite of what's stated. Thus, this is the exception.

Answer:

Because the Scythians live in their wagons, they are easy for enemies to ambush and attack