Excerpt from
"How to Observe in Archaeology"
The
value of artifacts and antiquities—apart from their purely artistic value—lies
in how they are found. The amateur archaeologist is apt to carelessly pick up a
number of objects, without accurately noting where they were found. Then, getting
tired of them like a child does with flowers that he has picked, he discards them a mile or two away.
If the
first act is a blunder, the second is a crime.
It is better to leave objects lying in place. For the same reason, it is
best if objects found together can stay together (e.g. the contents of a
tomb). Nothing is more common, or more
distressing, than the division of a hoard of coins among various persons before
they have been examined by an expert. If they must be divided, good impressions
should be made and the weights noted. This should be done even if the coins, to
the inexperienced eye, appear to be all alike.
Reading
Comprehension Questions
1) What was the author’s purpose in writing this
passage?
a.
to give a brief history of archaeology
b.
to explain how to plan an excavation
c.
to increase the popularity of archaeology
d.
to promote better work habits in archaeology
2) In the above passage, the author's tone when
discussing amateur archaeologists is which of the following?
a.
sympathetic
b.
delighted
c.
disgusted
d.
excited
3) The author of the above passage would give which advice to
an archaeologist who has just found new artifacts?
a.
"Go back and review all
artifacts that were recently found at the same location."
b.
"Precisely record the details
of 04new artifacts and where they were found"
c.
"To prevent accidents, move the
artifacts to storage as quickly as possible."
d.
"Immediately secure the area so
that it is not raided by amateur archaeologists."
4) Which of the following phrases in the above passage is an
example of a simile?
a.
“It is better to leave objects lying
in place.”
b.
“If the first act is a blunder, the
second is a crime.”
c.
“The amateur archaeologist is apt to
carelessly pick up a number of objects…”
d.
“…getting tired of them like a child
does with flowers that he has picked…”
5) At the start of the 2nd paragraph in the above
passage, the author states: "the first act is a blunder, the second
is a crime."
In this context, which of
the following would be a "crime"?
a.
searching for artifacts without permission
b.
carelessly collecting artifacts without keeping records
c.
hastily discarding artifacts after they have been found
d.
selling artifacts in order to make a quick profit
6) Which of the following is most likely the best description
of the author of the above passage?
a.
a professional archaeologist with lots of experience
b.
a beginning archaeologist who wants to promote the hobby
c.
a museum owner who wants to do business with archaeologists
d.
a land owner who wants to stop archaeological projects
Answer Key
1)
What was the
author’s purpose in writing this passage?
a.
to give a brief history of archaeology
b.
to explain how to plan an excavation
c.
to increase the popularity of archaeology
d.
to promote better
work habits in archaeology
2)
In the above
passage, the author's tone when discussing amateur archaeologists is
which of the following?
a.
sympathetic
b.
delighted
c.
disgusted
d.
excited
3)
The author of
the above passage would give which advice to an archaeologist who has just
found new artifacts?
a.
"Go back and
review all artifacts that were recently found at the same location."
b. "Precisely record the
details of new artifacts and where they were found"
c.
"To prevent
accidents, move the artifacts to storage as quickly as possible."
d.
"Immediately secure
the area so that it is not raided by amateur archaeologists."
4)
Which of the
following phrases in the above passage is an example of a simile?
a.
“It is better to leave
objects lying in place.”
b.
“If the first act is a
blunder, the second is a crime.”
c.
“The amateur
archaeologist is apt to carelessly pick up a number of objects…”
d. “…getting tired of them
like a child does with flowers that he has picked…”
5)
At the start
of the 2nd paragraph in the above passage, the author states: "the
first act is a blunder, the second is a crime."
In this
context, which of the following would be a "crime"?
a.
searching for artifacts without permission
b.
carelessly collecting artifacts without
keeping records
c.
hastily discarding
artifacts after they have been found
d.
selling artifacts in order to make a quick
profit
6)
Which of the
following is most likely the best description of the author of the above
passage?
a.
a professional archaeologist
with lots of experience
b.
a beginning archaeologist who wants to promote
the hobby
c.
a museum owner who wants to do business with
archaeologists
d.
a land owner who wants to stop archaeological
projects