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RC Passage
Direction for the questions 22 to 24: The passage below is accompanied by a set of three questions. Choose the best answer to each question.
Despite their fierce reputation, Vikings may not have always been the plunderers and pillagers popular culture imagines them to be. In fact, they got their start trading in northern European markets, researchers suggest.
Combs carved from animal antlers, as well as comb manufacturing waste and raw antler material has turned up at three archaeological sites in Denmark, including a medieval marketplace in the city of Ribe. A team of researchers from Denmark and the U.K. hoped to identify the species of animal to which the antlers once belonged by analyzing collagen proteins in the samples and comparing them across the animal kingdom, Laura Geggel reports for LiveScience. Somewhat surprisingly, molecular analysis of the artifacts revealed that some combs and other material had been carved from reindeer antlers.... Given that reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) donât live in Denmark the researchers posit that it arrived on Viking ships from Norway. Antler craftsmanship, in the form of decorative combs, was part of Viking culture. Such combs served as symbols of good health, Geggel writes. The fact that the animals shed their antlers also made them easy to collect from the large herds that inhabited Norway.
Since the artifacts were found in marketplace areas at each site itâs more likely that the Norsemen came to trade rather than pillage. Most of the artifacts also date to the 780s, but some are as old as 725. That predates the beginning of Viking raids on Great Britain by about 70 years. (Traditionally, the so-called "Viking Ageâ began with these raids in 793 and ended with the Norman conquest of Great Britain in 1066.) Archaeologists had suspected that the Vikings had experience with long maritime voyages [that] might have preceded their raiding days. Beyond Norway, these combs would have been a popular industry in Scandinavia as well. Itâs possible that the antler combs represent a larger trade network, where the Norsemen supplied raw material to craftsmen in Denmark and elsewhere.
Full RC Video Analysis
RC Line-wise Explanation
Paragraph 1
"Despite their fierce reputation, Vikings may not have always been the plunderers and pillagers popular culture imagines them to be."
Explanation: Vikings are known for being violent invaders, but they may not have always behaved this way.
"In fact, they got their start trading in northern European markets, researchers suggest."
Explanation: Researchers believe that Vikings began their history as traders in northern Europe.
Paragraph 2
"Combs carved from animal antlers, as well as comb manufacturing waste and raw antler material has turned up at three archaeological sites in Denmark, including a medieval marketplace in the city of Ribe."
Explanation: Archaeologists found carved combs, leftover materials, and raw antlers at three sites in Denmark, one of which is a historic market in Ribe.
"A team of researchers from Denmark and the U.K. hoped to identify the species of animal to which the antlers once belonged by analyzing collagen proteins in the samples and comparing them across the animal kingdom, Laura Geggel reports for LiveScience."
Explanation: To find out what animals the antlers came from, scientists tested proteins in the antlers and compared them with known species.
"Somewhat surprisingly, molecular analysis of the artifacts revealed that some combs and other material had been carved from reindeer antlers...."
Explanation: Tests showed that some of the items were unexpectedly made from reindeer antlers.
"Given that reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) donât live in Denmark the researchers posit that it arrived on Viking ships from Norway."
Explanation: Since reindeer arenât found in Denmark, the researchers believe the antlers were brought from Norway by Vikings.
"Antler craftsmanship, in the form of decorative combs, was part of Viking culture."
Explanation: Vikings were known to make decorative combs from antlers.
"Such combs served as symbols of good health, Geggel writes."
Explanation: These combs symbolized good health according to the report.
"The fact that the animals shed their antlers also made them easy to collect from the large herds that inhabited Norway."
Explanation: Because reindeer naturally shed antlers, it was easy for people in Norway to gather them.
Paragraph 3
"Since the artifacts were found in marketplace areas at each site itâs more likely that the Norsemen came to trade rather than pillage."
Explanation: Because these items were found in markets, it suggests Vikings came to trade, not raid.
"Most of the artifacts also date to the 780s, but some are as old as 725."
Explanation: Most items were from the 780s, and a few are from as early as 725.
"That predates the beginning of Viking raids on Great Britain by about 70 years."
Explanation: This is around 70 years before the first recorded Viking attacks on Britain.
"(Traditionally, the so-called 'Viking Age' began with these raids in 793 and ended with the Norman conquest of Great Britain in 1066.)"
Explanation: The Viking Age is generally said to have started in 793 with raids and ended in 1066 with the Norman conquest.
"Archaeologists had suspected that the Vikings had experience with long maritime voyages [that] might have preceded their raiding days."
Explanation: Experts had already guessed that Vikings were skilled sailors before they started raiding.
"Beyond Norway, these combs would have been a popular industry in Scandinavia as well."
Explanation: These combs werenât just from Norwayâthey were likely in demand across Scandinavia.
"Itâs possible that the antler combs represent a larger trade network, where the Norsemen supplied raw material to craftsmen in Denmark and elsewhere."
Explanation: These combs might be part of a bigger trade system where Vikings sent antlers to other regions for crafting.
RC Paragraph Explanation
Paragraph 1 Summary
Although Vikings are known for violence, researchers now believe they began as traders in northern Europe, suggesting a different side to their history.
Paragraph 2 Summary
Findings of reindeer-antler combs at Danish archaeological sites reveal that Vikings likely brought these materials from Norway, indicating a widespread and symbolic antler-comb culture tied to health and craftsmanship.
Paragraph 3 Summary
Artifacts found in marketplaces and dated before Viking raids suggest that early Norsemen were traders, not invaders, and participated in an expansive trade network across Scandinavia well before their infamous raiding era.
RC Quick Table Summary
| Paragraph Number | Main Idea |
|---|---|
| Paragraph 1 | Vikings may have started out as peaceful traders, not raiders. |
| Paragraph 2 | Reindeer-antler combs show early Viking trade and cultural practices. |
| Paragraph 3 | Early Viking trade networks predated raids and hint at advanced seafaring. |
RC Questions
Ques 22. The primary purpose of the passage is:
Ques 23. The evidence - âMost of the artifacts also date to the 780s, but some are as old as 725â - has been used in the passage to argue that:
Ques 24. All of the following hold true for Vikings EXCEPT
