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Practice Reading: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers ID: #33174 Paintings
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Read the text and answer the question by selecting all the correct responses. You will need to select more than one response.
A third opinion takes psychological motivation much further into the realm of tribal ceremonies and mystery: the belief that certain animals assumed mythical significance as ancient ancestors or protectors of a given tribe or clan. Two types of images substantiate this theory: the strange, indecipherable geometric shapes that appear near some animals, and the few drawings of men. Wherever men appear they are crudely drawn and their bodies are elongated and rigid. Some men are in a prone position and some have bird or animal heads. Advocates for this opinion point to reports from people who have experienced a trance state, a highly suggestive state of low consciousness between waking and sleeping. Uniformly, these people experienced weightlessness and the sensation that their bodies were being stretched lengthwise. Advocates also point to people who believe that the forces of nature are inhabited by spirits, particularly shamans* who believe that an animal's spirit and energy is transferred to them while in a trance. One Lascaux narrative picture, which shows a man with a birdlike head and a wounded animal, would seem to lend credence to this third opinion, but there is still much that remains unexplained. For example, where is the proof that the man in the picture is a shaman? He could as easily be a hunter wearing a headmask. Many tribal hunters, including some Native Americans, camouflaged themselves by wearing animal heads and hides.

According to the paragraph, why do some scholars refer to a trance state to help understand the cave paintings?

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Option 4: "To give a possible reason for the strange appearance of the men painted on the cave walls"

Explanation: This option is correct because the text suggests that the experiences of individuals in trance states, such as feeling weightlessness and having elongated bodies, could explain the strange appearance of the men in the paintings. The text implies that these experiences may have influenced how the artists depicted human figures.

Option 1: "To explain the state of consciousness the artists were in when they painted their pictures"

Explanation: This option is incorrect because the text does not specifically state that the trance state explains the artists' consciousness during the painting process. Instead, it focuses on the experiences of people in trance states and how those experiences relate to the interpretation of the cave paintings.

Option 2: "To demonstrate the mythical significance of the strange geometric shapes"

Explanation: This option is incorrect as the text does not link trance states directly to the demonstration of the mythical significance of geometric shapes. The shapes are mentioned in the context of supporting the theory, but not as a direct result of trance states.

Option 3: "To indicate that trance states were often associated with activities that took place inside caves"

Explanation: This option is incorrect because the text does not mention that trance states were specifically associated with cave activities. It discusses trance states in relation to the experiences of individuals and their interpretations of the cave paintings, but does not establish a direct connection to cave activities.

Option 5: "To substantiate the belief that certain animals take mythical significance."

Explanation: This option is correct as the text discusses how advocates for the third opinion point to trance states as a way to support the belief that animals have mythical significance. The connection between trance experiences and the perception of animals as protectors or ancestors is highlighted, thus substantiating this belief.

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