The relation between swimming and Egyptians

Status
Not open for further replies.

keannu

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
The answer is 3, which contains broad concept of the passage. Can't 1 be also an answer, even though it's narrower in concept?

================================
1.Which is the main topic of the passage ?
Since for the Egyptians the Nile was central for existence, it is natural to expect a variety of recreations in and on the water. The management of the great river's gifts was the basis of Egypt’s security and its pleasures. Swimming was therefore not only a pleasure for the playful, but also a necessity in case of an accident on the water. We have wall paintings of young girls swimming below the surface to catch water birds by surprise. Several museums have small sculptures of silver or of wood in the form of girl swimmers who hold in their outstretched arms a container for ointments. Some documents suggest that swimming was required for royal princes. That swimming was regularly taught is also suggested by many depictions of the crawl stroke - a form of swimming that is not natural to man and which was invented again for competition less than a century ago.
why swimming is popular in ancient Egypt ➁ Swimming as a recreations in and on the water
➂ The relation between swimming and Egyptians ➃ Past, present and future of swimming
➄ The emergency of swimming as competitive sports games
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
It doesn't really say why, does it?
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
I think it does say why. " Swimming was therefore not only a pleasure for the playful, but also a necessity in case of an accident on the water"
Why? - It was pleasurable, and also necessary in the case of accident, since "
The management of the great river's gifts was the basis of Egypt’s security and its pleasures."

That doesn't make 1 the answer, though. It's another bad question.
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Just because something is necessary doesn't make it popular.
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
Really? How many things that are personally necessary are not popular?
Popular can mean "lots of people like it", which I think is your meaning, and it can mean "Lots of people do it", which is mine in this case - and who knows, maybe the writers?
 

keannu

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
Why do you think it is a bad question?
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Oh, I definitely mean people like it. Lots of people file their income taxes every year, but it doesn't make them "popular."

In any event, it wasn't the best answer for this question.
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
Why do you think it is a bad question?
It's a bad question because educated native speakers can't even agree that the given answer is necessarily the only correct one, so how is a learner to guess? Dave is closest to being right (and he is right by the writer's definition).
But 'necessary' doesn't necessarily mean 'compulsory' either. Taxes are compulsory (to the less wealthy who can't afford creative accountants). But wearing bicycle helmets has become more popular lately too. It's not compulsory; it's only necessary if you want to protect your head - which is a better analogy to learning to swim in the Nile (crocodiles notwithstanding).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top