(8) Cats, whose ancestors are the wildcat Felis silvestris lybica were domesticated much later, although earlier than once believed. (9) Archaeologists long assumed they were first domesticated
about 4,000 years ago by the Egyptians, whose paintings were the first to depict domestic cats.
(10) First was the discovery, in 2004, of a wildcat buried near a human skeleton in a 9,500-year-old
grave in Cyprus. (11) Subsequently, genetic analysis confirmed the presence of Felis silvestris
lybica in Turkey dating back 9,000 years and in southeastern Europe dating back 6,500 years. (12)
Moreover, that these appearances coincided with the invention of agriculture was not accidental
as farmers began storing grain, rodents appeared in large numbers, and cats soon followed this
supply of prey (13) As with dogs thousands of years earlier, these cat ancestors both benefited
from their contact with humans (in the form of a steady food supply) and benefited humans (by
ridding farmers of rodents). (14) The recent discovery at the site of a 5,500-year-old Chinese
farming village of cultivated millet isotopes in the bones of both rodents (who ate the millet) and
cats (who ate the rodents) proves that agriculture brought us more than just food.
In sentence 14 (reproduced below), the writer wants to provide descriptive details that appeal to
the audience's emotions and experiences.
The recent discovery at the site of a 5,500-year-old Chinese farming village of cultivated millet
isotopes in the bones of both rodents (who ate the millet) and cats (who ate the rodents) proves
that agriculture brought us more than just food.
Which of the following versions of the underlined text best achieves this purpose?
A ) (as it is now)
B
food, although without agriculture, the development of civilization would never
have been possible
С
food, the history of which is equally as fascinating as the history of the
domestication of dogs and cats
D
food, farmers continue to struggle with the problems of pests to this day, but the
technology at their disposal is far greater than anything these early farmers could
have imagined
E
food: it also brought us those graceful, warm, furry creatures who snooze
contentedly in our homes and delight us with their playful antics