TPO 25 Integrated Writing Task

The reading and the lecture are both about whether the ancient copper cylinder jar with iron rode inside that were found from Iraq is an electric battery or not. The author of the reading believes there are three reasons why it is not likely to be a battery. The lecturer challenges the statement made by the author. She is of the opinion that what reading is saying is not convincing, and the battery theory could be correct.
First of all, the author suggests that if the jars were batteries, there should have been some wires to be connect to them, but there was none. It is mentioned that there were no evidence of any wire around them. The argument is refuted by the lecturer. She says people who found the vessels were not archeologists but local people. Furthermore, she argues that since they were not experts, the wires were not recognized and could be overlooked or even thrown away.
Secondly, the article posists that the copper cylinders look the same as copper cylinders from the nearby region, where it is known that the cylinders were used for containing sacred texts. The article notes that the same shape indicates it is very likely that the copper cylinders from Iraq were used in the same fashion, and the scrolls could simply be disintegrated over time. The lecturer, however, casts doubt on this by asserting that the vessels looking the same as other vessels from the nearby region prove nothing. The lecturer elaborates on this by mentioning that at first they could be used as scroll containers, but later the same material combinations make electricity might be discovered. As a result, the vessels could have been used for another purpose than ther previous usage were.
Finally, it is stated in the reading that what could ancient people do with electricity, which was useless to them. The author establishes that there were no devices that use electricity. Hence, electricity was no utilization purpose on them. The lecturer, on the other hand, opposes that electricity could have been used for inducing mild shock or tingling sensations, which made them think of an unseen force. She puts forth the idea that it used for healing and reducing muscle pain.