TPO 33 Integrated Writing Task

The author of the reading passage and the professor both discuss the purpose and meaning of the carved stone balls. The author mentions that these stones are ornamented to some degree and most are about 70 mm in diameter. However, the professor discords with the ideas mentioned in the reading passage. She offers several reasons to oppose the argument of this article.

First of all, in the article, the author claims that the carved stone balls were weapons used in hunting or fighting. Yet, the professor indicates that there are no signs of being used in these activities because there are no cracks or some pieces of broken parts on these stones. Moreover, these carved stones are well-preserved, and there is no damage to them. This is the first reason why the professor disagrees with the argument of the author.

Second, the author states that the carved stone balls were used as part of a primitive system of weights and measures. However, the professor mentions that these stones were made of different types of stones. Each stone has a different density. Some types of stones are heavier than others. This is the second reason why the professor discords with the perspective of the author.

Finally, the author indicates that the carved stone balls served a social purpose as opposed to a practical or utilitarian one. However, the professor points out that the patterns on the stones are too simple to be status symbols. Furthermore, these stones were not found in the tombs or graves. This is the third reason why the professor opposes the viewpoint of the author.