Question

Read the passage and answer the question:


Maya writing was the most sophisticated and widely used writing system in pre-Columbian Americas. It combined logographic symbols (which represent whole words) with syllabic elements (which represent sounds). Maya scribes carved these hieroglyphs on stone monuments, painted them on pottery and in codices (folding books made from bark paper), and inscribed them on other materials. For centuries after the Spanish conquest, Maya writing remained undecipherable to outside scholars. It wasn't until the 1950s-1980s that significant breakthroughs in decoding Maya glyphs occurred, revealing that many inscriptions recorded historical events, particularly the deeds of rulers.



What does the term "logographic" mean in this passage?

(1 point)

A. A writing system that uses symbols to represent whole words

B. A writing system that uses only phonetic elements

C. A writing system created specifically for religious purposes

D. A writing system designed to be read only by priests

Answer 1

A. A writing system that uses symbols to represent whole words