Question

Lewis and Clark filled numerous journals with detailed, complicated accounts of everything they saw and did on their expedition. Later, historians and scientists read through their handwritten accounts to find important information.

Which of the following MOST ACCURATELY describes how their experiences and the experiences of historians after them would have been affected if they had been able to film their expedition? Select TWO options.

Film would have captured images of the terrain and its inhabitants that writing never could.


Film would have lessened the mystery and importance of what they discovered by simplifying it.


Film would have benefitted Lewis and Clark, but not the historians afterward because film is not as reliable as paper documents.


Film would have saved Lewis and Clark the time it took them to handwrite and preserve their delicate paper documents.


Film would have made no difference in the experiences of Lewis and Clark or the historians because paper documents are similar to filmed footage.

Answer 1

Answers: 1 and 4.

- Film would have captured images of the terrain and its inhabitants that writing never could — moving pictures and photographs record visual detail, movement, color/appearance, and facial expressions that words can’t fully convey.
- Film would have saved Lewis and Clark the time it took them to handwrite and preserve their delicate paper documents — recording scenes on film would generally be faster than composing lengthy, detailed journal entries.

(Reasons to reject the others: film wouldn’t necessarily “lessen the importance” of discoveries in any objective way; it would also have helped later historians, not only the expedition members; and film and paper are not equivalent media.)