Cuneiform — humanity’s oldest writing system, which emerged approximately 6,000 years ago in the Sumerian civilization (in what is now Southern Iraq) — is considered one of history’s greatest linguistic milestones. From rudimentary storage objects like pebbles and clay tokens used for accounting, the Sumerians elevated this system into a complex set of symbolic characters capable of recording abstract thought, culture, and history.

Under the theme of History & Linguistics, the reading passage An Important Language Development is an invaluable practice resource to help you hone your in-depth reading comprehension skills. The exercise focuses on two key question types: True/False/Not Given and Note Completion. This article by ECE Language Center will translate and analyze the answers to help you quickly tackle this reading passage.

Reading Passage Content

An Important Language Development

[Paragraph 1] Cuneiform, the world’s first known system of handwriting, originated some 6,000 years ago in Sumer in what is now southern Iraq. It was most often inscribed on palm-sized, rectangular clay tablets measuring several centimetres across, although occasionally, larger tablets or cylinders were used. Clay was an excellent medium for writing. Other surfaces which have been employed – for example, parchment, papyrus and paper – are not long-lasting and are easily destroyed