The Mesopotamian cylinder seals discovered at Uruk represent some of the earliest examples of narrative art in human history. Archaeologists...

Let's begin by understanding the meaning of this sentence. We'll use our understanding of pause points and segment the sentence as shown - understanding and assimilating the meaning of each segment bit by bit!

Sentence Structure

• The Mesopotamian cylinder seals discovered at Uruk
  • represent some of the earliest examples
    • of narrative art in human history.

• Archaeologists
  • have identified several distinctive carving styles [?] depict religious ceremonies
    • as particularly significant
      • because they provide insights
        • into the spiritual practices of ancient Sumerian culture.

• Where [?] represents:
  • A: . That
  • B: , that
  • C: and that
  • D: that

Understanding the Meaning

The first sentence gives us background information:

• 'The Mesopotamian cylinder seals discovered at Uruk'
  • These are ancient artifacts from a place called Uruk
• 'represent some of the earliest examples of narrative art in human history'
  • These seals are really significant - they're among the first art that told stories.

Now the second sentence:

• 'Archaeologists have identified several distinctive carving styles...'
  • Okay, so researchers have found different styles of carvings on these seals.

This is where we have the blank. Let's look at the choices:

• A: styles. That (makes two sentences)
• B: styles, that (adds a comma before "that")
• C: styles and that (adds "and" before "that")
• D: styles that (connects directly with "that")

To see what works here, let's read the rest of the sentence and understand what it's saying!

The sentence continues: 'depict religious ceremonies as particularly significant because they provide insights into the spiritual practices of ancient Sumerian culture.'

Now let's understand what this is telling us:

• 'that depict religious ceremonies'
  • This is describing WHICH carving styles the archaeologists identified
  • Not all carving styles - specifically the ones that show religious ceremonies

• 'as particularly significant'
  • These specific styles are especially important

• 'because they provide insights into the spiritual practices...'
  • Why are they important? Because they help us understand ancient religious practices

So the complete picture is:

• Archaeologists identified certain carving styles (specifically, the ones depicting religious ceremonies) and consider these styles particularly significant because of what they reveal about ancient beliefs.

What do we notice about the structure here?

• 'that depict religious ceremonies' is describing the noun 'styles'
  • It's telling us WHICH styles are significant
  • This is essential information - we need it to know which specific styles the sentence is about

• When a descriptive phrase tells us WHICH one (rather than just adding extra information), it should connect directly to the noun
  • No comma, no period, no "and" - just direct connection
  • The word 'that' creates this connection

So we need: styles that - with no punctuation or extra words.

The correct answer is D.

GRAMMAR CONCEPT APPLIED

Connecting Nouns with Essential Descriptive Phrases

When you add a phrase that tells you WHICH specific thing you're talking about (called a restrictive or essential modifier in grammar terms), it should connect directly to the noun without punctuation:

Pattern 1: Essential information (tells you WHICH one) - No comma

• The students that studied received high scores
  • "that studied" tells us WHICH students (not all students, only the ones who studied)
  • Connects directly without punctuation

Pattern 2: Just extra detail (non-essential) - Use comma

• My sister, who lives in Boston, is visiting
  • "who lives in Boston" is just bonus information (we already know which sister)
  • Set off with commas

Pattern 3: When "that" introduces essential information - Never use a comma

• The carving styles that depict religious ceremonies are significant
  • "that depict religious ceremonies" tells us WHICH styles
  • Must connect directly: styles that depict

In this question:

• "several distinctive carving styles that depict religious ceremonies"
  • We're identifying specific styles (the ones showing religious ceremonies)
  • This is essential information - it narrows down which styles matter
  • Therefore: connect directly with "that" and no punctuation
  • Answer: D (styles that)