According to Stephen Jay Gould,"Wheels,like wings,fins,and brains,are exquisite devices for certain purposes,not signs of intrinsic superiority." Which of the following statements about the use of the wheel in the Middle East is correct?
A)Wheels were never appropriate vehicles in the Middle East,and were never used there;camels have been used as beasts of burden since before biblical times.
B)Wheels have always been used in the Middle East,as they are the most appropriate vehicle for traveling across deserts.
C)Wheels were once widespread in the Middle East,but by the sixth century A.D.
Had been replaced by camels because the Roman roads had deteriorated and the camel was more suitable to the uneven terrain.
D)Camels were once widespread throughout the Middle East during biblical times,but as civilization advanced were replaced by vehicles that made use of the wheel.
E)Wheels were replaced by wings in the 6th-century Middle East.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement that wheels were once widespread in the Middle East, but were eventually replaced by camels due to the deteriorating Roman roads and the suitability of camels to uneven terrain is accurate. This idea is supported by historical accounts from the region. Option A is incorrect because wheels were used in the Middle East, although camels were also a common mode of transportation. Option B makes a sweeping generalization and is inaccurate. Option D is also inaccurate, as camels continue to be widely used in the region. Option E is a false statement with no historical basis.

According to Stephen Jay Gould,"Wheels,like Wings,fins,and Brains,are Exquisite Devices for Certain