Document 3: Strabo, Geography, 1.20 (1^st C. BC - 1^st C. AD) \"Take, for exampl

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Document 3: Strabo, Geography, 1.20 (1^st C. BC - 1^st C. AD) "Take, for example, the proposition that the earth is sphere-shaped: whereas the suggestion of this proposition comes to us directly from the law that bodies tend toward the centre and that each body inclines toward its own centre of gravity, the suggestion comes indirectly from the phenomena observed at sea and in the heavens: for our sense-perception and also our intuition can bear testimony in the latter case. For instance, it is obviously the curvature of the sea that prevents sailors from seeing distant lights at an elevation equal to that of the eye: however, if they are at a higher elevation than that of the eye, they become visible, even though they be at a greater distance from the eyes: and similarly if the eyes themselves are elevated, they see what was before invisible. This fact is noted by Homer, also, for such is the meaning of the words: "With a quick glance ahead, being upborne on a great wave, [he saw the land very near]." So, also, when sailors are approaching land, the different parts of the shore become revealed progressively, more and more, and what at first appeared to be low-lying land grows gradually higher and higher." Strabo, Geography, 1.20 What point is Strabo arguing for in this passage? That sailors need to know geography. That Homer believed the Earth was a sphere. The the sea (oceanus) forms a circle around the Earth. That the Earth is a sphere. What theory does Strabo cite in favour of the Earth being spherical? Objects falling to the same (lowest) point from all sides build up a sphere. The cosmos is spherical so the Earth should be spherical too. A sphere has no edge to fall off, nowhere for the seas to flow. A sphere at the lowest point doesn't have to be held up by anything. Which observation does Strabo NOT cite in favour of the Earth being spherical? Lights become visible at a greater distance over the sea if they are higher above the sea. Men can see further over the sea if they are higher above the sea. Different stars become visible as one travels North-South. The nearer sailors approach the shore the lower-lying the land that becomes visible.

Explanation / Answer

Accoding to the information given in the passage,

14. Strabo argues that:

B. Holmer believed that the earth was a sphere.

This is because he states that as the sailors approach land, which is not visible initially; starts revealing itself slowing when the eye level meets the land because the land masses are elevated at a level higher than the eyes.

15 Strabo's theory in favour of Earth being spherical is:

D. A sphere at the lowest point doesn't have to be held up by anything.

Because, the sphere tends towards its own center of gravity.

16 The observation that Strabo does not site in favour of Earth being spherical is:

C. Different stars become visible as one travels North-South

Because all the other obsevations mentioned in the question are stated in the passage above.

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