Question

questions 7 through 9 refer to the following. one of the most important aspects of the maya economy was the exchange of exotic goods. maya rulers and elites needed such goods to maintain and reinforce their social status and power. many of these goods were used in the formal dress of kings, nobles, and priests. without them, the elites could not carry out the rituals that were their principal duties in the eyes of the people. jaguar pelts, fine textiles, feathers, and other such products were exchanged over long distances within the maya lowlands. such items were probably exchanged as dowry, gifts at royal marriages, coronations, funerals, or at religious pilgrimages. exotic goods were also probably given as tribute to rulers by their vassals. these high - status goods held together the maya world and unified patterns of behavior in religion, science, and warfare. their exchange surely went hand in hand with exchanges of information, including scientific knowledge, early writing, and, most importantly, models of political organization. arthur demarest, united states anthropologist, ancient maya: the rise and fall of a rainforest civilization, 2004 8 mark for review the author directly uses all of the following pieces of evidence to support her argument about the relationship between exotic goods and the power of maya rulers except that maya rulers a used exotic goods to carry out rituals that their subjects expected them to perform b prohibited nobles and priests from wearing certain types of exotic goods reserved for rulers c used exotic goods in royal coronations d received exotic goods as tribute payments from vassals

Explanation:

The passage discusses how Maya rulers and elites used exotic goods to maintain social status and power, such as in rituals. It also mentions that these goods were exchanged over long - distances and given as tribute. Option B about nobles and priests being prohibited from wearing certain goods is not mentioned. Option C about using goods only in royal coronations is too narrow as they were used in other ceremonies too. Option D about vassals receiving goods as tribute is not the main focus on the relationship between goods and power. Option A aligns with the use of goods in rituals to assert power.

Answer:

A. used exotic goods to carry out rituals that their subjects expected them to perform