Question

bronze, a metal alloy mastered by shang dynasty smiths, had an advantage over copper tools and weapons in that

choose 1 answer:
a it was more readily available than copper
b it was cheaper and less labor-intensive to smelt
c it was harder and stronger than copper

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Copper is a base metal, and bronze is an alloy (copper + tin), so copper is more readily available. Eliminate A.
• Option B: Smelting bronze (needing tin and copper) is more complex and labor - intensive than smelting copper alone. Eliminate B.
• Option C: Bronze, being an alloy of copper and tin, has a harder and stronger structure than pure copper, which is a key advantage for tools and weapons.

Answer:

C. it was harder and stronger than copper