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Passage 1

The mythology of a culture can provide some vital insights into the beliefs and values of that?culture．By using fantastic and sometimes incredible stories to create an oral tradition by which to?explain the wonders of the natural world and teach lessons to younger generations,a society exposes?those ideas and concepts held most important．Just as important as the final lesson to be gathered?from the stories,however,are the characters and the roles they play in conveying that message．

Perhaps the epitome of mythology and its use as a tool to pass on cultural values can be found?in Aesop′s Fables,told and retold during the era of the Greek Empire．Aesop,a slave who won the?favor of the court through his imaginative and descriptive tales,almost exclusively used animals to?fill the roles in his short stories．Humans,when at all present,almost always played the part of?bumbling fools struggling to learn the lesson being presented．This choice of characterization allows?us to see that the Greeks placed wisdom on a level slightly beyond humans,implying that deep?wisdom and understanding is a universal quality sought by,rather than stealing from,human beings．

Aesop′s fables illustrated the central themes of humility and self-reliance,reflecting the?importance of those traits in early Greek society．The folly of humans was used to contrast against?the ultimate goal of attaining a higher level of understanding and awareness of truths about nature?and humanity．For example,one notable fable features a fox repeatedly trying to reach a bunch of?grapes on a very high vine．After failing at several attempts,the fox gives up,making up its mind?that the grapes were probably sour anyway．The fable′s lesson,that we often play down that which?we can′t achieve so as to make ourselves feel better,teaches the reader or listener in an entertaining?way about one of the weaknesses of the human psyche．

The mythology of other cultures and s

• A.Aesop's fables provide a valuable glimpse into early Greek thought and beliefs
• B.the most efficient and reliable way to study the values system of an ancient culture is through?study of its mythology
• C.without a thorough examination of a society's fables and other mythology,a cultural study?on that society would be only partial
• D.through the study of a culture's mythological tradition,one can discern some of the?underlying beliefs that shaped those stories