Choose the sentence in this excerpt that best supports the author’s claim that Angkor was one of the most culturally important cities in the ancient world.
1. Deep in the forests of northwestern Cambodia lies an ancient city unlike any the world has ever seen.
2. Angkor, which comes from the Sanskrit word for “city,” was the capital of the mighty Khmer empire that once ruled most of Southeast Asia.
3. Sprawling across nearly 400 square miles — an area larger than New York City — Angkor houses some of the greatest architectural and artistic accomplishments of the ancient world.
4. Its hundreds of temples and other monuments contain more stone than the great pyramids of Egypt.
The sentence that best supports the author’s claim that Angkor was one of the most culturally important cities in the ancient world is:
3. Sprawling across nearly 400 square miles — an area larger than New York City — Angkor houses some of the greatest architectural and artistic accomplishments of the ancient world.
Explanation: This sentence emphasizes the vast size of Angkor and highlights its significance by mentioning the “greatest architectural and artistic accomplishments,” which illustrates its importance in the context of ancient culture. It directly conveys why Angkor stands out as a major cultural center compared to other historical sites.