This thinning would materially change the sound of the drum, evidence that although it might continue to be used for its original purpose of music-making or calling people to arms, it would now do so with a different voice. A musical instrument had become a trophy, and the new carvings were in fact branding, a statement of the north’s political dominance over Central Africa and of allegiance to Islam. The drum had come to Khartoum at a critical moment in Sudanese history.

In an audio version, stressing the word "branding" would do what for the listener?

emphasize the word's importance and the idea that follows
add emphasis to the following sentence
signal that something important has just been repeated
add emphasis to the preceding sentence

Consider tim o’brien’s story "ambush." what differences do you see between how o’brien dealt with killing an enemy soldier in the moment of battle compared to looking back on the moment later in life? what might this contrast reveal about the effects of war?

Based on the map, which arabian city will marco polo describe after kalhat if he continues northwest across the arabian sea?

Read the excerpt from "save the redwoods."another, one of the finest in the grove, more than three hundred feet high, was skinned alive to a height of one hundred and sixteen feet from the ground and the bark sent to london to show how fine and big that calaveras tree was—as sensible a scheme as skinning our great men would be to prove their greatness. which  best  describes how the excerpt appeals to readers’ emotions? the excerpt provides facts about the tree, which impresses readers’ scientific minds. the excerpt describes how the tree traveled to london, which excites the readers’ sense of adventure. the excerpt compares the tree to a person, which makes readers feel sympathetic toward the tree. the excerpt explains how to skin a tree, which makes readers feel awed at the height of the tree.