adapted from Tombs of the First Egyptian Dynastyby Ludwig Borchardt, Ph.D.     For many years, various European collections of Egyptian antiquities have contained a certain series of objects which raised questions for archaeologists. There were vases of a peculiar form and color, greenish plates of slate, many of them in curious animal forms, and other similar objects. It was known that these objects had been found in Egypt, but it was impossible to assign them a place in the known periods of Egyptian art. The puzzle was made more difficult by certain plates of slate with hunting and battle scenes, and other representations in relief, in a style so strange that many investigators considered them products of the art of Western Asia.Petrie: Nile Excavation     The first light was thrown on the question in the winter of 1894-95 by the excavations of Flinders Petrie on the west bank of the Nile. There he discovered a very large necropolis in which he examined about three thousand graves. They all contained the same kinds of pottery and the same slate tablets mentioned above, and many other objects which did not seem to be Egyptian. Petrie assumed they represented the art of a foreign people—perhaps the Libyans—who had resided in Egypt in the time between the old and the middle kingdoms. However, his theory met with little approval, and in spite of much discussion among his colleagues, the question remained unanswered.Amelineau: Abydos Excavation     About the same time, another riddle presented itself to Egyptologists through the excavations in Abydos, by the scholar Amelineau. Amelineau excavated several large tombs and also found objects which could not be placed in the known development of Egyptian art. The scholar ascribed these to the dynasties of the demigods, who, according to Egyptian tradition, reigned before the kings. Of course, this idea also met with opposition. The mystery, however, would later be solved when someone noticed that a statue in the Gizeh Museum bore the same name, "Horus," as many of the pieces found by Amelineau. This accidental discovery made it evident that the pieces found during the excavation must be from the same period as the statue, which dates from the earliest period of Egyptian history. Later excavations proved the discovery dated to the oldest king and founder of the first Egyptian monarchy.7Read the following sentence from the passage.The puzzle was made more difficult by certain plates of slate with hunting and battle scenes, and other representations in relief, in a style so strange that many investigators considered them products of the art of Western Asia.How does the phrase a style so strange affect the tone of the passage? A. It conveys a mysterious tone that shows researchers have difficulty determining the origins of certain objects. B. It conveys a disillusioned tone that shows the frustration researchers feel about not being able to identify certain objects. C. It conveys a skeptical tone that shows researchers are unable to arrive at a unanimous decision. D. It conveys a sentimental tone that shows researchers remember small details about their finds.