Passage Summary: M suggests the Greek alphabet was created specifically to write down famous oral poems. P disagrees, arguing that the inventor wouldn't need to read their own notes and nobody else would know how to read them yet, making the effort pointless.

Conclusion: M’s theory regarding the origin of the Greek alphabet is logically unsound.

Reasoning: If an individual invented the alphabet to record epics they already knew, they would have no personal need to read them, and because the system was new, no one else would be able to read them either.

Analysis: In this Method of Reasoning question, we are looking at the structural mechanics of P's rebuttal. P employs a classic 'reductio ad absurdum' style of argument by taking the premises of M’s hypothesis and showing they lead to an impractical or useless conclusion. Notice how P doesn't introduce new historical evidence; instead, P focuses on the internal logic of M's claim to show it lacks a sensible motive. You should look for an answer choice that describes P pointing out a practical inconsistency or showing that a proposed action would fail to achieve its intended purpose.