Final answer:
Because writings were copied by hand in the ancient world, a premium was placed on public reading, hearing, and memorizing the text.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the ancient world, because writings were meticulously copied by hand, a premium was placed on public reading, hearing, and memorizing the text. This is evident in various cultures and religious practices. The history of early Judaism and the origins of Christianity highlight the significance of orally transmitting information before it was later written down.
Furthermore, the tradition of memorializing and memorizing epic tales like The Iliad and The Odyssey or even the Indian epic Mahabharata emphasizes this practice. Similarly, the oral transmission of the Qur'an and its emphasis on recitation underscore the importance of these oral methods in maintaining religious and cultural practices.
In medieval times, especially within Christian monasteries, the hand-copying of texts was a critical task for preserving knowledge. Monks became the key figures in continuing learning and cultural traditions through their meticulous creation of illuminated manuscripts.
The practice of repeating stories in rhyme and meter among ancient Greeks also serves as an example of how oral traditions aided in memorization and transmission of cultural narratives. In sum, the answer is a. reading, hearing, memorizing.