Final answer:
The phrase 'Give me goats before camels' is a metaphorical expression referencing preferred economic exchange practices in past communal societies, particularly among pastoral communities that operated on gift exchange, redistribution, and debt.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "Give me goats before camels" can be interpreted as a metaphorical expression (b), portraying preferences in social and economic exchanges among pastoral communities. The given context revolves around precapitalist societies like the Bedouins, who relied less on direct barter and more on systems of gift exchange, redistribution, and debt. Within these systems, a pastoralist might offer a goat as a good-faith gift, expecting the recipient to return the favor in the future with items of equivalent value, such as vegetables or other goods, thereby creating ongoing relationships of credit and debt.
This form of exchange exemplifies a complex network where individuals were simultaneously entwined in multiple reciprocal relationships, highlighting the intricacies of economic practices in past communal societies.