Final answer:
The correct conjunction to use in the given sentence is 'because,' as it best indicates that the oral traditions persisted due to the discovery of written mentions on cave walls. The correct answer is D. because.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to identifying the correct conjunction to use in the given sentence. The sentence reads: "Stories of epic battles between two tribes have been passed down several generations IF written mention of the battles have been discovered on cave walls."
Choosing the correct conjunction will clarify the relationship between the two clauses. Here, option B, 'and,' is incorrect as it simply joins two clauses without showing causation.
Option C, 'since,' and option D, 'because,' both imply causation, which seems to be the intended meaning of the sentence, as the oral stories correlate with the written accounts discovered on the walls.
However, 'since' is preferred in a context where time or a sequence of events is being expressed, while 'because' is used to explain a reason or causation. Given that the sentence emphasizes the discovery of the written mention as a reason for the oral stories being passed down, option D, 'because,' is the most appropriate conjunction to use. Thus:
Stories of epic battles between two tribes have been passed down several generations because written mention of the battles have been discovered on cave walls. The correct answer is D. because.