Question

Read the excerpt from The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone.

It earned him a reputation for being an expert on the hieroglyphs—a reputation that lasted, unfortunately, long after his death in 1680.

Which phrase from this excerpt best shows the author’s viewpoint of Athanasius Kircher’s ideas?

earned him a reputation
for being an expert on the hieroglyphs
a reputation that lasted
unfortunately, long after his death

Answer 1

unfortunately, long after his death

"unfortunately" implies the author's viewpoint on a negative connotative scale.

Answer 2

unfortunately, long after his death

Step-by-step explanation:

The author didn't think that Athanasius Kircher deserved his reputation. He mentions on another paragraph how far from deciphering the hieroglyphs he was, when he was much further from deciphering them than Horapollo, who was also not entirely correct on his own theories.