What writing system did the Sumerians use?

• A. Cuneiform
• B. Hieroglyphics
• C. Alphabets
• D. Pictograms

Answer: (A)

This question checks your knowledge of early writing systems and which one the Sumerians used. The Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia developed cuneiform, a script created by pressing a reed into clay to leave wedge-shaped marks. It began as simple pictographic notation for everyday records, then grew into a versatile system that could represent sounds and words, enabling everything from administrative lists to literature like the Epic of Gilgamesh. That combination—wedge-shaped marks on clay used to convey both ideas and sounds—defines cuneiform and is why it’s the correct choice. Hieroglyphics come from ancient Egypt, using a mix of symbols on monuments and papyrus. An alphabet refers to a set of letters representing individual sounds, a development that came later in different regions. Pictograms are basic pictures, and while cuneiform signs started as pictographs, the writing evolved far beyond simple pictures into a full script.