Commemorative plaques cast from brass are a characteristic art form of the Benin culture of West Africa. Some scholars, noting that the oldest surviving plaques date to the 1400s, hypothesize that brass-casting techniques were introduced by the Portuguese, who came to Benin in 1485 A. D. But Portuguese records of that expedition mention cast-brass jewelry sent to Benin' s king from neighboring Ife. So it is unlikely that Benin' s knowledge of brass casting derived from the Portuguese. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? ['The Portuguese had no contact with Ife until the 1500s.', 'As early as 1500 A. D. , Benin artists were making brass plaques incorporating depictions of Europeans.', 'In the 1400s the Portuguese did not use cast brass for commemorative plaques.', 'Copper, which is required for making brass, can be found throughout Benin territory.']