Why was writing useful in the development of urban civilizations?

Correct answer: For records and administration

Writing is a system for preserving information through symbols. In an urban civilization, many people live together, goods are exchanged, taxes may be collected, and rulers must organize workers and supplies. Written records make these activities easier to remember, check, and manage over time.

Therefore, option A is correct because records and administration are central uses of writing. Officials could note quantities, ownership, payments, laws, or orders instead of depending only on memory. The other choices describe unrelated activities. Writing was not created merely for games, cutting trees, or stopping rivers; it supported organized economic and political life.