Question

read the excerpt from the travels of marco polo and study the map. when the traveler leaves kuh-banan he goes for fully eight days through a desert. . . . after these eight days he reaches a province called tun and kain, where there are cities and towns in plenty. it is situated on the northern borders of persia. there is an immense plain here, in which stands the solitary tree, which the christians call the dry tree. based on the excerpt and the map, what makes the journey to kain difficult? ○ the kais sea ○ travel through shiraz ○ mountains and dry conditions ○ the dry tree plains

Explanation:

1. Analyze the excerpt: It mentions traveling through a desert for eight days and the area is on northern borders of Persia with a plain (Dry Tree plains) and mountains (from the map).
2. Analyze the options:

• "the Kais Sea": No mention of a sea in the excerpt or map. Eliminate.
• "travel through Shiraz": The excerpt says the traveler leaves Kuh - banan, not that traveling through Shiraz is difficult. The map shows Shiraz is a separate location. Eliminate.
• "mountains and dry conditions": The excerpt has a desert (dry condition) and the map shows mountain ranges. This matches the difficulties (desert for dry conditions, mountains as seen on the map).
• "the Dry Tree plains": The Dry Tree plains are a feature of the destination area, not a difficulty of the journey. The journey's difficulty is the desert (dry) and mountains, not the plain at the destination. Eliminate.

Answer:

C. mountains and dry conditions