Question

this island juana is surrounded by many very safe and wide harbors, not excelled by any others that i have ever seen. many great and salubrious rivers flow through it. there are also many very high mountains there. all these islands are very beautiful, and distinguished by various qualities; they are accessible, and full of a great variety of trees stretching up to the stars; the leaves of which i believe are never shed, for i saw them as green and flourishing as they are usually in spain in the month of may; some of them were blossoming, some were bearing fruit, some were in other conditions; each one was thriving in its own way. the nightingale and various other birds without number were singing, in the month of november, when i was exploring them. there are besides in the said island juana seven or eight kinds of palm trees, which far excel ours in height and beauty, just as all the other trees, herbs, and fruits do. there are also excellent pine trees, vast plains and meadows, a variety of birds, a variety of honey, and a variety of metals, excepting iron. in the one which was called hispana, ...there are great and beautiful mountains, vast fields, groves, fertile plains, very suitable for planting and cultivating, and for the building of houses. 5 the convenience of the harbors in this island, and the remarkable number of rivers contributing to the healthfulness of man, exceed belief, unless one has seen them. the trees, pasturage, and fruits of this island differ greatly from those of juana. this hispana, moreover, abounds in different kinds of spices, in gold, and in metals.... guiding questions what is the purpose of columbus depiction? a he describes the island as crowded and hectic, to encourage spain not to attempt to invade the islands. b he describes the island as desolate and barren, to encourage the treasurer to finance voyages to other islands. c he describes the island as isolated and dull, to describe why they decided to return to spain. d he describes the island as lush and full of resources, to assure spain that the discovery was beneficial.

Explanation:

Columbus describes the island with safe harbors, great rivers, high - mountains, various trees, birds, palm trees, pine trees, plains, meadows, honey, metals (except iron), spices, gold etc. This shows the island as a place full of resources. His aim was likely to convince Spain of the value of the discovery.

Answer:

D. He describes the island as lush and full of resources, to assure Spain that the discovery was beneficial.