Question

which statement best summarizes this excerpt from the selection? a portuguese traders understood african language and customs, helping early explorers earn the trust of african slave traders. b the trading posts along the western coast of africa welcomed merchants from european countries, including the portuguese, dutch, and french. c a combination of luck, knowledge, and location allowed portugal to be the first country to explore africas coast and eventually succeed in global trade. d common diseases in the middle ages are now rare, but the first pandemic to spread across europe devastated its population. why was portugal the to investigate the coast of advantages that led it to dc trading at that time. from 1 plague killed 60 percent of about 50 million people. bt geographically isolated en from the spread of the dise pool its resources to fund e had a superior fleet of ship with islamic countries and helped those countries est networks of their own. this knowledge of mathematics

Explanation:

To determine the best summary, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The excerpt on the right doesn't focus on Portuguese traders understanding African language/customs to earn trust of slave traders. The right side talks about advantages for exploration and trade, not this specific trust - building.
• Option B: The right - hand text is about Portugal's advantages for exploration and trade, not about trading posts welcoming multiple European merchants.
• Option C: The right - hand text mentions Portugal's geographical isolation (luck), knowledge (mathematics, trade with Islamic countries), and location, which allowed it to explore Africa's coast and succeed in global trade. This matches the idea of a combination of luck, knowledge, and location.
• Option D: The main focus of the excerpt (right - hand side) is on Portugal's exploration and trade, not on the comparison of medieval diseases now and then.

Answer:

C. A combination of luck, knowledge, and location allowed Portugal to be the first country to explore Africa's coast and eventually succeed in global trade.