Read the passage about the volcanic eruption at Pompeii.A cloud . . . was ascending, the appearance of which I cannot give you a more exact description of than by likening it to that of a pine tree, for it shot up to a great height in the form of a very tall trunk, which spread itself out at the top into a sort of branches.–Letter to Cornelius Tacitus, Pliny the Younger
Answer
A
It includes an interpretation by a historian.
B
It was written by a well-respected historian.
C
It includes a detailed description of the event.
D
It was written by someone who witnessed the event.
Explanation
Pliny the Younger describes the cloud he saw during the eruption, comparing its shape to a pine tree. Because he witnessed the event himself, his letter is a firsthand account. The passage contains a detailed description too, but the strongest clue about the source is that it was written by an eyewitness.
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