Read the excerpt from chapter 6 of The Travels of Marco Polo . This, then, I would have you know, is how they are made. They are built of the wood called spruce and of fir. They have one deck; and above this deck, in most ships, are at least sixty cabins, each of which can comfortably accommodate one merchant. They have one steering-oar and four masts. Often they add another two masts, which are hoisted and lowered at pleasure. The entire hull is of double thickness: that is to say, one plank is fastened over the top of another, and this double planking extends all the way round. It is caulked outside and in, and the fastening is done with iron nails. What is the author's purpose for writing this text?
Answer
A
to inform readers about how ships are built
B
to persuade readers that they should build ships
C
to educate readers about how they can build their own ships
D
to entertain readers by describing travels on a ship
Explanation
The passage gives factual details about ships, including the materials used, their decks and cabins, and how the hull is constructed. These descriptions are meant to inform readers about how ships are built, not to persuade them to build ships or describe a voyage.
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