The debate over 'who discovered America' frustrates many historians. Indigenous peoples lived in the Americas for over 15,000 years before any European arrival. Even among Europeans, the Vikings reached North America 500 years before Columbus. The question of 'discovery' reveals less about history than about whose perspective is centered—for the millions already there, no discovery occurred.
It can be inferred from the text that
Columbus was the first human to set foot in the Americas
the Vikings never reached North America
the framing of historical questions may reflect and reinforce certain cultural perspectives
Indigenous peoples had no awareness of where they lived
Correct Answer: C
Choice C is the best answer. The 'discovery' framing centers European perspective.
- Context clues: The question reveals "whose perspective is centered"—for Indigenous peoples, no discovery occurred.
- Meaning: How we ask historical questions embodies cultural assumptions.
- Verify: The frustration suggests the framing itself is problematic.
💡 Strategy: When the framing of a question is analyzed rather than just answered, infer critique of assumptions.
Choice A is incorrect because Indigenous peoples lived there for "over 15,000 years" before Europeans. Choice B is incorrect because Vikings "reached North America 500 years before Columbus." Choice D is incorrect because the point is precisely that they didn't need to 'discover' where they already lived.