Question

which of the following statements most likely identifies johnsons purpose in writing?

a.) johnsons purpose was to provide an accurate description of jamestown for future historians to study.

b.) johnsons purpose was to instruct settlers on how to thrive in virginia and profit from its resources.

c.) johnsons purpose was to give investors a carefully constructed idea of how the virginia company operated internally.

d.) johnsons purpose was to attract people to invest in the virginia company and settle in jamestown.

Explanation:

Analyze the historical context of the author

The question asks for the purpose of "Johnson" (referring to Robert Johnson, author of the 1609 promotional tract Nova Britannia: Offering Most Excellent Fruits by Planting in Virginia). During this period, the Jamestown Colony was struggling significantly, and the Virginia Company of London needed to secure more capital and colonists to keep the venture alive.

Evaluate the promotional nature of the text

Promotional tracts written by figures like Robert Johnson were designed as marketing materials. Their primary Colonial Motivations were to paint an attractive, optimistic picture of the New World to counter negative rumors of starvation and disease, thereby encouraging wealthy Englishmen to invest capital and working-class individuals to emigrate as settlers.

Assess the given multiple-choice options

• Option (a) is incorrect because promotional tracts were not written for objective future historical study.
• Option (b) is incorrect because the tract was aimed at potential backers and emigrants in England, rather than practical survival instruction for existing settlers.
• Option (c) is incorrect because the internal operations of the Virginia Company were kept proprietary and were not the focus of public promotional literature.
• Option (d) correctly identifies the dual purpose of attracting financial investment and physical settlers to Jamestown.

Answer:

• a.) Johnson’s purpose was to provide an accurate description of Jamestown for future historians to study.
• b.) Johnson’s purpose was to instruct settlers on how to thrive in Virginia and profit from its resources.
• c.) Johnson’s purpose was to give investors a carefully constructed idea of how the Virginia Company operated internally.
• d.) Johnson’s purpose was to attract people to invest in the Virginia Company and settle in Jamestown. (Correct answer)