Question

questions 6 through 9 refer to the following. \the isolation of the native peoples of the americas... from old world germs prior to the last few hundred years was nearly absolute. not only did very few people of any origin cross the great oceans, but those who did must have been healthy or they would have died on the way, taking their pathogens with them.... native americans were not without their own infections, of course. but native americans seem to have been without any experience with such old world maladies as smallpox and measles.... \indications of the susceptibility of native americans... to old world infections appear almost immediately after the intrusion of the whites. in 1492, columbus kidnapped a number of arawak indians to train as interpreters and to show to king ferdinand and queen isabella. several of them seem to have died on the stormy voyage to europe in 1493.... in 1495, columbus... sent 550 arawak slaves... off across the atlantic... to be put to work in spain. the majority of these soon were also dead.... in the excerpt, crosby makes which of the following claims about the transmission of old world diseases to the americas? a it had minimal effect on native americans. b it was an unintended consequence of contact between the new world and the old world. c it was significant in the centuries prior to columbus arrival in the americas. d it was a deliberate act on the part of columbus.

Explanation:

The text describes how the isolation of Native Americans from Old - World germs made them highly susceptible to diseases when contact was made. The transmission of Old - World diseases to the Americas was an unintended consequence of contact between the New and Old Worlds. There is no evidence of minimal effect (A is wrong), it didn't happen significantly prior to Columbus (C is wrong), and there's no indication it was a deliberate act by Columbus (D is wrong).

Answer:

B. It was an unintended consequence of contact between the New World and the Old World.