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?
O to entertain readers by describing travels on a ship
O to inform readers about how ships are built
O to persuade readers that they should build ships
O to educate readers about how they can build their own
ships