Final answer:
Early settlers struggled with North Carolina's coastline due to difficult coastal regions, large swamps and marshlands without natural harbors, challenging navigation, and frequent storms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The problems that early settlers faced with North Carolina's coastline, while traveling by ship, relate to the geography of the region. The coast had difficult coastal regions, large swamps, and marshlands which lacked natural harbors and did not have rivers providing easy access to the interior. This made sailing and navigation challenging due to the potential for grounding on the shallow waters, especially considering the potential for frequent storms which could further complicate navigation and docking efforts.
Therefore, the answer to the student's question is A. Navigation difficulties and frequent storms, as these were the primary concerns for sailors approaching the treacherous and uncharted North Carolina coastline during early settlement times.