Question

Hormuz is a great and splendid city on the sea, governed by a malik and with several cities and towns in subjection to it. The people are Saracens who worship Mahomet. The climate is excessively hot—so hot that the houses are fitted with ventilators to catch the wind. The ventilators are set to face the quarter from which the wind blows and let it blow into the house. This they do because they cannot endure the over-powering heat. –"The Middle East," Marco Polo

a. Which senses does the imagery in this passage appeal to?

i. Sight
ii. Touch
iii. Smell
iv. Taste

b. How does this imagery support the author’s purpose?

i. It informs readers about climate and culture
ii. It provides historical context
iii. It emphasizes political structures
iv. It critiques religious practices

Answer 1

Marco Polo's description of Hormuz appeals to the senses of sight and touch, highlighting the region's hot climate and cultural adaptations, thereby informing readers about the city's climate and culture.

Step-by-step explanation:

The imagery in the passage by Marco Polo appeals predominantly to the senses of sight and touch. The sight is stimulated by the description of Hormuz as a 'great and splendid city,' with the visual detail of houses equipped with ventilators. The sense of touch is evoked through the mention of the 'excessively hot' climate and the adaptation of houses to manage the overwhelming heat with wind-capturing ventilators. The imagery supports the author's purpose by providing an atmospheric sense of the climate and culture of Hormuz, conveying its uniqueness through the lens of Polo’s personal experience. The focus on architectural adaptations to the environment informs readers about both the physical and cultural responses to living in such an extreme climate. It also paints a vivid picture of the location's challenges, inspiring empathy and interest amongst readers.