Answer: C. The colonists settled on land that was marshy and hard to farm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The site chosen for Jamestown was a swampy area, providing difficult conditions for agriculture. This made farming and food production challenging for the colonists, leading to scarcity and hunger during the early years. While option A (long and cold winter) may have presented some difficulties, it wasn't the primary reason for Jamestown's struggles. Option B (refusal to seek help from Indigenous peoples) and option D (choosing to search for gold rather than growing crops) also had their own implications, but the unsuitable land for farming was the primary factor hindering the colonists' success in Jamestown's early years.