Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
COMING OF THE GODS By CHESTER WHITEHORN Never had Mars seen such men as these, for they came from black space, carrying weird weapons—to fight for a race of which they had never heard. Ro moved cautiously. He knew the jungles of Mars well, knew the dangers, the swift death that could come to an unwary traveler. Many was at the prospect of seeing home once more. Ro was returning from the north. He had seen the great villages of thatched huts, the strange people who lived in these huts instead of in caves, and wore coverings on their feet and shining rings in their ears. And having quenched his curiosity about these people and their villages, he was satisfied to travel home again. He was a man of the world now, weary of exploring and ready to settle entrance to their cave and tell of the wondrous places he'd visited. And, most of all, he wanted to see Na, graceful, dark eyed Na, whose fair face had disturbed his slumber so often, appearing in his dreams to call him home. him lay a broad expanse of plain. And far in the distance rose the great cliffs and the hills that were his home. His handsome face broadened into a smile and he quickened his pace to a trot. There was no need for caution now. The dangers on the plain were few. The sun beat down on his bare head and back. His red skin glistened. His thick black hair shone healthily. Mile after mile fell behind him. His long, well muscled legs carried him swiftly toward the distant hills. His movements were graceful, easy, as the loping of Shee, the great cat. Then, suddenly, he faltered in his stride. He stopped running and, chase. For a long moment Ro studied the approaching creatures. Then he gasped in surprise. The pursued was a young woman, a woman he knew. Na! The the cliffs. Ro exclaimed his surprise, then his rage. His handsome face was grim as he searched the ground with his eyes. When he found what he sought—a At great speed, he closed the gap between him and the approaching figures. He could see the rat man plainly now—his fanged, frothy mouth furry face and twitching tail. The Oan, however, was too intent face a mask of respect. The young Martian tried to be stern in meeting her gaze, as was the custom among the men of his tribe when dealing with women "Since a long time," she answered sadly. Then she cried. And between "They were strange men indeed white as the foam on water, and clothed in strange garb from the neck down, even to coverings on their feet. stones. Then the white men spoke but their tongue was strange, and our men signaled that they could not understand. The white men smiled, and a great miracle took place. Suddenly to our minds came pictures and words. The white men spoke with their thoughts. "They came from a place called Earth, they said. And they came in peace. Our men found they could think very hard and answer back with their own thoughts. And there was much talk and happiness, for friendly woman with golden hair, and the other, a man of age, with hair like silver frost. "There was a great feast then, and our men showed their skill at throwing. Then the white men displayed the power of their strange Ro groaned aloud as Na finished her tale. His homecoming was a meeting with tragedy, instead of a joyful occasion. "What of my father?" he asked hopefully. "He was a great warrior. Surely he didn't fall to the Oan?" to place. There were no fires, for the Oan were more beast than man and feared flame another's head was covered with a thatch like a cap of snow on a mountain peak. "You say they came from a place called Earth?" Ro asked Na in wonder. had already made plans for their next meeting. There was no need for a prickled. He prayed he wouldn't be seen. An alarm now would spoil his Suddenly he halted. A dim figure approached. It was one of the Oan, a "The rat men have eyes to cut the night." It was a memory of his mother's voice. She had spoken those words when he was a child, to keep moment the beast would stumble over him. Like a phantom, Ro arose from his crouch. The rat man was startled, spring amongst them and slay them as they slept. He lay flat on his stomach and inched his way ahead. It was slow work, but safer. When a sound reached his ears he drew himself together and feigned sleep. In the dusk he appeared no different than the others. His chest was scratched in a thousand places when he reached the far side, but he felt no pain. His heart was singing within him. His job "Be still," he thought. He remembered Na's words: ' We spoke with our thoughts. seemed so futile, he whispered the words aloud. Then his mind seemed to grow light, as though someone was sharing the weight of his brain. An urgent message to hurry—hurry reached him. It was as though he was feeling something to one of the men. Ro turned and glared at her through the "Who is Na?" asked the girl. communicating. Each was busy with his own thoughts. Finally the man with the silver hair asked, "Why did you risk your life to rescue us?" the men of my tribe." He stopped walking and stared around him for a landmark. They had traveled far along the foot of the cliff. According to the plan Na Then he gave a glad cry. Squinting ahead he saw an approaching figure. It was—His cry took on a note of alarm. The figure was bent low set his twisted legs and bared his fangs. The fur on his back stood out straight as he prepared to meet the young Martian's attack. and lay still. Ro dismounted the limp body. His face wore a wildly triumphant "We will speak of that when it is dawn again," he said with his eyes were half shut and he pretended to doze. Actually he was studying the white ones. The man with the silver hair seemed very old and weak, but very wise. The other men had hair as black as any Martian's, but their skin was pure white. They were handsome, Ro thought, in a barbaric sort of way. One was lean and determined, the other, equally determined, but stouter their minds?" It was the old man who answered. "We come from a place called Earth, many millions of miles away the lean man nodded—"Grimm—" the stouter man acknowledged the "Our part of Earth, America, is a great country. Our cities are built of steel and stone, and we travel about in space boats. Now tell me, what is it like here on Mars? Surely the whole planet isn't wilderness. What year is it?" "A year is a measure of time," the old man explained. "When we left understood. It is a message in a Universal language." Ro sighed. "I am afraid we are very backward here on Mars," he said wearily. "I would like to learn more, but we must sleep now. Tomorrow will be a very busy day." noticed, too, that Grimm was seeing the same thing and seemed annoyed. Ro smiled. These young white men were no different than Martians where the rat men?" "The Oan are cowards," Ro answered. "They are brave only because they in this wilderness we have sticks and stones to work with." Ro sprang to his feet to tower above the man. His handsome face was twisted in anger. "You're lying," he shouted aloud, forgetting that the white man couldn't understand his words. "You're lying because you are afraid. You refuse to help me avenge my people because you are more of a coward than the Oan." The old man also rose. He placed a restraining hand on Ro's arm. The professor repeated Grimm's words with his thoughts. "It would be "What is it?" he demanded. He repeated his plan to the others. he said, "I didn't want to make trouble. It was a bad time, and "It wouldn't be legal. Who would perform the ceremony?" Ro seemed puzzled, then he laughed. "Last night I thought that we on Mars are backward. Now I'm not so

<question>:
Why did the old man ask what year it was?

<options>:
A He traveled in a space boat
B He came from a far away city
C He wondered how many years they had traveled
D He was surprised the civilization was so primitive

<answer>:

D