Its not much but, C IS NOT THE ANSWER. So cancel c from choosing, srry i couldnt be as of much help:(
"<span>b. an explanation of the past through the telling of stories of what actually happened and why" would be the best option from the list, since before writing was involved this period was called "prehistory". </span>
The answer is in the text of the passage
Many people moved to California in 1848 following the <span>discovery of gold.</span>
The answer is True. They ended up making the Declaration of Independence