Based on the information provided, what was one of the primary purposes of the Australian colony?

(A) A place in which to exile criminals (B) A place to create Pacific trading posts (C) A haven for persecuted religions (D) A base to establish military control of the PacificExplanation: The information states that the settlers included marines, marine wives, and both male and female convicts. The presence of the convicts shows that Australia was intended to be a penal colony, to house convicted criminals. There is no evidence of any intention to trade or to build a trading post (B). There is no discussion of religion (C), nor of the weapons or arms that would be needed for military bases (D).