Who are the descendants of Columbus's 'Indians'?

• A. Mayan
• B. Carib
• C. Arawak
• D. Sioux

Answer: (C)

When Columbus arrived in the Caribbean, he encountered indigenous people who spoke a language in the Arawak family, best represented by the Taíno among the islands he visited. The term Arawak refers to that broader cultural-linguistic group, whose descendants lived in regions like the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola. The Mayan civilization was located in Central America, the Sioux in the Great Plains of North America, and the Carib were a separate Caribbean group on some islands. Among these, the Arawak (Taíno) are the people historically linked to Columbus’s initial encounters, so they’re the best match for the descendants in this context.