30 POINTS QUESTION Refer to the passage.

"The huge Indian Ocean constitutes a maritime space less cohesive than the Mediterranean; yet, the monsoons provide a degree of geographic unity. In winter months, approximately November through March, high pressure zones over the Asian landmass and low pressures over the ocean produce prevailing winds blowing in a southwesterly direction from India and from China. In the summer months, approximately April to September, the pressure zones and wind directions reverse. The optimal sailing periods during the monsoons were relatively short and storms were often a problem, so mariners learned to catch the winds at certain times, depending on their points of embarkation and destination. Some historians argue that the monsoons determined certain historical patterns, and there is a general consensus that the monsoons made cross-cultural experiences highly likely, such as those between Arabia and East Africa and between China and island Southeast Asia. The monsoons also heightened opportunities for sailing long distances more quickly than would otherwise have been possible and thereby made the huge region seem a bit smaller.”

Patricia Risso, historical analysis of the Indian Ocean trade network prior to 1500, Merchants and Faith: Muslim Culture and Commerce in the Indian Ocean, 2018

Which of the following can be attributed to environmental conditions in Asia during the period between 1200 and 1450 CE?

A. Networks of exchange became sporadic and unpredictable.
B Port cities became important centers of trade across the region.
C. Trade throughout the region became increasingly controlled by China.
D. It became more costly to exchange goods through water routes than through land routes.