Excerpt from At the Earth’s Core
Edgar Rice Burroughs

2 Together we stepped out to stand in silent contemplation of a landscape at once weird and beautiful. Before us a low and level shore stretched down to a silent sea. As far as the eye could reach the surface of the water was dotted with countless tiny isles—some of towering, barren, granitic rock—others resplendent in gorgeous trappings of tropical vegetation, myriad starred with the magnificent splendor of vivid blooms.

Which statement BEST reflects the human experience that is represented in this excerpt?
A) Humans desire to control nature.
B) Humans are frightened by nature.
C) Humans are fascinated by nature.
D) Humans cannot understand nature.