In the early 1900s, Maine saw the decline of the fishing and ship-building industries and a boom in real estate prices. This change caused some people to look to Malaga Island as a potential source of income. First, however, the land would have to be cleared of its inhabitants. The press and others began to paint the community of Malaga as "degenerate" and "squalid" and argued for its removal.

Which sentence best describes the relationship between the historical context (Malaga Island’s history) and the novel?

The novel’s plot and setting are closely based on real historical events.
The novel dramatically changes historical events.
The novel shows no evidence that the author is aware of historical events.
The novel recounts historical events exactly as they happened.