In The Sherlock Society, what kind of trees are beside the X when Lina holds the map over the frontispiece?

• A. Royal palms
• B. Oak trees
• C. Maple trees
• D. Cypress

Answer: (A)

Noticing the exact tree type shown beside the X in the frontispiece is what this item asks you to do. The scene is drawn with tall, slender trunks topped by a crown of long, feathery leaves—a hallmark look of royal palms. That tropical, palm-like silhouette fits the setting and mood of the illustration, making royal palms the best match for what’s depicted.

Compare that to the other options: oaks and maples have broad, lobed leaves and sturdier, more rugged trunks, which would give a very different silhouette and atmosphere. Cypress trees tend to be evergreen conifers with a more dense, narrow or columnar form. The palm imagery aligns with the described visual details, so identifying royal palms here is the natural choice.