Francisco Vázquez de Coronado planned to search for Cíbola by . A. following ancient maps brought back by earlier expeditions
B. traveling to an area never explored by other Spaniards
C. relying on Friar Marcos de Niza to be his guide
D. following the trail of a newly discovered written account

The correct answer is C. Francisco Vázquez de Coronado planned to search for Cíbola by relying on Friar Marcos de Niza to be his guide.

Explanation:

Cibola was a legendary city that was believed to be located somewhere in the American southwest. According to tradition it possessed unprecedented wealth.

As the Spaniards began to discover the New World, the idea arose that the city of Cibola might be located on this continent.  In 1527, an expedition by the Spanish explorer Pánfilo de Narváez was shipwrecked off the coast of modern-day Texas. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca was one of the few survivors, who said they had heard the Indians talk about cities of enormous wealth.  

Cibola has also been described by Marcos de Niza, a Franciscan monk, who claimed to have seen one of the cities from a distance on a journey of discovery.

In 1540, an expedition of the Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado set out to discover these seven cities and seize the alleged riches. However, the journey turned into a disappointment and many of the expedition members died along the way.