Which three states were among the original thirteen colonies?

The choice indicating New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania as original thirteen colonies is correct because these states were indeed part of the colonies established by European settlers in North America during the 17th and early 18th centuries. These colonies played significant roles in the economic and political development of the early United States.

New York, originally settled by the Dutch as New Amsterdam, became a British colony in 1664. New Jersey was initially part of New York before becoming a separate colony. Pennsylvania, founded by William Penn in 1681, was notable for its progressive policies and religious tolerance. All three states contributed to the colonial resistance against British rule, leading up to the American Revolution.

The selection of Massachusetts, Virginia, and Maryland also contains valid colonies; however, it neglects to include some of the other critical early colonies that played substantial roles in colonial America. Similarly, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia represent later settlements in the colonial period and would not fully encompass the diverse contributions of all original colonies. Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware also represent colonies but do not provide a comprehensive view of the early colonial landscape that New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania offer.