Here's a problem to solve: In a population of brown snakes, a snake is born with a white-spotted pattern. Which factor will have the most influence on whether this trait will become common in the brown snake population?

Among the 4 following options, which is the correct answer?

- A: the ability of the snake to survive to reproduce
 
- B: the appearance of other new traits in the baby snake
 
- C: the history of the pattern in previous snake populations
 
- D: the presence of thermal energy changing the snake pattern
 