Question

read the excerpt from \an indians view of indian affairs.\

we were taught to believe that the great spirit sees and hears everything, and that he never forgets; that hereafter he will give every man a spirit-home according to his deserts: if he has been a good man, he will have a good home; if he has been a bad man, he will have a bad home.

what central idea of the speech is illustrated by this excerpt?

• man should act cautiously because the great spirit is not very forgiving.
• the way a man chooses to live his life directly affects the quality of his life.
• a man will have a much more lavish home if he is good to those around him.
• only those who are good to others will eventually receive a spirit-home.

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt's core message

The text states that the "Great Spirit sees and hears everything" and rewards or punishes each man "according to his deserts." Specifically, a good man receives a "good home" and a bad man receives a "bad home" hereafter.

Evaluate the options against the text

• Option 1 focuses on the Great Spirit not being forgiving, which is not the main point of the moral system described.
• Option 2 directly matches the moral cause-and-effect described: how a person lives (good or bad) determines the quality of their afterlife ("spirit-home").
• Option 3 mentions a "lavish home," which misinterprets "good home" in a material sense.
• Option 4 states only those who are good receive a spirit-home, whereas the text says "every man" receives a spirit-home (either good or bad).

Answer:

• Man should act cautiously because the Great Spirit is not very forgiving.
• The way a man chooses to live his life directly affects the quality of his life. (Correct answer)
• A man will have a much more lavish home if he is good to those around him.
• Only those who are good to others will eventually receive a spirit-home.