The excerpt is missing in this question. I found the complete question online. It is as follows:
Read the passage and answer the question that follows.
Chief Joseph's Surrender Speech, October 5, 1877
by Chief Joseph
Tell General Howard I know his heart. What he told me before, I have it in my heart. I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed; looking glass is dead, Ta Hool Hool Shute is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led on the young men is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets; the little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are-perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe i shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! i am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.
What is the speaker's overall point in this passage? (5 points)
a. he is surrendering because the winter's cold has killed many of his people.
b. he is surrendering because so many of his tribe's elders have passed away.
c. he is surrendering because his people's lives are more important than their freedom.
I believe the speaker's overall point in this passage is:
c. he is surrendering because his people's lives are more important than their freedom.
Explanation:
It is true that the cold has killed many of Chief Joseph's children. It is also true that many of the elders have died. But the reason why Chief Joseph wants to stop fighting is because he feels it is more important to find and care for his people. They need his help to stay alive, to have food and warmth. The battle has in a way lost its importance. They are battling to protect the people, but it is not working, since they are dying anyway. That's why he will surrender and go looking for them. In Chief Joseph's own words:
I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe i shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! i am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.
