Question

Break down the following passages by bracketing unessential material and underlining the essential information that tells who and what.

1. [But now was all our provisions spent, the sturgeon gone, all helps abandoned, each hour expecting the fury of the savages; when] __God__, [the patron of all good endeavors, in that desperate extremity] __so changed the hearts of the savages that they brought such plenty of their fruits and provision__[as no man wanted].

2. [And of these, in the time of most distress], __there was but six or seven sound persons who__[to their great commendations, be it spoken] __spared no pains night or day,__[but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health], __fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, clothes and unclothed them.___ [In a word, did all the homely and necessary offices for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least], ___showing herein their true love unto their friends and brethren;__[a rare example and worthy to be remembered].

Answer 1

I disagree with #1. The first phrase, "But now was all our provisions spent," can be considered key to the passage. Why else would the natives' bringing food be so welcome?

#2, I agree.

Answer 2

But you agree with everything else in #1?

Answer 3

Yes.