Question

These were not merely "friendly Indians.”

How does this quotation from "Thanksgiving A Native American View” affect the author’s argument?

The author is arguing that the American Indians were able to help the Pilgrims, because they were sophisticated.
The author is arguing that the American Indians were nice, and that is why they helped the Pilgrims.
The author is arguing that the Pilgrims were not friendly, in contrast to the American Indians.
The author is arguing that neither the Pilgrims nor the American Indians were friendly.

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The quotation "These were not merely 'friendly Indians'" implies that the author is emphasizing the complexity and sophistication of the American Indians rather than reducing their identity to just being friendly. This suggests that the author is arguing against a simplistic view of Native Americans and is likely highlighting their agency, skills, and the significance of their contributions in helping the Pilgrims.

Given this interpretation, the most fitting option would be:

**The author is arguing that the American Indians were able to help the Pilgrims because they were sophisticated.**

This choice reflects the author's intent to present a more nuanced understanding of the relationships between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans.