Question
1 In late 19th century, the rolling hills and vast landscapes of Arkansas were home to many families in search of a better life, the Whitfields being one such clan. Living on the outskirts of Little Rock, Samuel and Lillian Whitfield, with their three children—John, Amelia, and little Clara—made their living off a modest plot of land.
2 Samuel had inherited this patch of land from his father. Over the years, the family had experienced several challenges the land had to offer. Droughts would scorch their crops, while rains sometimes washed away their seeds. But through sheer grit and determination, they always found a way to persevere.
3 The most trying time for the Whitfields came in the harsh winter of 1885. A devastating frost came early, wiping out their entire yield of corn and beans. To make matters worse, a sickness had gripped the town, and both Amelia and Clara fell ill. With a dwindling supply of provisions, Samuel and Lillian faced the grim prospect of either going hungry or not affording the medicine their daughters so desperately needed. Lillian and Samuel held each other tightly, trying to give each other comfort.
4 Lillian, always practical, suggested that they approach their Native American neighbors, with whom they had built a bond over the years. The tribes had vast knowledge of herbs and healing—perhaps they could offer a remedy for their daughters. Lillian’s meeting with the Native American tribe, led by an elder named Takoda, bore fruit. She tearfully explained the reason for her visit and pleaded for help. Takoda took pity on Lillian and told her he could help her daughters if she agreed to make and mend clothing for his people. Lillian quickly agreed, relieved that her daughters would get the medicine they needed. In exchange for sewing and mending clothes, Takoda shared healing herbs and taught Lillian how to prepare a concoction from herbs and other plants that would cure her daughters.
5 Samuel, meanwhile, focused on securing food. He recalled a hidden grove deep in the woods, where wild game often roamed. With his trusty rifle, he embarked on a journey to hunt. Samuel’s journey was more perilous. A close encounter with a bear tested his survival skills and courage. However, with his unwavering spirit, he managed to hunt down two deer, providing his family with enough meat to last the winter.
6 As weeks turned into months, the Whitfields clung together, fighting against the odds. The herbal remedies began to work, and Amelia and Clara slowly regained their strength. The deer meat, dried and preserved, kept the hunger at bay.
7 Come spring, the Whitfields, with the help of their neighbors and the tribe, worked collectively to rebuild their farm. They introduced new crops and techniques that the tribe had been using for generations. The yield that year was unprecedented. Never before had so many crops been grown and harvested. They had harvested enough corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, beets, potatoes, and wheat had been harvested that there was enough food for the whole town and the Indians to ensure that everyone had enough food to eat.
8 The ordeal had not just ensured the survival of the Whitfields but had brought together two communities. It became customary for the tribe and the townspeople to come together every harvest season to celebrate their collective strength and unity.
9 As the years went by, the story of the Whitfields became legendary in Little Rock. It was a testament to the fact that, no matter how difficult the challenges, with unity, determination, and a little help from one’s neighbors, one can always find a way through the storm.
Which is the best summary of the passage?
A
Living on the outskirts of Little Rock, Samuel and Lillian Whitfield, with their three children—John, Amelia, and little Clara—made their living off a modest plot of land.
The hardest time for the Whitfields came in the winter of 1885. A frost came early, wiping out their entire yield of corn and beans. To make matters worse, both Amelia and Clara became sick with an illness. Samuel and Lillian faced the dilemma of either going hungry or not affording the medicine their daughters so desperately needed.
B
In the late 19th century, the Whitfield family lived on a farm in Arkansas. They faced many challenges in growing crops to feed the family, but one year, a harsh winter killed their crops, leaving the family with no food. The father managed to kill two deer, so at least the family would not starve. Additionally, the two daughters fell ill, so the mother asked a local Indian tribe for help. The Indian elder and the mother traded skills so that the girls would get the medicine they needed and the Indians would have mended clothing. The Indians taught the Whitfields their method of growing crops, resulting in the most crops the Whitfields had ever harvested.
C
On the outskirts of Little Rock, Samuel and Lillian Whitfield, with their three children—John, Amelia, and little Clara—lived on a farm. After their daughters became ill, Lillian suggested that they approach their Native American neighbors, who had knowledge of herbs and healing. Lillian's meeting with the Native American tribe, led by an elder named Takoda, was successful. In exchange for sewing and mending clothes, Takoda shared healing herbs and taught Lillian how to prepare a concoction that would cure her daughters.
D
In the late 19th century, the Whitfield family lived on a farm near Little Rock. The father inherited the land from his father. In years past, drought and rain would destroy the seeds and crops, so trying to grow food was always a challenge. During one harsh winter, a frost wiped out all of their corn and beans, so the father decided to hunt game in order to provide for his family. He went deep into the woods, where he knew wild game lived. Although he had his rifle with him, he had a dangerous encounter with a bear. The encounter with the bear tested the father's survival skills. Eventually, he killed two deer, ensuring that his family would not starve.
2 Samuel had inherited this patch of land from his father. Over the years, the family had experienced several challenges the land had to offer. Droughts would scorch their crops, while rains sometimes washed away their seeds. But through sheer grit and determination, they always found a way to persevere.
3 The most trying time for the Whitfields came in the harsh winter of 1885. A devastating frost came early, wiping out their entire yield of corn and beans. To make matters worse, a sickness had gripped the town, and both Amelia and Clara fell ill. With a dwindling supply of provisions, Samuel and Lillian faced the grim prospect of either going hungry or not affording the medicine their daughters so desperately needed. Lillian and Samuel held each other tightly, trying to give each other comfort.
4 Lillian, always practical, suggested that they approach their Native American neighbors, with whom they had built a bond over the years. The tribes had vast knowledge of herbs and healing—perhaps they could offer a remedy for their daughters. Lillian’s meeting with the Native American tribe, led by an elder named Takoda, bore fruit. She tearfully explained the reason for her visit and pleaded for help. Takoda took pity on Lillian and told her he could help her daughters if she agreed to make and mend clothing for his people. Lillian quickly agreed, relieved that her daughters would get the medicine they needed. In exchange for sewing and mending clothes, Takoda shared healing herbs and taught Lillian how to prepare a concoction from herbs and other plants that would cure her daughters.
5 Samuel, meanwhile, focused on securing food. He recalled a hidden grove deep in the woods, where wild game often roamed. With his trusty rifle, he embarked on a journey to hunt. Samuel’s journey was more perilous. A close encounter with a bear tested his survival skills and courage. However, with his unwavering spirit, he managed to hunt down two deer, providing his family with enough meat to last the winter.
6 As weeks turned into months, the Whitfields clung together, fighting against the odds. The herbal remedies began to work, and Amelia and Clara slowly regained their strength. The deer meat, dried and preserved, kept the hunger at bay.
7 Come spring, the Whitfields, with the help of their neighbors and the tribe, worked collectively to rebuild their farm. They introduced new crops and techniques that the tribe had been using for generations. The yield that year was unprecedented. Never before had so many crops been grown and harvested. They had harvested enough corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, beets, potatoes, and wheat had been harvested that there was enough food for the whole town and the Indians to ensure that everyone had enough food to eat.
8 The ordeal had not just ensured the survival of the Whitfields but had brought together two communities. It became customary for the tribe and the townspeople to come together every harvest season to celebrate their collective strength and unity.
9 As the years went by, the story of the Whitfields became legendary in Little Rock. It was a testament to the fact that, no matter how difficult the challenges, with unity, determination, and a little help from one’s neighbors, one can always find a way through the storm.
Which is the best summary of the passage?
A
Living on the outskirts of Little Rock, Samuel and Lillian Whitfield, with their three children—John, Amelia, and little Clara—made their living off a modest plot of land.
The hardest time for the Whitfields came in the winter of 1885. A frost came early, wiping out their entire yield of corn and beans. To make matters worse, both Amelia and Clara became sick with an illness. Samuel and Lillian faced the dilemma of either going hungry or not affording the medicine their daughters so desperately needed.
B
In the late 19th century, the Whitfield family lived on a farm in Arkansas. They faced many challenges in growing crops to feed the family, but one year, a harsh winter killed their crops, leaving the family with no food. The father managed to kill two deer, so at least the family would not starve. Additionally, the two daughters fell ill, so the mother asked a local Indian tribe for help. The Indian elder and the mother traded skills so that the girls would get the medicine they needed and the Indians would have mended clothing. The Indians taught the Whitfields their method of growing crops, resulting in the most crops the Whitfields had ever harvested.
C
On the outskirts of Little Rock, Samuel and Lillian Whitfield, with their three children—John, Amelia, and little Clara—lived on a farm. After their daughters became ill, Lillian suggested that they approach their Native American neighbors, who had knowledge of herbs and healing. Lillian's meeting with the Native American tribe, led by an elder named Takoda, was successful. In exchange for sewing and mending clothes, Takoda shared healing herbs and taught Lillian how to prepare a concoction that would cure her daughters.
D
In the late 19th century, the Whitfield family lived on a farm near Little Rock. The father inherited the land from his father. In years past, drought and rain would destroy the seeds and crops, so trying to grow food was always a challenge. During one harsh winter, a frost wiped out all of their corn and beans, so the father decided to hunt game in order to provide for his family. He went deep into the woods, where he knew wild game lived. Although he had his rifle with him, he had a dangerous encounter with a bear. The encounter with the bear tested the father's survival skills. Eventually, he killed two deer, ensuring that his family would not starve.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The best summary of the passage is **B**.
Summary B captures the main events and challenges faced by the Whitfield family during the harsh winter of 1885, including the loss of their crops, the illness of their daughters, the father's success in hunting deer, and the mother's trade with the Native American tribe that led to acquiring medicine and knowledge for crop cultivation. It concisely presents the key elements of the story while maintaining the overall context of the families working together and the eventual success they achieved.
Summary B captures the main events and challenges faced by the Whitfield family during the harsh winter of 1885, including the loss of their crops, the illness of their daughters, the father's success in hunting deer, and the mother's trade with the Native American tribe that led to acquiring medicine and knowledge for crop cultivation. It concisely presents the key elements of the story while maintaining the overall context of the families working together and the eventual success they achieved.