Question

This, then, is the kind of city for which these men, who could not bear the thought of losing her, nobly fought and nobly died. It is only natural that every one of us who survive them should be willing to undergo hardships in her service. And it was for this reason that I have spoken at such length about our city, because I wanted to make it clear that for us there is more at stake than there is for others who lack our advantages; also I wanted my words of praise for the dead to be set in the bright light of evidence.

–Pericles’s funeral oration,
Thucydides

How does the speaker develop the idea that Athens is unique?

by telling a story about life in Athens long ago
by giving examples of what kind of city Athens is
by explaining that soldiers were willing to die for Athens
by giving statistics about those who have died fighting for Athens

Answer 1

by giving examples of what kind of city Athens is

The speaker explicitly says he has "spoken at such length about our city" to show its advantages and set the praise of the dead "in the bright light of evidence," i.e., by describing the city's qualities.