Question

He had come out of the war with five inestimable blessings—his head, his wife Maria's head and the heads of three out of their four children. As a bonus he also had his old bicycle—a miracle too but naturally not to be compared to the safety of five human heads. . . .

It was unbelievable. He rubbed his eyes and looked again and it was still standing there before him. But, needless to say, even that monumental blessing must be accounted also totally inferior to the five heads in the family. This newest miracle was his little house in Ogui Overside.



Which claim could use the excerpts given above as textual support?
Although the civil war is over, the new "civil peace" is just as violent.
Jonathan understands that he can live without things, but he cannot live without his family.
Although Jonathan is glad the war is over, he would have been happier if it never happened.
Jonathan optimistically expected his entire family to come out of the war uninjured.

Answer 1

Jonathan understands that he can live without things, but he cannot live without his family.

Answer 2

Jonathan understands that he can live without things, but he cannot live without his family.

In the excerpt, Johnathan's family is described as "five inestimable blessings". It then goes on to say "as a bonus he has had his old bicycle". When comparing these two possessions, the bicycle surviving is described as a miracle but can't be "compared to the safety of five humans heads." These details show that he values his family above everything else. The other options are wrong because he does not talk about the war in this excerpt at all. We also don't see any indication that he expected his entire family to come out of the war uninjured. In fact, he seems grateful that they were all safe.