Final answer:
Gerda's statement emphasizes the conflicting nature of survival, being both a great honor and a heavy responsibility. It is a privilege because it affirms life's continuation, but a burden due to the emotional and physical struggles that come with persistent adversities.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Gerda writes, "Survival is both an exalted privilege and a painful burden", she highlights the duality of surviving amidst adversity. On one hand, survival is an exalted privilege because it represents the strength and perseverance to continue living despite challenges, and the simple yet profound value of being alive.
On the other hand, it is a painful burden because the weight of continuing life amidst hardship can be emotionally draining and imposes various struggles that one has to continually overcome, like poverty, dependence on others, and the mental toll of enduring difficult circumstances without relief.
Survival becomes a burden in various ways, as indicated by the provided texts, which detail the struggles of relying on others, the lack of independence, the fear of poverty, and the necessity to make sacrifices for future generations. These hardships associated with survival are physically demanding, mentally taxing, and can trap individuals in a state of continuous dependence or uncertainty about the future, often accompanied by the constant fear of destitution.