Final answer:
The excerpt that shows the Maori people feeling cared for by the earth can be identified through descriptions or dialogue showing appreciation or gratitude towards the earth, descriptions of the earth providing for their needs, or expressions of reverence or respect for the earth.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer the question of which excerpt from the passage best allows the reader to infer that the Maori people felt cared for by the earth, key details in the text are necessary. It's important to look for descriptions or dialogue that show the Maori people communicating affection, appreciation or gratitude towards the earth. Phrases describing the earth providing for their needs, or the Maoris' reverence or respect for the earth, would suggest an inference that they feel nurtured or 'cared for' by the earth.
Unfortunately, without the passage in question, a specific excerpt cannot be identified. But generally, we infer feelings or attitudes in a character, or a group of people in this case, through their words, actions, and the author's descriptions of them.
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