Question

Sarah looked at her brother again, waiting for some sort of response. Surely, he had not resigned himself to this situation. Surely, he did not intend to sit in their little apartment and wait for the Germans to come and get them. She had arranged for a hiding spot with one of her friends. She would harbor them in the attic of her grandfather’s farmhouse as long as needed. The place was dilapidated but isolated and did not draw many visitors or attention. Sarah knew with all of her heart that going there was a better option for them. Rumors had been circulating for weeks. Jews were not being taken away to work. The long trains pulling out of the stations were going to Polish death camps. Whoever got into the cattle cars was never coming back. "Alright,” he whispered. His voice was small but resolute. "We will leave on Sunday morning. We will take the train to Emmen and then walk the rest of the way. If anyone stops us, we can make believe that we are out for a weekend retreat in the countryside.”

Based on this excerpt, what complete viewpoint could a prepared speaker share in a discussion?

I was really convinced that Sarah and her brother were not going to make it to the farmhouse.
I think the atrocities of the Holocaust need to be remembered by all future generations so they will not be repeated.
Sarah and her brother are two German Jews who are currently living in a small apartment in Amsterdam.
Sarah’s determination to hide with her brother rather than wait for the Germans is admirable.

Answer 1

A speaker might highlight Sarah's determination being admirable and a symbol of human spirit and resistance, emphasizing the need to remember the Holocaust's atrocities to prevent repetition and acknowledging the historical impact of the Holocaust on the establishment of Israel.

Step-by-step explanation:

In discussion about the provided excerpt, a speaker could adopt a complete viewpoint emphasizing the importance of historical memory and the acts of bravery during the Holocaust. One viewpoint might be: Sarah's determination to hide with her brother rather than passively await their fate at the hands of the Nazis is admirable and reflects the difficult choices faced by Jews during the Holocaust. Coupled with the knowledge of heroic figures such as Irena Sendler and Oskar Schindler, who saved thousands against the odds, the story highlights resistance and the human spirit amidst unimaginable adversity. This viewpoint underscores the necessity to remember the atrocities of the Holocaust to ensure they are not replicated in the future, lessons drawn from the Holocaust's dark chapter in history and the establishment of Israel as a response to the need for a safe Jewish homeland.

Answer 2

The viewpoint gathered from the passage is:

Sarah’s determination to hide with her brother rather than wait for the Germans is admirable.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sarah begins the passage by wondering if the brother is going to sit there and let the Germans take him away and then says that surely she would not let that happen.

This is the line that sets up the passage for what is to be narrated for the whole passage which is her plans and her determination to save her brother from sure death in the German death camps.

It is her foresight that has allowed her to understand what is going to happen and she willingly takes steps to avoid it.