My eyes scanned the plains where I had hunted bison, the creek where I had gotten water. They could no more take
this land from me than I could give it freely. It was never
mine to give, and I had never thought that I owned it. I used
it in accordance with what the gods had given me. And
now I was being forced to leave.
Understanding of property rights among American Indians
differed greatly from that of European settlers. While some
land deals did involve the exchange of money or goods
(rather than just taking land by force), misunderstandings
about ownership often led to conflict.
Which of these best describes how the historical description enhances a
reader's understanding of the personal narrative?
A. It connects the experience of moving somewhere to a modern
understanding of land use and distribution.
B. It creates a vivid mental picture so readers can understand the
area and the resources in question.
C. It supports the personal experience of living off the land with
historical information about how it was done.
D. It provides background information to help readers understand the
narrator's confusion.