"Whether the independence of the continent was declared too soon, or delayed too long. I will not now enter into as an argument; my own simple opinion is that had it been eight months earlier, it would have been
much better."
-Thomas Paine, The Crisis, 1776
Which of the following best rewrites the sentence above?
The independence of the continent was declared too soon. I won't argue that we delayed too long. My own simple opinion is that it
would have been much better if this had not happened eight months ago
I don't want to argue. My own simple opinion is that it would have been much better to delay too long. To declare the independence
of the continent eight months earlier was too soon.
I will not argue that we waited too long to declare te independence of the continent. My own simple opinion is that it is much better
this way. Eight months earlier would have been too soon.
I won't argue about whether we declared the independence of the continent too soon or delayed too long. My own simple opinion is
that it would have been much better if we had declared it eight months earlier.

Read the excerpt from act 3 of a doll’s house. mrs. linde: you seemed to me to imply that with me you might have been quite another man. krogstad: i am certain of it. mrs. linde: is it too late now? krogstad: christine, are you saying this deliberately? yes, i am sure you are. i see it in your face. have you really the courage, then—? mrs. linde: i want to be a mother to someone, and your children need a mother. we two need each other. nils, i have faith in your real character—i can dare anything together with you. krogstad [grasps her hands]. , , christine! now i shall find a way to clear myself in the eyes of the world. ah, but i forgot— how does the conflict in this passage develop a theme? mrs. linde creates a conflict by promising something she cannot give to krogstad, which develops the theme that empty promises can destroy relationships. krogstad continues the conflict by choosing clearing his name over having a life with mrs. linde, which develops the theme that you must often choose yourself over others. krogstad creates a conflict by deceiving mrs. linde about his intentions, which develops the theme that, in love, actions speak louder than words. mrs. linde resolves the conflict by committing to a new life with krogstad, which develops the theme that new beginnings are always possible.