Which best describes how this paragraph relates to the rest of “Economy”? It compares and contrasts the author’s beliefs about nature with civilized society’s views of nature. It compares and contrasts civilized life with the author’s solitary time in the woods. It provides context for the rest of the excerpt by noting that the author no longer agrees with what he wrote. It provides context for the rest of the excerpt by explaining when and where the author wrote it.

Plz asap read this sentence from paragraph 3 of the article. the boys and girls are merely asked to obtain the signatures of ten friends or relatives. how does the word "merely" affect the meaning of the sentence? a- it suggests that asking people to subscribe to the washington times is something negative. b- it implies that obtaining ten signatures is not a requirement for receiving a prize. c- it downplays the fact that to win the prize, children must ask people to subscribe to the washington times. d- it emphasizes that children receive the prize only if they obtain ten signatures.