Read the Cherokee legend titled "Why the Possum Plays Dead." Rabbit and Possum each wanted a wife, but no one would marry either of them. They talked over the matter and Rabbit said, “We can’t get wives here. Let’s go to the next village. I’ll say I’m messenger for the council and that everybody must marry at once, and then we’ll be sure to get wives.”

Off they started for the next town. As Rabbit traveled the faster, he got there first. He waited outside the village until people noticed him and took him into the council lodge. When the chief asked his business, Rabbit said he brought an important message: Everyone must be married at once. So the chief called a great council of the people and told them the message.

Every animal took a mate at once, and thus Rabbit got a wife.

But Possum traveled slowly. Therefore he reached the village so late that all the men were married, and there was no wife for him. Rabbit pretended to be sorry. He said, “Never mind. I’ll carry the same message to the next village.”

So Rabbit traveled ahead to the next village. He waited outside until they invited him to the council lodge. There he told the chief he brought an important message: There had been peace so long, there must be war at once. The war must begin in the council lodge.

The animals all began to fight at once, but Rabbit got away in just four leaps. Then Possum reached the lodge. Now Possum had brought no weapons. So all the animals began to fight Possum. They hit him so hard that after a while he rolled over in a corner and shut his eyes and pretended to be dead. That is why Possum pretends to be dead when he finds the hunters after him.

What is the best summary of the story?

Rabbit tricks Possum into going to war unprepared. Because Possum has no other way to defend himself, he pretends to be dead. This is why possums appear to be dead when danger is near.
Rabbit and Possum both want a wife. Rabbit is smart and fast enough to get one, but Possum is not. When they go to war, Rabbit is fast enough to get away, but Possum has to fight and then pretend he is dead.
Rabbit is smarter than Possum and not very nice to him. He tricks Possum out of a wife and into a war. Possum has to fight because Rabbit tricks him and leaves him behind. Possum is hit by the other animals until he pretends to be dead.
Rabbit and Possum go to a different village to get married. Rabbit finds a wife. Possum does not. Rabbit and Possum go to a different village to fight in a war. Rabbit gets away. Possum does not. Because Possum is afraid, he pretends to be dead. This is why possums look dead when they are afraid.