Read the excerpt from the poem "The Man with the Hoe” by Edwin Markham.Bowed by the weight of centuries he leansUpon his hoe and gazes on the ground,The emptiness of ages in his face,And on his back the burden of the world.

The man is described as bent under the weight of centuries, with “emptiness” in his face and “the burden of the world” on his back. These images suggest that enduring hardship has left him exhausted and without hope. This supports choice A: dealing with life’s difficulties can lead to a loss of hope.

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