Read the following lines from "Ten Songs."

Came to a public meeting; the speaker got up and said:
"If we let them in, they will steal our daily bread";

In these lines, the words "daily bread" most likely allude to

(1 point)
Responses

the suspicious nature of biased politicians.
the suspicious nature of biased politicians.

the money earned by small business owners.
the money earned by small business owners.

the rationing of food that was in short supply.
the rationing of food that was in short supply.

the Christian foundation that defines their country.

the Christian foundation that defines their country.

The line "If we let them in, they will steal our daily bread" most likely alludes to the rationing of food that was in short supply.

To determine the meaning of the words "daily bread" in the given lines from "Ten Songs," we can try analyzing the context and the possible interpretations.

In this case, the phrase "daily bread" is likely used metaphorically, rather than literally referring to food. The lines suggest that there is a fear that if "they" are let in, it would result in the speaker's group losing their "daily bread." This implies that "daily bread" represents something essential or vital to their well-being.

Option 1 - the suspicious nature of biased politicians:
While the lines do mention a public meeting and a speaker making a statement, they do not explicitly suggest anything about biased politicians' suspicious nature. Therefore, this option is unlikely.

Option 2 - the money earned by small business owners:
The connection between "daily bread" and money earned by small business owners can be drawn since losing their "daily bread" could imply losing their source of income. This interpretation aligns with the speaker's concern regarding their well-being. Hence, this option is a possibility.

Option 3 - the rationing of food that was in short supply:
Although rationing of food in short supply can be linked to the idea of losing one's "daily bread," there is no direct indication of scarcity or rationing in the given lines. Therefore, this option seems less likely.

Option 4 - the Christian foundation that defines their country:
While "daily bread" is sometimes mentioned in Christian prayers, the lines provided do not present any clear association with religion or a Christian foundation. Therefore, this option does not seem to be supported by the given lines.

Based on the analysis, the best interpretation that aligns with the context of the lines is:

The money earned by small business owners.

However, it's important to note that this interpretation may vary depending on the broader context and interpretation of the whole poem or song from which these lines are taken.