The verb in this sentence is "talked" because it's an action.
Because back then they believe that if they didn't see it then it is not there or created for example when the french believe that the earth is flat but we know now that it is round.
I'd say the answer is A) like rivers, people keep moving and finding new paths.
He wants to say that even black people will manage to find a good future, following a new path, the same way any other human being will.
The other examples do not seem correct to me.
There was 10 children at the party. 3 of them was 5, 4 of them was 10, and 3 of them was 7. At the party there was cookies. Each age had a different amout of cookies the five year olds have 10 all together the 10 year olds had 11 cookies all together and the 7 year olds had 8 cookies all together. How much cookies did they eat in all??
I hope this helps and if it does not I will write you another one:)
