The Great Depression happened in the 1920's and 1930's due to many economic disasters such as the Market Crash in 1929 and bad mistakes by the President (Hoover)
The extended simile in the passage is: As when a circling wall the builder forms, Of strength defensive against wind and storms, Compacted stones the thickening work compose, and round him wide the rising structure grows.
A simile is a figure of speech that compares one thing from another thing of a different kind. It adds meaning to the text because it emphasizes the:
a. Strength of the wall - which is likened to being a barrier that can be used as protection from wind and storms.
b. Size of the structure - which was built with hours of hard work and construction materials that can withstand such great forces of war.
To be brave means to continue to fight for what you believe and pursue your dreams in the face of opposition, trials and even threats to life.
For example, In Malala's speech, she said, "Dear Friends, on the 9th of October 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends too. They thought that the bullets would silence us. But they failed. And then, out of that silence came, thousands of voices. The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and stop our ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born. I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same. My dreams are the same."
This means that she has dedicated her life to preaching peace, education, human right and equality, not minding her own insecurity or whatever persecution she faces for what she believes. This is her definition of bravery, boldness and courage.
I think the answer is the second option the one that says "Both demonstrate that pride can lead to unnecessary suffering".
