Questions: Which central idea should be included in a paraphrase of this excerpt? The forces sent by Cicones to fight Odysseus and his men arrived during the early morning hours. Odysseus and his men fought the forces of Cicones better on the ships than on land. The forces sent by Cicones to stop the plundering of Odysseus and his men were skilled and powerful. Odysseus views the army sent by Cicones as punishment from the Greek god Zeus.

The answer is: The forces sent by Cicones to stop the plundering of Odysseus and his men were skilled and powerful.

Explanation for each option:

1. "The forces sent by Cicones to fight Odysseus and his men arrived during the early morning hours." - This option focuses on the timing of the arrival, which is a detail rather than a central idea.

2. "Odysseus and his men fought the forces of Cicones better on the ships than on land." - This option compares the effectiveness of Odysseus and his men in different settings, which is not the central idea of the excerpt.

3. "The forces sent by Cicones to stop the plundering of Odysseus and his men were skilled and powerful." - This option captures the central idea by highlighting the capability and strength of the Cicones forces, which is a key aspect of the conflict described.

4. "Odysseus views the army sent by Cicones as punishment from the Greek god Zeus." - This option introduces an interpretation of divine intervention, which may not be directly supported by the excerpt as a central idea.