Read this sentence from paragraph 3 of the article. the boys and girls are merely asked to obtain the signatures of ten friends or relatives. how does the word "merely" affect the meaning of the sentence? it suggests that asking people to subscribe to the washington times is something negative. it implies that obtaining ten signatures is not a requirement for receiving a prize. it emphasizes that children receive the prize only if they obtain ten signatures. it downplays the fact that to win the prize, children must ask people to subscribe to the washington times.