The Cruel Lord's Decree Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What was the young lord's decree regarding villagers over seventy-one?

  • They must leave the village and live elsewhere.
  • They must be banished to the mountains to die. (correct)
  • They could continue living as long as they worked.
  • They would be cared for by the villagers.

    • How did the villagers feel about the lord's decree?

  • They were happy to see the older villagers go.
  • They were fearful and silent about their displeasure. (correct)
  • They were openly rebellious against the lord.
  • They were indifferent and accepted it.

    • What dilemma did the farmer face regarding his mother?

  • He planned to leave the village for a new life.
  • He struggled to find ways to avoid taking her to the mountains. (correct)
  • He wanted to banish her for her own good.
  • He believed she was strong enough to go by herself.

    • Why was the farmer reluctant to tell his mother about the decree?

    <p>He did not want to believe it was true.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the mother react when she realized the time had come for her to be taken to the mountains?

    <p>She was calm and accepting of her fate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What change occurred in the village as a result of the lord's decree?

    <p>The population of elderly villagers gradually decreased.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the young lord believe would make his village the finest in Japan?

    <p>A population of only strong, young workers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the mother's physical condition as described in the story?

    <p>She was healthy and energetic despite her age.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What task did Lord Higa first demand from the villagers to spare them?

    <p>To create a rope from ash</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the mother's intention when she was breaking off small twigs?

    <p>To mark the way for her son to return</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the farmer's mother suggest they create the rope of ash?

    <p>Soak ordinary rope in salt water and then dry it</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the son decide to do instead of leaving his mother in the mountains?

    <p>He took her back to the village and hid her</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the second impossible task that Lord Higa presented to the villagers?

    <p>To thread silk through a log with multiple bends</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the wise men of the village think about the second task?

    <p>They were full of confusion and disbelief</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What demand did Lord Higa make to spare the village?

    <p>A box containing one thousand ropes of ash</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the wise men respond to Lord Higa’s demand?

    <p>They said it was impossible to make even one rope of ash</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the farmer's mother propose to complete the second task involving the log?

    <p>By placing sugar at one end to attract an ant</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the reaction of the young lord when he first heard the farmer's mother’s solution for the rope?

    <p>He was impressed and rewarded the farmer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the son do to keep his mother hidden?

    <p>He created a secret room in their kitchen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the son's primary concern while climbing back down the mountain?

    <p>Leaving his mother behind</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the mother’s response reveal about her character?

    <p>She is clever and resourceful</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the villagers initially do when they heard of Lord Higa's threat?

    <p>They held a meeting to discuss their options</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What overall theme is illustrated by the farmer's and his mother’s actions in dealing with Lord Higa's demands?

    <p>Wisdom and creativity can solve seemingly impossible problems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the reaction of Lord Higa towards the wise men's advice?

    <p>He was angry and called them fools</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the young farmer's mother suggest to solve the problem of the drum that sounds without being beaten?

    <p>Construct a drum using paper and place a bumblebee inside.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Lord Higa's threat if the young farmer did not succeed in bringing him the drum?

    <p>He would conquer the village.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the villagers initially respond to Lord Higa's demand for a drum that sounds without being beaten?

    <p>They felt it was an impossible request.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What reaction did the young farmer have after hearing his mother's solution to the drum problem?

    <p>He was amazed at her wisdom and praised her.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the lord ask the young farmer after hearing the solution to the drum problem?

    <p>Who helped him solve the problems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the young farmer admit to the lord regarding his mother's assistance?

    <p>He had hidden her under the floor of his house.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the lord react upon learning about the young farmer’s mother helping to solve the problems?

    <p>He was impressed and sought to meet her.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the young farmer's character throughout the narrative?

    <p>Resourceful and respectful of his mother.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Cruel Lord's Decree

    • A young lord in Japan banishes anyone over 71 years old to the mountains to die.
    • This decree is seen as cruel and unreasonable by the villagers.
    • The villagers fear the lord and reluctantly comply, leading to a village without elderly people.

    The Farmer and His Mother

    • A kind young farmer and his mother live happily together.
    • The mother turns 71 and the farmer faces the difficult choice of following the lord's decree and leaving his mother to die.
    • He delays taking his mother to the mountains, fearing the lord's punishment, but also struggling with the thought of leaving her alone.

    Mother's Wisdom

    • The farmer's mother readily accepts her fate and encourages her son to take her to the mountains.
    • As they climb, the mother breaks twigs to mark the path back to the village, showing that she still cares for her son.
    • This display of love and wisdom prompts the farmer to bring his mother back home, defying the lord's decree.

    Hidden from the Lord

    • The farmer hides his mother in a secret room in their house for two years.
    • This act of defiance is kept secret from the villagers.

    Lord Higa's Demands

    • Lord Higa, a ruler from a neighboring town, threatens to conquer the village if the lord does not fulfill three impossible tasks.
    • The tasks are:
      • Creating one thousand ropes of ash
      • Threading a silk thread through a curved hole in a log
      • Making a drum sound without being beaten.
    • The villagers, including their wise men, believe these tasks are impossible.

    The Mother's Solutions

    • The farmer's mother provides solutions to all three tasks:
      • Soaking ropes in salt water and burning them will create ropes of ash.
      • An ant will follow a sugar trail through the hole and take the silk thread with it.
      • A bumblebee trapped inside a paper drum will buzz and create sound.

    The Lord's Gratitude

    • The lord, impressed by the farmer's ingenuity, rewards him with gold.
    • When the lord inquires about the source of these solutions, the farmer confesses to hiding his mother and her role in saving the village.

    The Lord's Transformation

    • The lord, instead of punishing the farmer, is moved by his honesty and his mother's wisdom.
    • The story suggests that the experience changes the lord's perspective and he may become more compassionate.

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    Description

    Explore the moral dilemmas and themes in the story of a young farmer who confronts a cruel decree that threatens his mother's life. This quiz examines the farmer's decisions and the poignant moments shared between him and his mother. Test your comprehension and insights into this powerful narrative.

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