A Treasury of Literary Classics -
Chinese Fables and Tales Series (1)

Instruction:

    Read the Chinese story and answer the following questions.

One Rice, Thousand Gold

Click here to read the text.

1. What problem did Han Xin face when he was a young man?

A. Han Xin did not have enough food to eat.
B. Han Xin did not have enough clothes to wear.
C. Han Xin could not go fishing with his family.
D. Han Xin did not have toys to play with.

Your answer:

Read paragraph 1.

"When he did not have enough food to eat, he went to the river to catch fish. However, he was usually empty-handed. He always had to suffer from hunger."

2. What did young Han Xin do to solve his problem?

A. Han Xin walked around the village and begged people for food.
B. Han Xin helped the old woman wash her clothes for money.
C. Han Xin went down to the river to try to catch some fish.
D. Han Xin cooked rice for the old woman to earn some money.

Your answer:

Where did Han Xin go?

Read paragraph 1.

"When he did not have enough food to eat, he went to the river to catch fish. However, he was usually empty-handed. He always had to suffer from hunger."

3. What did the old woman do to Han Xin?

A. The old woman gave Han Xin some fish.
B. The old woman gave Han Xin some rice.
C. The old woman gave Han Xin some clothes.
D. The old woman gave Han Xin some gold.

Your answer:

What did the old woman give to Han Xin?

Read paragraph 2.

" 'Poor young man, you look so thin! You are as skinny as the fishing pole. Please have a bowl of rice,' said the old woman."

4. Why was Han Xin very grateful to the old woman?

A. The old woman gave Han Xin some rice every time she saw him.
B. The old woman did not expect Han Xin to repay her at all.
C. The old woman encouraged Han Xin to become a kind and helpful man.
D. All of the above.

Your answer:

What did the old woman do and say to Han Xin?

Read paragraph 3.

"From then on, the old woman would give Han Xin some rice to eat when she saw him."

" 'Young man, I don't expect you to repay me. You should find a way to support yourself and remember to help others,' smiled the old woman."

5. What did Han Xin promise the old woman?

  1. Han Xin promised to pay the old woman back in the future.
  2. Han Xin promised to cook some food for the old woman.
  3. Han Xin promised to wash the clothes for the old woman.
  4. Han Xin promised the old woman to work hard in the future.

A. (i) & (iv)
B. (i), (iii) & (iv)
C. (ii) & (iii)
D. (ii), (iii) & (iv)

Your answer:

What did Han Xin decide to do?

Read paragraph 3.

"Han Xin was very grateful to her and said, 'I will find a way to pay you back someday.' 'Young man, I don't expect you to repay me. You should find a way to support yourself and remember to help others,' smiled the old woman. Han Xin nodded and was determined to work hard in return for the old woman."

6. What did Han Xin do when he grew up?

A. Han Xin became a fisherman.
B. Han Xin became a farmer.
C. Han Xin became a king.
D. Han Xin became a begger.

Your answer:

What was his title?

Read paragraph 4.

"Later, Han Xin joined the army and helped his master Liu Bang by giving him a lot of strategic advice. The emperor of the Qin Dynasty was eventually overthrown. Han Xin was given land and conferred kingship by Liu Bang, who became the first emperor of the Han Dynasty."

7. Suffixes are letters which we add at the end of a word to make a new word. The new word is often a different word class from the original word. The suffix "-ness" is added to adjectives to form nouns that refer to quantities or conditions.

Read the following descriptions. Fill in each blank with a noun from the list given. Each option can be used once only.

A. humbleness B. toughness C. politeness D. willingness
Description Noun
7a. The man had a difficult life when he was young. However, the _____________ of his early life taught him to become a kind person.
7b. The old woman was willing to give the young man some rice to eat. Her ______________ and generosity saved him from hunger.
7c. The young man thanked the old woman politely for giving him the rice. She was touched by his _______________, and encouraged him to be kind.
7d. Han Xin bowed down to the old woman. His acts of ______________ showed that he was a grateful person.

Read the sentences carefully to understand their meanings.

8. Where did Han Xin find the old woman?

A. Han Xin found the old woman near the river.
B. Han Xin found the old woman in the village.
C. Han Xin found the old woman in the army.
D. Han Xin found the old woman in the palace.

Your answer:

Where did Han Xin go?

Read paragraph 4.

"Therefore, he went back to the village and tried to look for her. At last, Han Xin found the old woman in a small house and invited her to his palace."

9. Why did the old woman not take the gold from Han Xin?

A. The old woman was not interested in gold at all but she liked beautiful clothes only.
B. Han Xin followed the old woman's advice and became a strong and kind man and a good king.
C. The old woman was sad that Han Xin did not give her enough gold.
D. The old woman was so old that she was unable to take the gold away by herself.

Your answer:

What did the old woman say to Han Xin?

Read paragraph 5.

" 'Thank you for the gold, but I don't need it. You have already paid me back by becoming a strong and kind king now,' smiled the old woman."

One Rice, Thousand Gold

Score Sheet

Questions Results
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7a
Question 7b
Question 7c
Question 7d
Question 8
Question 9
Total

10. What is the moral lesson of the story? Based on the story, which Chinese saying can you think of?

11. What should we do when we are able to offer help to people who are in need? Think and share your ideas or experiences with your parents or classmates.

Extension Activity

Watch the video clip "Growing Rice as a Way to Solve Hunger", which is about some Chinese researchers sharing the knowledge and techniques of growing rice with other countries to solve the problem of hunger.

Acknowledgements: The China Current

https://chinacurrent.com/story/23588/growing-rice-as-a-way-to-solve-hunger

What do you think about offering help to people who are in need? Should we expect anything in return when we do favours for others? Think and share your ideas or experiences with your parents or classmates.