Source: English Quiz
A farmer accompanied by his young son was driving his ass to the market in the hope of selling the ass for a good price. On the road, they met a bevy of girls who laughed and exclaimed, “See this pair of fools ? They are trudging along the dusty road, when they can be riding !” The man thought that there was sense in what they were saying. So he mounted his son on the ass and he walked at the side. Presently, they met some of his old friends, who greeted him and said, “You’ll spoil your son, by letting him ride while you toil along on foot! Make him walk. It’ll be good for him.” The farmer followed their advice and took his son’s place on the back of the ass while the boy trudged along behind. They would not have gone far, they were seen by women and children. The farmer heard them say, “What a selfish old man ! He rides in comfort, but lets his poor little fellow walk the distance.” So he asked his son to get up behind him. Further along the road, they met some travellers. They asked the farmer whether the ass was his property or was it hired for the purpose. The farmer told them that he was taking his ass to the market to sell it. The travellers said, “Good Heavens ! With the load like this, the poor beast will look exhausted and no one would like to purchase him. Why don’t you carry him.” Immediately, the farmer got off the ass, tied its legs with the rope and slung him on a pole and carried him in between them. This was such an absurd sight that people laughed at it. They called the farmer and his son lunatics. They had then reached a bridge over a river. Frightened by the noise around, the ass struggled, kicked, broke the pole, fell into the river and died. The farmer returned home vexed and ashamed. In trying to please all, he in fact, had pleased none and he had lost the ass in the transaction.
1. The ass kicked because
(a) it wanted to be let off.
(b) it was frightened by some noise.
(c) it wanted to stretch its legs.
(d) it had the habit of kicking.
2. The farmer was taking the ass to the market to
(a) buy food for the family.
(b) carry the farmer to the market.
(c) sell the ass at the market.
(d) buy food for the ass.
3. The farmer made his son mount the ass because
(a) the son could not walk the distance.
(b) the son was adamant about riding the ass.
(c) a group of girls laughed at the farmer’s folly.
(d) the road was dusty.
4. The farmer dismounted his son from the ass because
(a) the son found it difficult to ride the ass.
(b) the son complained that the ride was not comfortable.
(c) some old friends advised him to do so.
(d) he was too tired to walk the distance.
5. The travellers asked the farmer to carry the ass because
(a) the exhausted ass will have no takers in the market.
(b) the ass was very tired.
(c) the donkey wanted to be carried.
(d) they felt sorry for the ass.
6. The word vexed means
(a) pleased.
(b) sad.
(c) annoyed.
(d) pestered.
7. The word trudged means
(a) walk casually.
(b) walk with effort.
(c) walk stylishly.
(d) walk briskly.
8.On seeing the boy walk beside the ass, the women and children
(a) praised the boy for his compassion towards his father.
(b) called the farmer a selfish man.
(c) found fault with the farmer for ill-treating the ass.
(d) asked the farmer to take their children to the market.
9. The lesson learnt by the farmer was
(a) do not carry an ass when it can walk.
(b) do not overload the ass.
(c) in trying to please all you please none.
(d) it is foolish to please the ass.
10. On seeing the farmer and his son walking along with the ass, the girls
(a) called the farmer and his son fools for not riding the ass.
(b) wondered at the dutiful father and son.
(c) asked the farmer to take them also to the market.
(d) sympathized with the beast of burden.
Answers
Ans 1 (b) it was frightened by some noise
2. (c) sell the ass at the market
3. (c) a group of girls laughed at the farmer’s folly
4. (c) some old friends advised him to do so
5. (a) the exhausted ass will have no takers in the market
6. (c) annoyed
7. (b) walk with effort
8. (b) called the farmer a selfish man
9. (c) in trying to please all, you please none
10. (a) called the farmer and his son fools for not riding the ass