Question

A man had seven sons, who were always quarreling. They left their studies and work, to quarrel among themselves. Some bad men were looking forward to the death of their father, to cheat them out of their property(财产) by making them quarrel about it.

The good old man, one day, called his sons around him. He laid before them seven sticks, which were tied together. He said, “I will pay a hundred dollars to the one who can break this bundle(捆).”

Each one tried their best to break the bundle. After a long but useless efforts, they all said that it could not be done.

“And yet, my boys,” said the father, “nothing is easier to do.” He then untied the bundle, and broke the sticks, one by one, with perfect ease.

“Ah!” said his sons, “It is easy enough to do it so; anybody could do it in that way.”

Their father replied, “As it is with these sticks, so it is with you, my sons. So long as you hold fast together and help each other, you will be much richer, and none can harm you.

“But if the brotherhood bundle is broken, it will happen to you just as it has to these sticks, which lie there broken on the ground.”

Home, city, country, all are property found,

When they hold tightly together.

50. How many sticks does the old man ask his sons to break?

A. 2.　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. 3.　　 　　　　　　 C.5.　　 　　 D. 7.

51. Why was the old man able to break the sticks?

A. Because his sons helped him to do so. 　　　　　　　　　　　

B. Because he was strong enough to do so.

C. Because he was wise enough to untie the bundle.

D. Because the sticks were no longer as strong as before.　

52. Which of the following is TRUE?

A. The old man was going to die soon. 　

B. The sticks were used as a tool to teach the sons a lesson.

C. The sons were all too stupid to take care of their property.

D. some bad men might get the property away from the old man.　　　　

Answer 1

 50. D  51. C  52. B