ENGLISH - COMPREHENSION

SENNIN THE HERMIT

In the far-away land of Japan, there was a little village that lay at the foot of a high mountain.

Every day the children went to play on the grassy bank near a pond at one end of the village. They threw stones into the water. They fished, and they sailed their toy boats. They picked the wild flowers that grew in the fields nearby. They carried with them rice to eat, and, from morning until evening, they played near the pond.

One day, while they were at play, the children were surprised to see an old man with a long, white beard walking toward them. He came from the direction of the mountain.

The children stopped their games to watch the old man. He came into their midst and, patting them upon their heads easily, made them his friends.

The children continued their play because they knew that the old man was kind.

The man watched the children, and when it was time for them to go home, he said, "Come to the flat rock on the side of the mountain tomorrow and I will show you some wonderful games."

Then he climbed up the mountain once more and disappeared.

The following morning, the children went to the flat rock. They found the old man waiting for them.

"Now, my dear children," he said, "I am going to amuse you. Look here!"

He picked up some dry sticks. He blew at the ends of the sticks, and at once they became sprays of beautiful cherry, plum, and peach blossoms. He passed a branch of each of the flowers to the girls.

Then he took a stone and threw it into the air. The stone turned into a dove!

Where was the little village? (choose two )

• China

• Japan

• Village

• Sweden

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.W.7.9A

Name TWO things that the children did when they went to the grassy bank near the pond.

• They did their homework.

• They threw stones.

• They sang.

• They fished.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.W.7.9A

Why do you think the children were surprised when they saw the old man? (choose two)

• He looked funny

• He was running

• They thought nobody walked there.

• They thought they were alone.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

Describe how the old man looked. (choose two)

• Dark hair

• old

• long beard

• thin

Tags

CCSS.W.7.3D

Why did the children continue to play?

• They ignored him.

• They wanted to.

• They knew he was kind.

• He told them to.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.3

What happened to the dry sticks when the old man blew at the ends of them? (choose two)

• The sticks blew away

• They became beautiful sprays of peach blossoms

• They became beautiful sprays of cherries

• They became beautiful sprays of orchids

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

What did the stone turn into when he threw it into the air?

• apples

• blossoms

• cherries

• dove

Which animal also appeared?

• eagle

• turtle

• sparrow

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.1

Where did the old man go? (choose two)

• Down the mountain

• Up the mountain

• He disappeared

• In the pond

What surrounded the cave?

• Rocks

• Animals

• Eagles

• Fragrant flowers