13.12: "The Grateful Stork"

Which detail from “The Grateful Stork” best explains why the young girl leaves the old couple?

• “’But now I can no longer stay, for this morning Obaa-san saw me in my true form, and now you know my disguise.’”

• “’I cannot stay,’ she said. ‘But I leave knowing that you will never be poor or hungry again.’”

• “Then she stepped outside and became once more a beautiful white bird.”

• “’You are indeed a good and kind child,’ the old man and woman said happily, and because they had no children, they wished they could keep her as their own child.”

Which detail from “The Grateful Stork” best explains why the young girl chooses to stay with the old couple?

• “The old man hurried home with more thread and all sorts of wonderful presents and good things to eat.”

• “’I wanted to repay you for saving my life, and so I decided to become a young girl and bring good fortune to your lives.’”

• “’I was going to visit some friends in the next village,’ the young girl explained. ‘But it is growing dark and I can no longer follow the road.’”

• “Then, bending her head low, the young girl began to speak. ‘You see, my mother and father have just died.’”

Which detail from “The Grateful Stork” best explains why the young girl weaves brocade for the old man to sell?

• "It was plucking its own soft white feathers and weaving them into the cloth with its long beak."

• “’This is the finest piece of brocade I have seen in a long time. It glistens like a thousand snowflakes in the sun.’”

• “'Look what I’ve brought home,' he called happily, and he emptied all the gold coins still left in the sack."

• “’Look, Ojii-san and Obaa-san,’ she said, holding up the cloth, ‘this is what I have been weaving behind the screen.’”

“The Gold Coin” and “The Grateful Stork” explore the topic of helping others.

Which statement best describes how the stories treat the topic?

• In the first story, Juan learns a lesson by refusing to help others; in the second story, the old man shows his wife the value of helping others.

• In “The Gold Coin,” Doña Josefa is rewarded for helping others; in “The Grateful Stork,” the old couple loses everything when they help the young girl.

• In the first story, Doña Josefa helps others on purpose; in the second story, the old man helps another by chance.

• In “The Gold Coin,” Juan wants to change his life and help others; in “The Grateful Stork,” the old couple has always helped others.

“The Gold Coin” and “The Grateful Stork” explore the topic of making mistakes.

Which statement best describes how the stories treat the topic?

• In the first story, Juan is able to fix a mistake that he has made; in the second story, the old woman’s mistake leads to loss.

• In “The Gold Coin,” Doña Josefa mistrusts Juan for his destructive act; in “The Grateful Stork,” the old woman is forgiven for breaking a promise.

• In the first story, Juan suffers for what he has done wrong; in the second story, the young girl is harmed by the mistake of another.

• In “The Gold Coin,” Doña Josefa makes a mistake when she believes Juan deserves the gold coin; in “The Grateful Stork,” the young girl is wrong to trust the old couple.  

“The Gold Coin” and “The Grateful Stork” explore the topic of work.

Which statement best describes how the stories treat the topic?

• In the first story, Juan works to change his life; in the second story, the old man wants to work less in life.

• In “The Gold Coin,” Doña Josefa is rewarded for her work by the people she helps; in “The Grateful Stork,” the old man never gets ahead, despite working hard.

• In the first story, Doña Josefa teaches Juan to appreciate work; in the second story, the young girl shows the old man how to work less and enjoy life more.

• In “The Gold Coin,” work changes Juan for the better; in “The Grateful Stork,” the old man has always valued his work.  

“Tayo’s Wishes” and “The Green Glass Ball” explore events that occur when characters are given the chance to make wishes.

Which statements best describe how the stories treat this pattern of events?

Select the two correct answers.

• In both stories, the main characters benefit from the wishes they make.

• In both stories, the characters regret a wish that they make.

• In the first story, Eshu grants Tayo wishes to thank him; in the second story, the Old Woman gives Tinker a wish to trick him.

• In the first story, Tayo makes an unfortunate wish on purpose; in the second story, Tinker makes a bad wish by accident.

“Tayo’s Wishes” and “The Green Glass Ball” explore events that occur when characters make an unfortunate wish.  

Which statements best describe how the stories treat this pattern of events?

Select the two correct answers.

• In both stories, the consequences of the wishes teach the characters a lesson.

• In the first story, Tayo’s bad wish helps him realize the importance of his work; in the second story, Tinker’s bad wish shows him how much he values Donkey’s friendship.

• In both stories, the characters suffer a great deal as a result of their wishes.

• In the first story, Eshu makes fun of Tayo for making a hasty wish that he regrets; in the second story, the Old Woman feels badly for what happens to Donkey because of the wish.

“Tayo’s Wishes” and “The Green Glass Ball” explore events that occur when characters are given a chance to make wishes.   

Which statements best describe how the stories treat this pattern of events?

Select the two correct answers

• In both stories, the characters’ lives improve because of their wishes.

• In the first story, Tayo uses his wish to benefit others; in the second story, Tinker’s wish harms another.

• In both stories, the characters are granted wishes by a stranger they meet.

• In the first story, Eshu gives Tayo wishes in return for his silence; in the second story, the Old Woman gifts Tinker with the green glass ball to thank him.

Read the excerpt from “The Grateful Stork.”

Based on the details in the excerpt, which word best describes the young girl?

• thoughtful

• hasty

• pushy

• cheerful