Grammar in Folklore

Malin Kundang

Once upon a time, on the north coast of Sumatera lived a poor woman and his son, who (call) Malin Kundang. His Father eventually died, and his mother lived alone as a poverty-stricken old woman.

• calls

• called

• calling

• has call

Malin Kundang grew up as a skillful young boy. He always (help) his mother to earn some money. One day, Malin Kundang decided to go overseas and promised to come back.

• helping

• helped

• helps

• had help

After several years had gone by, Malin Kudang finally decided to return to his village. He (arrive) wearing fine clothes and traveling on one of his ships. Someone arriving in such splendor was uncommon to the villagers, so many of them went down to the harbor to view the sight.

• arrived

• arrives

• arriving

• had arraving

One of the villagers recognized Malin Kundang from a scar that he had received while playing as a child. Upon recognizing the mark, the villager went to tell Malin Kundang's mother that her son had returned. Excitedly, she went to the shore and recognized her son the minute her eyes fell on him.

When the older woman called him her son, he (refuse) to believe that he had such an old woman as a mother. His disbelief was heightened when his wife questioned why he had not told her that he had an elderly, poor mother.

• had refused

• refusing

• refuses

• refused

In an alternate translation, Malin Kundang was on the ship with just his crew. When his mother attempted to (embrace) him, he was too embarrassed by her ragged appearance to acknowledge her and instead, had one of them carry her away.

• embracing

• embraces

• embrace

• embraced

Distraught and finally realizing her son's wickedness, Malin Kundang's mother gave up on her son's acknowledging her and prayed to her god to punish her son for his behavior.

The day after his mother's prayer, Malin Kudang sailed out of the village. Shortly thereafter, the ships was met by a violent storm. Malin Kundang believed the storm was his god's and nature's ways of (punish) him for his mistreatment of his mother.

• had punishing

• punishes

• punished

• punishing

He felt guilty about his behavior towards her, asked for forgiveness, and began to pray. However, his repentance was too late, for the ship was destroyed at sea. But, in some translations of the tale, Malin Kundang was turned into (coral). In other, the ship, the crew, and he become rock formations that are still standing.

What is the synonym of "coral"?

• stone

• coal

• wood

• cement

What tense is primarily used in the story of Malin Kundang?

• Present simple

• Past simple

• Future simple

• Present perfect

What adjective describes Malin Kundang's mother in the story?

• Arrogant

• Kind

• Rich

• Poor

What is the moral value of the story "Malin Kundang"?