The Homecoming After Reading Questions

Which statement best describes the overall theme of the story?

• One should leave the work to others and play as much as they can.

• One should help others before worrying about their own responsibilities.

• It is better to follow one's own instincts than to listen to the advice of others.

• One should focus more on their own responsibilities than the business of others.

Which of the following quotations shows the effect of the woodcutter's behavior on others?

• A. "If his wife and children hadn't made palm leaf fans, the family would have starved." (Paragraph 2)

• B. "His wife yanked him away and gave him a good shake. 'Do I have to blindfold you? We have two children to feed.'" (Paragraph 6)

• C. "The woodcutter became so caught up in the game that he squatted down." (Paragraph 20)

• D. "He brushed the mushrooms aside until he found a rusty hatchet blade. He couldn't find a trace of the hatchet shaft or of his carrying pole." (Paragraph 29)

Which statement best describes the main difference between the woodcutter and his wife?

• The woodcutter is funny, but his wife is serious.

• The woodcutter is lazy, but his wife is understanding.

• The woodcutter is easily distracted, but his wife is responsible.

• The woodcutter is responsible, but his wife is easily distracted.

Re-read paragraph 29. Which statement best explains the metaphor quoted below? "But big, fat mushrooms had sprouted among the roots of the trees. A brown carpet surrounded him."

• The field around the woodcutter is filled with brown mushrooms.

• A magical carpet has sprung up where the immortals were sitting.

• The woodcutter is dreaming about the brown carpet inside his home.

• The brown fallen leaves surrounding the woodcutter look like a carpet.

How does the following quote contribute to the overall story? "There was even a pond before the village gates. It had never been there before. He broke into a run, but there was a different house in the spot where his home had been." (Paragraph 32)

• It reveals the story's main conflict.

• It predicts one of the story's themes.

• It explains the woodcutter's character.

• It illustrates part of the story's setting.

The woodcutter notices major changes in the setting after the chess game. These changes develop the plot of the story by:

• introducing new characters that help resolve the conflict.

• creating obstacles that the woodcutter must overcome.

• revealing the true nature of the antagonist.

• shifting the mood and leading to the story’s climax.

Have you ever experienced negative consequences from minding other people's business instead of your own?

• Yes

• No

• Not sure

• Prefer not to say

Why do you think the woodcutter finds it difficult to focus on his responsibilities?

• Because he is easily distracted

• Because he is very hardworking

• Because he has too many friends

• Because he is always happy

What do you think happened to the woodcutter's wife and children when he never returned from chopping wood?

• They waited for him and eventually moved on with their lives.

• They went searching for him in the forest.

• They were helped by the villagers.

• They left the village in search of a new home.