The Wise Man's Rice Request

The story of 'The King's Chessboard' by David Birch tells of a wise man who requests a seemingly simple reward from a king: rice grains doubling on each square of a chessboard. The king, unaware of the exponential growth, agrees. As the days pass, the king realizes the enormity of the request, leading to a lesson in humility and the dangers of pride. The wise man teaches the king that true satisfaction comes from within, not from material rewards.

What service did the wise man perform for the king?

• He was a merchant.

• He performed a service for the king.

• He was a healer.

• He was a military advisor.

Why did the king insist on rewarding the wise man?

• He wanted to make a public spectacle.

• He was pressured by his advisors.

• He believed it was important to reward those who served him.

• He wanted to show his wealth.

What was the wise man's request for his reward?

• A bag of gold coins.

• A royal title.

• A piece of land.

• Grains of rice on a chessboard.

How did the king react to the wise man's request?

• He was confused but agreed.

• He was angry and refused.

• He laughed and dismissed it.

• He immediately understood the implications.

What happened on the first day of fulfilling the wise man's request?

• The wise man received one grain of rice.

• The wise man received a pound of rice.

• The wise man received a bag of rice.

• The wise man received a sack of rice.

What realization did the grand superintendent come to?

• The king had made a mistake.

• The rice demand was growing exponentially.

• The wise man's request was insignificant.

• The rice supply was endless.

What did the grand superintendent do when he realized the rice demand?

• He stopped the rice delivery.

• He tried to calculate the total rice needed.

• He ignored it.

• He informed the king immediately.

What was the king doing during the wise man's rice deliveries?

• He was in a meeting.

• He was away hunting.

• He was attending a festival.

• He was traveling abroad.

What did the king see upon his return to the palace?

• A celebration in his honor.

• A new monument being built.

• A line of wagons carrying rice.

• A protest by the people.

What lesson did the wise man teach the king?

• The dangers of pride.

• The value of hard work.

• The importance of wealth.

• The need for generosity.