Question

read the excerpt from \the three questions\ by leo tolstoy.
all the answers being different, the king agreed with none of them, and gave the reward to none. but still wishing to find the right answers to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.
the hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted, and he received none but common folk. so the king put on simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit’s cell dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his body-guard behind, went on alone.
when the king approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. seeing the king, he greeted him and went on digging. the hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily.
which paragraphs from the excerpt best support the conclusion that the author’s primary purpose is to teach a lesson? select two options.

• “all the answers being different, the king agreed with none of them, and gave the reward to none. but still wishing to find the right answers to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.”
• “the hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted, and he received none but common folk. so the king put on simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit’s cell dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his body-guard behind, went on alone.”
• “when the king approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. seeing the king, he greeted him and went on digging. the hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily.”

Explanation:

To determine which paragraphs support the author's purpose of teaching a lesson, we analyze each option:

1. The first option describes the King's search for answers and consulting a hermit, which sets up a narrative that will likely lead to a lesson (learning from the hermit).
2. The second option shows the King humbling himself (simple clothes, alone) to meet the hermit, a common setup for a moral/lesson - showing the King's willingness to learn.
3. The third option (partially shown) focuses on the hermit's physical state, which is more descriptive and less about the lesson - teaching purpose.

So the two options that best support the purpose are the first and second (the first two options in the list).

Answer:

A. "All the answers being different, the King agreed with none of them, and gave the reward to none. But still wishing to find the right answers to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom."
B. "The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted, and he received none but common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit’s cell dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his body - guard behind, went on alone."