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 struck 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...\

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option to see which show the author's intent to teach a lesson (via the story's events/character actions that impart wisdom):

Option 1 Analysis:

"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."

• This shows the King’s quest for wisdom (consulting a hermit) – a key part of a story teaching a lesson about seeking true knowledge.

Option 2 Analysis:

"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."

• This describes the King humbling himself (dressing simply, going alone) to learn from the hermit – an action that supports a lesson about humility or the value of sincere learning.

Option 3 Analysis:

"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..."

• This only describes the hermit’s actions/condition – it does not directly support a “teaching a lesson” purpose (no clear moral or instructional element here).

• The first option shows the King’s pursuit of wisdom (consulting a wise hermit), key to a lesson - imparting story.
• The second option shows the King’s humility (simplifying his appearance, going alone) to learn, supporting a lesson - teaching intent.
• The third option only describes the hermit’s actions/state, with no direct lesson - related content.

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."