Question

witness for the dragon
1 pu yi’s yellow dragon kite dipped and soared over the red roofs of the forbidden city, his hopes rising and falling with it. in his heart he sensed that if the wind carried his kite high enough, his wish had a chance of coming true.
2 the yellow kite, a hue only he, as emperor of china, was permitted to use, ascended to greater and greater heights. but although the winds buoyed up his kite, they did not grant his wish that his father, more distant than the kite, would spend more time with him.
3 prince chun, pu yi’s stern, inscrutable father, had arrived that morning, kowtowed to his son by kneeling and touching his forehead to the ground, inquired about his studies, and left without another word. pu yi, counting to sixty twice, noted that he had not even lingered for his usual two minutes. instead, his father strode off as pu yi counted the forty - ninth second of the second minute. what good was being emperor if the title could not secure even two minutes of his father’s attention?
4 when pu yi once asked his father why he was saddled with the burden of being an emperor, his father had told him, “when your uncle, the emperor, died, you were chosen as the next ruler. you are the heir to the dragon throne.” but of course pu yi already knew this, what he ached to learn was all that his father left unsaid, that day and always.
5 now, pu yi allowed the intricate yellow dragon to crash to the ground, bearing his disappointment, his anger, his frustration. there he left it to the duty of his waiting attendants to pick it up. among the many predictable features of being emperor was the constant presence of courtiers and servants, always there to grant his slightest

read paragraphs 3 - 4 from the story. what do these paragraphs reveal about pu yi’s relationship with his father?
○ he longs for his father’s attention.
○ he is angry that his father required him to become emperor.
○ he feels his father expects too much of him.
○ he believes his father is misunderstood.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the relevant paragraphs (3 - 4):

• Paragraph 3: Pu Yi's father (Prince Chun) visited briefly (left before usual 2 minutes), and Pu Yi laments not getting his father's attention even as emperor.
• Paragraph 4: Pu Yi's father explained his emperorship duty but didn't address Pu Yi's deeper need for connection.

Now, evaluate the options:

• Option 1: "He longs for his father’s attention" matches. His father's short visit and Pu Yi's counting time show he wants more of his father's time/attention.
• Option 2: No mention of anger about being emperor (father explained it as duty, Pu Yi's issue is lack of attention, not anger at the requirement).
• Option 3: No indication father expects too much (focus is on father's lack of time, not high expectations).
• Option 4: No evidence he thinks father is misunderstood (he wants attention, not to defend father's actions).

Answer:

A. He longs for his father’s attention