Yamanba of the Mountain

Question

by Cathy Spagnoli

The help of elders supports harmony in society, and friends can come in many forms, as this tale suggests. A yamanba, found in Japanese folklore, usually lives on mountains, is quite fierce, and can change shapes.

Mukashi, mukashi ... Long ago in a quiet Japanese village, people feared the yamanba who lived at the top of a nearby mountain.

When rains fell too hard on their crops, people said, "It's her fault, that yamanba. She likes to make trouble."

When snows piled up high on their houses, people said, "It's her fault, that yamanba. She loves to make trouble."
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Question

Use the passage to answer the question.

Based on the author’s use of figurative language in the passage, what can a reader determine about the cultural setting of the story? Select the two correct answers.
(1 point)
Responses

The story is set in a place where people climb mountains.
The story is set in a place where people climb mountains.
The story is set in a place where rice is a common food.
The story is set in a place where rice is a common food.
The story is set in a place where people fear things needlessly.
The story is set in a place where people fear things needlessly.
The story is set in a place where babies can fly at birth.
The story is set in a place where babies can fly at birth.
The story is set in a place where courage is an important trait.

Answer 1

Based on the passage, the two correct answers regarding the cultural setting of the story are:

1. The story is set in a place where people fear things needlessly.
2. The story is set in a place where rice is a common food.

The focus on the yamanba and the villagers’ fears suggests a cultural setting where superstition and folklore play significant roles, indicating a tendency toward unnecessary fear. Additionally, the mention of a quiet Japanese village hints at a setting where rice, a staple food in Japan, is likely common.