The Fox and the Horse

Question

(1) A peasant once had a faithful horse, but it had grown old and could no longer do its work. Its master begrudged it food, and said: "I can't use you anymore, but I still feel kindly towards you, and if you show yourself strong enough to bring me a lion I will keep you to the end of your days. But away with you now, out of my stable"; and he drove it out into the open country.

(2) The poor horse was very sad, and went into the forest to get a little shelter from the wind and weather. There he met a fox, who said: "Why do you hang your head, and wander about in this solitary fashion?"

(3) "Alas!" answered the horse. "Avarice and honesty cannot live together. My master has forgotten all the service I have done him for these many years, and because I can no longer plough he will no longer feed me, and he has driven me away."

(4) "Without any consideration?" asked the fox.

(5) "Only the poor consolation of telling me that if I was strong enough to bring him a lion he would keep me, but he knows well enough that the task is beyond me."

(6) The fox said, "But I will help you. Just you lie down here, and stretch your legs out as if you were dead." The horse did as he was told, and the fox went to the lion's den, not far off, and said: "There is a dead horse out there. Come along with me, and you will have a rare meal." The lion went with him, and when they got up to the horse, the fox said, "You can't eat it in comfort here. I'll tell you what. I will tie it to you, and you can drag it away to your den and enjoy it at your leisure."

(7) The plan pleased the lion, and he stood quite still, close to the horse, so that the fox should fasten them together. But the fox tied the lion's legs together with the horse's tail and twisted and knotted it so that it would be quite impossible for it to come undone.

(8) When he had finished his work he patted the horse on the shoulder and said: "Pull, old grey! Pull!"

(9) Then the horse sprang up and dragged the lion away behind him. The lion in his rage roared so that all the birds in the forest were terrified and flew away. But the horse let him roar and never stopped till he stood before his master's door.

(10) When the master saw him he was delighted and said to him: "You shall stay with me and have a good time as long as you live."

(11) And he fed him well till he died.

"The Fox and the Horse"—Public Domain

1
(a)
Part A
Why does the horse decide to follow the fox's plan without knowing what it is?

A
because the horse has lost its self-confidence
B
because the fox has helped him before
C
because the fox knows where the lion's den is
D
because the horse is lonely
(b)

Part B
Which excerpt from the folktale supports the answer to Part A?

A
"The poor horse was very sad . . . ." (paragraph 2)
B
"'Why do you hang your head and wander about in this solitary fashion?"' (paragraph 2)
C
". . . if I was strong enough to bring him a lion he would keep me, but he knows well enough that the task is beyond me."' (paragraph 5)
D
"The horse did as he was told, and the fox went to the lion's den . . . ." (paragraph 6)

Answer 1

1
(a)
Part A
Why does the horse decide to follow the fox's plan without knowing what it is?

A because the horse has lost its self-confidence

(b)
Part B
Which excerpt from the folktale supports the answer to Part A?

C ". . . if I was strong enough to bring him a lion he would keep me, but he knows well enough that the task is beyond me."' (paragraph 5)

Explanation:
In Part A, the horse's loss of self-confidence is indicated by his belief that the task of bringing a lion is beyond him. In Part B, the selected excerpt highlights this feeling of inadequacy and doubt, supporting the conclusion that the horse is motivated to follow the fox's plan due to his low self-esteem.