Read the story "How the Snake Lost His Legs" and answer the questions that follows.

Question

Story #1
How Snake Lost His Legs (From Illuminate)
An African Fable



Since the beginning of time, Snake was a lazy creature. The other animals of the savanna would toil from sunrise to sunset to find food and water, while Snake would simply hide by the watering hole and wait for prey to cross his path. In fact, Snake was so lazy that he unintentionally changed his own fate.

One day, Moon, the ruler of the animals, came down from the sky and called a meeting of all creatures to impart some important news. Snake loved his comfortable hiding place by the water’s edge and did not see the purpose in moving when Mantis, his only friend, would surely come and tell him the news. After all, what could possibly be so important? So, Snake tucked his little legs beneath his long body (for snakes had legs back then) and settled down into the mud.

Across the savanna, the animals gathered underneath the Baobab tree and listened anxiously to Moon. She told them that the water would soon disappear and the earth would turn to sand. The savanna would become a dry and lifeless desert in which nothing could survive. Moon advised the animals to take their families and travel to the other side of the cliff in the east where they would find a new savanna to call home.

The animals immediately set out on their long journey, but faithful Mantis traveled back to the watering hole to find Snake. He told his friend of the impending danger, but Snake just snorted and refused to move. He had no intention of leaving his spot, especially when the cliff in the east was such a long walk away. Surely Moon was exaggerating and the rains would eventually come back. Snake had plenty of water at the hole in the meantime.

But as the days wore on, it grew warmer and warmer. Worse yet, it did not rain for weeks and the watering hole dried up in front of Snake’s eyes. Snake rose unsteadily and looked to the cliff in the east. He took a step forward, but his foot sank heavily into the sand. He tried to step with another foot and achieved the same result; he was stuck!

Snake cried out to Moon for help, begging and pleading until finally she took pity on him. Moon took away Snake’s legs and made his body slippery enough to slide easily through the hot sand. At last, he was able to move again, and he hurriedly slithered toward the cliff in the distance.

Snake lost his legs that day, but he did not lose his tendency for laziness, for to this very day we can still find him lying by the watering hole, waiting for his food to come to him.









Question: How does the following sentence help build suspense for the reader?

"After all, what could possibly be so important?"

(1 point)
Responses

The sentence makes the reader feel sorry for the snake.
The sentence makes the reader feel sorry for the snake.

It makes the reader understand how important the snake is to the story.
It makes the reader understand how important the snake is to the story.

The sentence tells the reader that something bad is probably going to happen to the snake.
The sentence tells the reader that something bad is probably going to happen to the snake.

The reader realizes the snake is a character that listens to advice.
The reader realizes the snake is a character that listens to advice.

Question: How are the Snake in "How Snake Lost His Legs" and Matilda in "Lazy Day Sunday" similar?

(1 point)
Responses

They both end up fixing their issues all by themselves.
They both end up fixing their issues all by themselves.

Both characters end up suffering due to their actions.
Both characters end up suffering due to their actions.

Both of these characters endure a grueling journey.
Both of these characters endure a grueling journey.

They both utilize hard work to resolve their problems.

Question: How are the Snake in "How Snake Lost His Legs" and Matilda in "Lazy Day Sunday" different?

(1 point)
Responses

Snake is always passing blame to others, whereas Matilda blames herself.
Snake is always passing blame to others, whereas Matilda blames herself.

The Snake had his family to help with his problems, and Matilda did not.
The Snake had his family to help with his problems, and Matilda did not.

Whereas Matilda says she will learn from her mistakes, the Snake does not do the same.
Whereas Matilda says she will learn from her mistakes, the Snake does not do the same.

Matilda gets into trouble because of bad choices, and it was not the Snake's fault.

Question: Which of the following choices best reveals the similarities between the two stories?

(1 point)
Responses

Both stories include characters having to put out fires.
Both stories include characters having to put out fires.

In both stories, both characters almost caused disasters for themselves or others due to laziness.
In both stories, both characters almost caused disasters for themselves or others due to laziness.

Both stories have a theme of the importance of listening to your parents
Both stories have a theme of the importance of listening to your parents

The settings in both stories are identical.

Answer 1

Here are the answers to the questions based on the story "How the Snake Lost His Legs":

Question 1: How does the following sentence help build suspense for the reader?
"After all, what could possibly be so important?"

Answer: The sentence tells the reader that something bad is probably going to happen to the snake.

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Question 2: How are the Snake in "How Snake Lost His Legs" and Matilda in "Lazy Day Sunday" similar?

Answer: Both characters end up suffering due to their actions.

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Question 3: How are the Snake in "How Snake Lost His Legs" and Matilda in "Lazy Day Sunday" different?

Answer: Whereas Matilda says she will learn from her mistakes, the Snake does not do the same.

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Question 4: Which of the following choices best reveals the similarities between the two stories?

Answer: In both stories, both characters almost caused disasters for themselves or others due to laziness.