Question
Excerpt from The Alchemist
“PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE PASSED through this village, son,”said his father. “ They come in search of new things, but when they leave they are basically the same people they were when they arrived. They climb the mountain to see the castle, and they wind up thinking that the past was better than what we have now. They have blond hair, or dark skin, but basically they’re the same as the people who live right here.”
“But I’d like to see the castles in the towns where they live,” the boy explained.
“Those people, when they see our land, say that they would like to live here forever,” his father continued.
“Well, I’d like to see their land, and see how they live,” said his son.
“The people who come here have a lot of money to spend, so they can afford to travel,” his father said. “Amongst us, the only ones who travel are the shepherds.”
“Well, then I’ll be a shepherd!”
His father said no more. The next day, he gave his son a pouch that held three ancient Spanish gold coins.
“I found these one day in the fields. I wanted them to be a part of your inheritance. But use them to buy your flock. Take to the fields, and someday you’ll learn that our countryside is the best, and our women are the most beautiful.”
And he gave the boy his blessing. The boy could see in his father’s gaze a desire to be able, himself, to travel the world—a desire that was still alive, despite his father’s having had to bury it, over dozens of years, under the burden of struggling for water to drink, food to eat, and the same place to sleep every night of his life.
Based on the excerpt from The Alchemist (Third Source), how does the boy (Santiago) feel about journeys?
A.
He doesn’t need to go on his journey because he already has everything he needs and wants.
B.
Because you gain knowledge and experiences no matter where you go, the journey is more important than the destination.
C.
His main goal is to journey to a place where he can find money for his family.
D.
He would prefer to remain at home where he knows everyone, but his father wants him to see the world.
“PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE PASSED through this village, son,”said his father. “ They come in search of new things, but when they leave they are basically the same people they were when they arrived. They climb the mountain to see the castle, and they wind up thinking that the past was better than what we have now. They have blond hair, or dark skin, but basically they’re the same as the people who live right here.”
“But I’d like to see the castles in the towns where they live,” the boy explained.
“Those people, when they see our land, say that they would like to live here forever,” his father continued.
“Well, I’d like to see their land, and see how they live,” said his son.
“The people who come here have a lot of money to spend, so they can afford to travel,” his father said. “Amongst us, the only ones who travel are the shepherds.”
“Well, then I’ll be a shepherd!”
His father said no more. The next day, he gave his son a pouch that held three ancient Spanish gold coins.
“I found these one day in the fields. I wanted them to be a part of your inheritance. But use them to buy your flock. Take to the fields, and someday you’ll learn that our countryside is the best, and our women are the most beautiful.”
And he gave the boy his blessing. The boy could see in his father’s gaze a desire to be able, himself, to travel the world—a desire that was still alive, despite his father’s having had to bury it, over dozens of years, under the burden of struggling for water to drink, food to eat, and the same place to sleep every night of his life.
Based on the excerpt from The Alchemist (Third Source), how does the boy (Santiago) feel about journeys?
A.
He doesn’t need to go on his journey because he already has everything he needs and wants.
B.
Because you gain knowledge and experiences no matter where you go, the journey is more important than the destination.
C.
His main goal is to journey to a place where he can find money for his family.
D.
He would prefer to remain at home where he knows everyone, but his father wants him to see the world.
Answers
GPT-5 mini
B
The excerpt shows Santiago’s desire to see other lands and peoples—he insists on seeing the towns and castles despite his father’s warnings—indicating he values the experience of travel and discovery rather than staying put.
The excerpt shows Santiago’s desire to see other lands and peoples—he insists on seeing the towns and castles despite his father’s warnings—indicating he values the experience of travel and discovery rather than staying put.