Question

Read the text and answer the question that follows. Fable: “The Crow and the Fountain”Once, during a long summer drought, a thirsty crow flew over dry fields in search of water. At last, she spotted a marble fountain at the edge of a village square. Delighted, she landed on its edge—but the fountain was nearly empty, holding just a few drops at the bottom.The crow tried to reach the water with her beak, but it was too far down. A pigeon nearby laughed. “Give up,” he said. “That fountain’s been dry all week. Even I couldn’t get a sip.”But the crow was not discouraged. She began picking up small pebbles and dropping them into the fountain. Slowly, the water rose. With patience and effort, the crow was finally able to drink. The pigeon stared in amazement.“You see,” said the crow, “mocking a problem does not solve it. Thinking and doing something about it just might.”Which statement best expresses the theme of “The Crow and the Fountain,” and how is it developed in the fable

Answer 1

Best theme statement: Perseverance and resourceful action solve problems that mockery and passivity cannot.

How it’s developed:
- Situation: The drought and nearly empty fountain create a clear problem and need.
- Contrast of characters: The pigeon represents mockery and defeatism; the crow represents persistence and ingenuity.
- Actions and cause-effect: The crow’s repeated dropping of pebbles is a concrete, creative strategy; as a result the water level rises and she is rewarded.
- Resolution and moral: The crow succeeds while the pigeon does not, and the crow’s final remark makes the lesson explicit: taking thoughtful action, not ridiculing a problem, leads to solutions.