The best description of the main theme or lesson of the story is "rules should be applied fairly." Cody struggles with enforcing the rules consistently, especially when it comes to bending them for friends while denying the same privileges to others. The story highlights the importance of fairness and consistency in applying rules, as Cody ultimately realizes he cannot favor some customers over others.
Read the following story.
Cody liked the freedom that came with his first summer job. He worked at Mitchell's Farm, where people could come and pick their own corn, berries, and tomatoes out in the fields. Then they'd bring their produce to the checkout stand, where Cody would weigh it and charge the appropriate price. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell were usually busy somewhere else, so Cody was trusted to manage the stand by himself.
For the most part, Cody enforced the Mitchells' rules. When someone asked for a discount or a sample, Cody said no. But he did sometimes bend the rules for friends, much to their delight.
"Go ahead, taste a few berries before I weigh 'em," he'd say when it was someone he knew. It was against the rules to eat something before you bought it, but everyone wanted to.
One day, a man came to the stand with a bushel of corn he had picked. Cody weighed the ears of corn and told the man how much it cost. The man looked confused.
"But I was here yesterday, and you told someone that for every five ears you buy, you get one free," he said.
Cody remembered. He had indeed offered that deal to the Thomases, who happened to be his neighbors. Now he regretted it. He saw Mrs. Mitchell baling hay close by. How was Cody going to explain that he had given a deal to those he knew while he made everyone else pay full price?
The man saw that Cody was looking at Mrs. Mitchell. "Is that the owner? May I speak to her?" he asked.
Cody thought about offering the man the same discount, but there were people in line behind him, and they were carrying corn, too. Cory hung his head and walked over to see Mrs. Mitchell.
Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?
people should mind their own business
hard work pays off
rules should be applied safely
5 answers
Compare the student text with the source.
Source: Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel, pages 39–40. Published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1997:
Anyone who has experienced firsthand the overwhelming power of the life-sized painted bulls and horses in the Lascaux Cave of southwestern France will understand at once that their creators must have been as modern in their minds as they were in their skeletons.
Student text:
If you've seen the ancient paintings in France's Lascaux Cave, then you know that their creators must have been as modern in their minds as they were in their skeletons.
Is the student's text plagiarized? Why or why not?
Source: Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel, pages 39–40. Published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1997:
Anyone who has experienced firsthand the overwhelming power of the life-sized painted bulls and horses in the Lascaux Cave of southwestern France will understand at once that their creators must have been as modern in their minds as they were in their skeletons.
Student text:
If you've seen the ancient paintings in France's Lascaux Cave, then you know that their creators must have been as modern in their minds as they were in their skeletons.
Is the student's text plagiarized? Why or why not?
The student's text is not considered plagiarized, but it is heavily paraphrased. The student has replaced some words and restructured the original sentence while maintaining the core idea. However, because the original idea and phrasing are still very closely mirrored, it would be best practice for the student to provide a citation to acknowledge the source, even if the text is not identical. Without proper attribution, it could be interpreted as lacking academic integrity, especially in formal contexts. So, to avoid any confusion regarding originality, adding a citation is recommended.
80 word limit
The student's text is not outright plagiarized, but it closely mirrors the original source through heavy paraphrasing. While some words are changed and the structure adjusted, the core idea remains intact. Because the rephrased text is still very similar to Jared Diamond's original phrasing, proper citation is necessary to acknowledge the source. Without attribution, it could be seen as lacking academic integrity. To maintain originality, it's best practice to include a citation when using another's ideas.