Mukashi, mukashi ... Long ago in a quiet Japanese village, people feared the yamanba who lived at the top of a nearby mountain.
When rains fell too hard on their crops, people said, "It's her fault, that yamanba. She likes to make trouble."
When snows piled up high on their houses, people said, "It's her fault, that yamanba. She loves to make trouble." When great winds whipped through the village, people said, "It's her fault, that yamanba. She always makes trouble."
However, no one had ever seen the yamanba. No one had ever heard the yamanba. They didn't even know if she was real. They only passed on the terrible tales that their parents had heard from their parents.
Now, one fall day, a fierce wind suddenly blew, byuu, byuu. Rain poured down, za, za, za, za. Hailstones fell too, ba-ra, ba-ra. Then a terrifying voice roared, "I am the yamanba's new baby. We both want rice balls right now. If you don't bring mochi to us soon, we'll eat you all up!"
Everyone trembled. Everyone cried. Everyone spoke at once."I was so scared."
"Who was that?"
"He said they'll eat us."
"Hurry, let's make rice balls right now."Quickly they boiled the rice gu-tsu gu-tsu. In a hurry they jenn pounded it, den-da-go, den-da-go. Without stopping, they shaped the rice into fine mochi. When all the rice balls were finished, someone asked, "Now who will deliver them?"
No one spoke. Even the bravest men and women were silent. Everyone had helped to make the mochi, but no one wanted to face that frightful yamanba. Finally, a small woman stepped up. "I'm the oldest here," she said. "I've lived a good life, and I'm ready to die if I must. I will go and try."
Voices suddenly wrapped round her, thanking her again and again. Two young men who knew the mountain were chosen to guide her, and they all set off the next day. Higher and higher and higher they climbed. Soon, the wind howled and pushed against them.
"We can't take anymore," cried the two men as the wind bounced them around."Have courage!" the old woman shouted, clinging to a pine tree. But when the wind finally died down, the old woman couldn't find the men. They had run away.
"What young cowards," she sighed. "Well, I guess I'll go on alone."
Up and up she climbed until she reached the mountain-top. In the clearing there, no wind was heard. Yet it was not at all quiet.
"Wan! Wan!" The bellows of a huge baby punched the air. Slowly and a little fearfully, the woman crept toward the sounds. They grew louder and louder until, suddenly, a door jumped open and a huge yamanba rushed out. She charged right into the old woman, knocking her flat on the ground. The poor woman looked up to see a fierce face with a hungry mouth and enormous teeth. She closed her eyes, waiting for death."Araa, what have I done?" cried the yamanba. "Sumimasen. I am so sorry. I didn't see you. Are you hurt?"
With many apologies, she carefully helped the woman up,
"I was just going for water. Please come inside and I'll make us some nice tea," offered the yamanba.
Much surprised, the woman followed her, and soon the two were sharing lovely green tea around a warm fire."I have brought your mochi," whispered the old woman at last.
"Wonderful," beamed the yamanba. "How very kind of you. After my son was born yesterday, I was so hungry for mochi. Since he could fly at birth, I sent him down to ask nicely for some. I hope he was polite and didn't cause any trouble?"Use the passage to answer the question.
Based on the author’s use of figurative language in the passage, what can a reader determine about the cultural setting of the story? Select the two correct answers.
(1 point)
Responses
The story is set in a place where people climb mountains.
The story is set in a place where people climb mountains.
The story is set in a place where people fear things needlessly.
The story is set in a place where people fear things needlessly.
The story is set in a place where babies can fly at birth.
The story is set in a place where babies can fly at birth.
The story is set in a place where rice is a common food.
The story is set in a place where rice is a common food.
The story is set in a place where courage is an important trait.
5 answers
Based on the author's use of figurative language in the passage, the two correct answers that can be determined about the cultural setting of the story are:
These responses reflect the cultural significance of rice in Japanese cuisine and the thematic elements regarding unfounded fears of the yamanba, illustrating the cultural setting of the story.
The author uses personification and vivid imagery to create a tense and eerie atmosphere in the paragraph. For instance, the phrase “the moonlight kissed the red ivy” gives the moonlight a gentle, almost affectionate quality, contrasting with the menacing image of the ivy “strangling” the garden elements. This personification of the ivy as something that is “taunting them with its omnipresence” emphasizes the characters' feeling of being trapped and overwhelmed by it. Additionally, the droplets of “chilly rain” are described as urging the characters to “Hurry, hurry,” which adds to the urgency and pressure of their situation. Together, these elements evoke a sense of anxiety and suspense, heightening the reader's engagement with Kade and Lula's predicament.
Imagine a smartphone as a Swiss Army knife for your digital life. Just as a Swiss Army knife has multiple tools—like a knife, screwdriver, and scissors—designed to assist you in various tasks, a smartphone combines many functions into one device. It allows you to communicate through calls and texts, capture photos like a camera, browse the internet for information, and even navigate streets with GPS, all at your fingertips. This multifaceted functionality makes it an essential tool for everyday life, simplifying tasks that once required separate devices.
