The help of elders supports harmony in society, and friends can come in many forms, as this tale suggests. A yamanba, found in Japanese folklore, usually lives on mountains, is quite fierce, and can change shapes.
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 courage is an important trait.
The story is set in a place where courage is an important trait.
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.
1 answer
Based on the author's use of figurative language in the passage, a reader can determine the following about the cultural setting of the story:
The story is set in a place where courage is an important trait.
This is evident from the old woman's brave decision to deliver the mochi to the yamanba despite the fear that others felt.
The story is set in a place where rice is a common food.
The passage emphasizes the preparation of rice balls (mochi), indicating that rice is a staple food in the culture of the characters.
The other options reflect elements of folklore and whimsy, but they do not directly convey the cultural setting as effectively as the chosen answers.
1 answer