The Parable of Meerkats and Ingots: An Upright Tale of Survival and Prosperity
[Paragraph 1] Once upon a time, adjacent to the fertile plains where the delicate swarm of meerkats resided, was an arbitrary landmark—a profound crater filled with belligerent mercenaries. Albeit their daunting presence, they existed in reciprocal conformity with the meerkat community. The mercenaries comprised the rough part of the society, nevertheless, they served a crucial role in fending off potential perils and thus served a crucial role. The notion of a peaceful coexistence, despite the bout of adversity that occasionally prevailed, was conferred on the younger generations, thereby allowing the meerkat community to persist.
[Paragraph 2] Concurrent with the societal changes, the mercenary stronghold underwent a transformation. The former site of the stronghold, once a dreaded place, now served as a vogue meeting spot where the meerkats could convene and converse. The change was enacted abruptly, in response to the collective disdain for the old belligerent ways. However, there were still some quarrels about this change.
[Paragraph 3] The clergy intervened, soothing the tense atmosphere with parables of altruistic deeds. Through these narratives, they emphasized the values of compassion, self-esteem, and tenacity, inducing a positive shift in the meerkat community's perception. One might conceive the idea that the clergy was merely fostering their self-interest, but that would be off the mark. Their actions were borne of genuine care for their cohort, and their dedication to the group's wellbeing did not go unnoticed.
[Paragraph 4] The reciprocal relationship between the clergy and the community was denoted by the meerkats' compliance to the new norms. They thoroughly understood the gist of the clergy's message: To ignore the perils of the past, to retain the memories of adversity only as reminders, not constraints. Even the tension between the young offspring and their parents, a rudimentary problem in the meerkat society, seemed to diminish under the clergy's wise counsel.
[Paragraph 5] In the midst of these societal changes, a group of missionaries appeared, armed with ingenuity and an enormous sense of purpose. They introduced the concept of ingots, a notion that altered the economic fabric of the meerkat community. The introduction of these gold pieces bestowed an abundance of wealth upon the community, and it seemed as if the prosperity was a windfall. However, the missionaries warned of potential pitfalls, and insisted on a preliminary period of education before the full implementation of the ingot system.
[Paragraph 6] As time passed, the meerkats learned to equate their actions with their newfound prosperity. However, some began to take for granted the missionaries' teachings, erring towards selfishness. Lest the virtues of their community erode, the clergy decided to impose a sabbatical—a period of reflection—to ensure the meerkats did not lose their moral compass.
[Paragraph 7] One fine morning, a quarrel erupted over the possession of the last ingot. The dispute had the potential to ignite a rift in the otherwise peaceful community. Realizing the severity of the situation, the clergy decided to intervene. They called for a gathering and, in their concise prose, delivered a powerful verdict. They prohibited the use of ingots for arbitrary personal gain, and insisted that the wealth be devoted to the communal good. The decision, albeit met with initial ire, was ultimately accepted.
[Paragraph 8] Through this adversity, the meerkats learned of the dangers of unregulated abundance and the importance of fidelity towards their community norms. They experienced a sort of ulcer of the soul, a stoulcer, that reminded them of their responsibilities.
[Paragraph 9] As the years passed, the meerkat community thrived. They had bested adversity, enacted laws that retained their core values, and found ways to make their newfound wealth work for them. The descent into despair had been averted, and the prosperity and peace that had once been just a faint hope had now become a reality. And hence, the tale of the meerkats serves as a parable for all, reminding us of the audacity required to face change and the tenacity needed to foster a prosperous community.
Questions:
Question #1: Sentence Simplification (Paraphrasing)
Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 4?
"The reciprocal relationship between the clergy and the community was denoted by the meerkats' compliance to the new norms."
A) The meerkats accepted the new norms, showing their relationship with the clergy.
B) The relationship between the meerkats and the clergy was strained due to the new norms.
C) The clergy was unable to maintain a relationship with the meerkats due to the new norms.
D) The clergy and the community had no relationship outside of the new norms.
Question #2: Rhetorical Purpose (Author’s Purpose)
Why does the author discuss the introduction of ingots in paragraph 5?
A) To illustrate the economic changes in the meerkat community.
B) To highlight the importance of gold in the meerkat society.
C) To argue against the introduction of money in the meerkat society.
D) To prove that the missionaries were greedy.
Question #3: Inference
What can be inferred from the information in paragraph 3 about the clergy?
A) The clergy was manipulative and used parables to serve their self-interest.
B) The clergy's actions were motivated by genuine concern for the meerkat community.
C) The clergy was unsuccessful in calming the tense atmosphere.
D) The clergy was against any kind of societal changes.
Question #4: Factual Information (Detail)
According to paragraph 7, what decision did the clergy make regarding the use of ingots?
A) They prohibited the use of ingots for individual profit and encouraged their use for the benefit of the community.
B) They decided to distribute all the remaining ingots equally among the meerkats.
C) They banned the use of ingots completely to prevent future disputes.
D) They decided to control the production and distribution of ingots.
Question #5: Vocabulary
The word "daunting" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to...
A) Invigorating
B) Intimidating
C) Inviting
D) Interesting
Question #6: Vocabulary
The word "conformity" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to...
A) Rebellion
B) Agreement
C) Tradition
D) Misunderstanding
Question #7: Rhetorical Purpose (Author’s Purpose)
In paragraph 6, why does the author mention a sabbatical?
A) To highlight the need for a vacation among the meerkats.
B) To show that the meerkats were being punished for their behaviour.
C) To stress the clergy's attempt to preserve the moral integrity of the meerkat community.
D) To indicate that the clergy was tired of the meerkats' behaviour.
Question #8: Inference
What can be inferred from the information in paragraph 8 about the meerkats' reaction to the conflict over the last ingot?
A) They felt guilty for their selfish behaviour and learned the importance of community norms.
B) They were indifferent and didn't learn anything from the situation.
C) They resented the clergy for intervening in their personal matters.
D) They decided to abandon the concept of ingots entirely.
Question #9: Rhetorical Purpose (Author’s Purpose)
Why does the author conclude with the idea that the tale of the meerkats serves as a parable in paragraph 9?
A) To demonstrate that the story is merely a work of fiction.
B) To suggest that the experiences of the meerkats provide valuable lessons for all communities.
C) To argue that the meerkats' story should be considered as a piece of religious text.
D) To point out that the meerkats were unique in their ability to handle adversity.
Question #10: Prose Summary
An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Exclude sentences that do not belong in the summary as they express ideas not presented in the passage or are minor ideas.
"The tale of the meerkats serves as a parable illustrating the balance between change, prosperity, and the preservation of communal values."
A) The meerkat community thrived despite several societal changes, including the introduction of ingots.
B) The clergy played a crucial role in guiding the community and preserving their moral compass, particularly during times of conflict.
C) The mercenaries were a constant threat to the meerkat community and were the main cause of their problems.
D) The community's encounter with adversity led to a strengthening of their communal norms and principles.
E) The missionaries' teachings were completely ignored by the meerkat community.
F) The meerkats developed a new language to better communicate with each other.
answer key:
Sure, here is the answer key along with explanations:
Question #1: Sentence Simplification (Paraphrasing)
Answer: A) The meerkats accepted the new norms, showing their relationship with the clergy.
Explanation: The original sentence states that the relationship between the clergy and the meerkat community was demonstrated through the meerkats' adherence to the new norms, which is the information reflected in option A.
Question #2: Rhetorical Purpose (Author’s Purpose)
Answer: A) To illustrate the economic changes in the meerkat community.
Explanation: The introduction of ingots, or gold pieces, signified a significant economic shift in the meerkat community. The other options do not fully capture the author's purpose for mentioning this event.
Question #3: Inference
Answer: B) The clergy's actions were motivated by genuine concern for the meerkat community.
Explanation: The text suggests that the clergy acted out of genuine care for the meerkat community, not out of self-interest. Therefore, the inference in option B is the most accurate.
Question #4: Factual Information (Detail)
Answer: A) They prohibited the use of ingots for individual profit and encouraged their use for the benefit of the community.
Explanation: Paragraph 7 clearly states that the clergy made a decision to prevent the use of ingots for personal gain, suggesting that they should be used for the common good instead.
Question #5: Vocabulary
Answer: B) Intimidating
Explanation: "Daunting" generally refers to something that is intimidating or frightening, which matches with option B.
Question #6: Vocabulary
Answer: B) Agreement
Explanation: "Conformity" refers to compliance with standards, rules, or laws. Thus, it is closest in meaning to "agreement".
Question #7: Rhetorical Purpose (Author’s Purpose)
Answer: C) To stress the clergy's attempt to preserve the moral integrity of the meerkat community.
Explanation: The author mentions the sabbatical imposed by the clergy to underscore their efforts to maintain the moral values of the meerkat community in the face of prosperity and potential greed.
Question #8: Inference
Answer: A) They felt guilty for their selfish behaviour and learned the importance of community norms.
Explanation: Paragraph 8 describes the meerkats learning from their mistakes and understanding the importance of community norms following the conflict over the last ingot, which is reflected in option A.
Question #9: Rhetorical Purpose (Author’s Purpose)
Answer: B) To suggest that the experiences of the meerkats provide valuable lessons for all communities.
Explanation: The author concludes that the meerkats' tale serves as a parable, suggesting that it carries valuable lessons that could be applied to any community, which aligns with option B.
Question #10: Prose Summary
Answer:
A) The meerkat community thrived despite several societal changes, including the introduction of ingots.
B) The clergy played a crucial role in guiding the community and preserving their moral compass, particularly during times of conflict.
D) The community's encounter with adversity led to a strengthening of their communal norms and principles.
Explanation: Options A, B, and D most accurately capture the main ideas presented in the passage: societal change and prosperity (introduction of ingots), the role of the clergy, and the impact of adversity on the community's values. Options C, E, and F contain information that either wasn't mentioned in the passage or wasn't a key idea.
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