A Treasury of Literary Classics -
Chinese Fables and Tales Series (1)

Instruction:

    Read the Chinese story and answer the following questions.

Yu Gong Moved away Two Mountains

Click here to read the text.

1. Where did the old man live?

A. The old man lived in the east of two high mountains.
B. The old man lived in the south of two high mountains.
C. The old man lived in the west of two high mountains.
D. The old man lived in the north of two high mountains.

Your answer:

Which one is the correct direction?

Read paragraph 1.

"A long time ago, there was a ninety-year-old man called Yu Gong, who lived in the north of two mountains."

2. Why did the old man want to move the mountains away?

A. The old man found it hard to get around the two mountains.
B. The old man thought the two mountains were too rounded.
C. The old man found it easy to get through the two mountains.
D. The old man thought the two mountains were too short.

Your answer:

What did the old man think about the two mountains?

Read paragraph 1.

"These two mountains, one called Taihang Mountain and the other Wangwu Mountain, stood in front of Yu Gong's house. Whenever Yu Gong or his family had something to do on the other side of the mountains, they had to walk a long way round the two mountains and this caused much inconvenience. Yu Gong decided to move the two mountains away."

3. Who did the old man ask for help with the removal of the mountains?

A. The old man asked his wife and friends for help.
B. The old man asked his sons and grandchildren for help.
C. The old man asked his neighbours for help.
D. The old man asked his old friends for help.

Your answer:

Who started to break up rocks and remove the earth?

Read paragraph 2.

"Yu Gong asked all his family members to sit together and they discussed how to remove the two mountains."

4. Where did the people deposit the earth and rocks?

A. They moved the earth and rocks to places near the two mountains.
B. They moved the earth and rocks to the Sea of Taihang.
C. They moved the earth and rocks to the Sea of Wangwu.
D. They moved the earth and rocks to the Sea of Bohai.

Your answer:

What is the name of the sea?

Read paragraph 3.

" 'If we work hard together, we can move the mountains away. For the earth and the rocks, we can throw them to the edge of the Sea of Bohai,' said Yu Gong."

5. Based on what Yu Gong decided to do with the mountains, which adjectives best describe him?

  1. Determined
  2. Laid-back
  3. Optimistic
  4. Reluctant

A. (i) & (ii)
B. (i), (ii) & (iii)
C. (i) & (iii)
D. (i), (iii) & (iv)

Your answer:

In Yu Gong's opinion, who would help him remove the mountains?

Would they give up if they had difficulties removing the mountains?

Read paragraph 5.

" 'You are wrong,' sighed Yu Gong. 'Even if I die, my sons, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren will continue my work. Generations after generations and there is no end. Look! These mountains will not grow taller. We shall be able to move them away one day!' "

6. Based on what the widow's son did for Yu Gong, which adjective best describes him?

A. Selfish
B. Supportive
C. Careless
D. Aggressive

Your answer:

How did the widow's son feel when he offered help?

Read paragraph 3.

"An eight-year-old son of the neighbouring widow was glad to help Yu Gong and his sons and grandsons remove the earth and the rocks."

7. Some adjectives are formed with body parts to describe a person's personality or character, e.g. "tight-lipped" describes a person who refuses to speak and keeps silent about something.

Read the following descriptions. Fill in each blank with an adjective from the list given. Each option can be used once only.

A. stouthearted B. hardheaded C. warm-hearted D. tongue-tied
Description Adjective
7a. Yu Gong's wife knew clearly that Yu Gong was an old man. She thought that Yu Gong's suggestion of removing the mountains was not practical and unrealistic. She was a ______________ person.
7b. Yu Gong decided to move the two mountains away, even if it took generations. Yu Gong was a _______________ person.
7c. Zhi Sou was surprised to find Yu Gong so determined and confident. Zhi Sou was __________________.
7d. The Emperor of Heaven was moved by Yu Gong's strong will. He finally made Yu Gong's dream come true. He was __________________.

A. "Stouthhearted" refers to a person who is brave and strong-minded.

B. "Hardheaded" refers to a person who is practical to get what he/she wants or needs, and does not allow emotions to affect his/her actions.

C. "Warm-hearted" refers to a person who is kind and loving.

D. "Tongue-tied" refers to a person who is hard to express himself/herself, usually because he/she is shocked or nervous.

8. Why was Yu Gong so confident that he and his descendants could remove the mountains one day?

A. Yu Gong said that the mountains would not grow taller, so he and his descendants could remove them if they kept digging.
B. Yu Gong said that the mountains were so short that he and his descendants could remove them one day if they kept digging.
C. Yu Gong said that his sons and descendants were young enough to remove the two tall mountains.
D. Yu Gong said that all the gods would help him remove the two tall mountains if he and his descendants kept digging.

Your answer:

What did Yu Gong say to Zhi Sou?

Read paragraph 5.

" 'Look! These mountains will not grow taller. We shall be able to move them away one day!' Zhi Sou was tongue-tied as Yu Gong was so determined and confident."

9. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the story?

A. Yu Gong was a 90-year-old man who lived in the north of two mountains.
B. Yu Gong was positive that perseverance and hard work could lead to success.
C. Zhi Sou supported Yu Gong by helping him move the two mountains away.
D. Yu Gong was committed to his family by removing the mountains for them.

Your answer:

What did Zhi Sou do to the old man when he learnt about the old man's plan?

Read paragraph 4.

"One day, a wise old man called Zhi Sou was sitting near the bank of the Sea of Bohai when he saw Yu Gong and his children. He teased Yu Gong and said, 'How silly you are! You are so old and weak. You can't even take away the grass and trees. How can you remove the two high mountains?' "

Yu Gong Moved away Two Mountains

Score Sheet

Questions Results
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Question 6
Question 7a
Question 7b
Question 7c
Question 7d
Question 8
Question 9
Total

10. What is the moral lesson of the story? Based on the story, which Chinese saying can you think of?

11. Have you ever had any successful experience before because you are determined, perseverant and did not give up? What was it? Share what you learnt from it with your parents or classmates.

Extension Activity

Watch the video clip "Wuyishan - China's First National Parks", which introduces the story of Wuyishan National Park, one of China's first five official national parks.

Acknowledgements: The China Current

https://chinacurrent.com/story/23978/wuyishan-chinas-first-national-parks-kyle-obermann

Being one of China's first national parks, Wuyishan has many special features, e.g. scenic beauty, species richness, cultural significance and extraordinarily diverse geography. What impresses you most about Wuyishan? Why? Think and share your ideas or experiences with your parents or classmates.