Interpreting Texts - Example 5 & 6

Lunch in the Courtyard, freely adapted from a tale by Johann Peter Hebel

The servant had a master whom he sometimes could not please whatever he did. And so it was that the master came home one day and sat down to lunch. The soup was either too hot or too cold or neither of the two. So he took the bowl and, together with its contents, threw it through the open window into the courtyard. And how did the servant react? With great presence of mind he threw the meat he was about to set down on the table after the soup down into the courtyard, followed by the bread, the wine, and finally the tablecloth with all that was remaining on it. "What on earth are you doing?" asked the master, rising angrily from his chair. The servant, however, responded: "Forgive me, master, if I did not guess your true intention. I was convinced you wanted to dine in the courtyard today. The air is so delightful, the sky so blue, and see, master, how sweetly the apple tree blooms and how cheerfully the bees are buzzing!" - The soup had been thrown down for the last time! The master realised the error of his ways and, cheered by the sight of the beautiful spring sky, smiled to himself about the quick-wittedness of his servant, thanking him in his heart for the well-taught lesson.

Example 5

Which of the following statements is or are correct according to the above text?

I. The master wanted to dine in the courtyard.

II. The servant threw the food out of the window because he thought his master wanted to dine in the courtyard.

Degree of difficulty: medium

Solution

Example 6

Which of the following statements is or are correct according to the above text?

I. After this incident, the master never again threw soup out of the window.

II. The master thanked the servant for teaching him a lesson.

Degree of difficulty: high

Solution