The Stonecutter Who Was Never Satisfied by Oswald Patterson Long ago in the rocky mountains of China, there lived a stonecutter
who made a living by chiseling stone. One day in the midst of summer, the stonecutter hammered a piece of stone in a heat more intense than he had ever felt before. Beads of sweat danced across his brow. He glanced up at the sky with an inquisitive gaze and said, "If I had the intense power of the sun, surely things would be different for me." Not too far from him lived a certain fairy who heard his request and-being a cunning sort-allowed the stonecutter's wish to be fulfilled. A moment later, the stonecutter felt the chisel and hammer fall from his hands. Then his body twisted and rose into the sky. Right before his eyes, his wish came true, as he turned into the sun, emitting glorious rays across the sky. The stonecutter marveled in his newfound power. He shone throughout the land, reveling in his ability to cast light . . . until he noticed that the power of his rays could not penetrate a certain section of the land. "What dares to thwart the power of the sun?" the stonecutter bellowed. He gazed down from his lofty throne and spied a lowly cloud wandering frivolously in front of his rays. When the stonecutter saw that such a cloud could stop the sun's rays, the stonecutter said, "If I had the ability to stop the power of the sun, surely things would be different for me." The fairy heard the man's words and-being a cunning sort-decided to grant the stonecutter's wish, causing him to transform from a radiant being to a soft, billowing cloud. "Ah, now this truly is better," the stonecutter said, marveling in his skill at absorbing the sun's rays, stopping their power. The stonecutter delighted in his newfound ability . . . until he was cast about by a powerful wind from the east. It mercilessly blew him around the sky for several minutes. When the stonecutter saw that such a wind could manipulate a cloud, the stonecutter became infatuated with a new idea. He said, "If I had the ability to cause clouds to move at will, surely things would be different for me." The fairy heard the man's words and-being a cunning sort-decided to grant the stonecutter's wish, transforming him from a puffy cloud to an invisible wind, whooshing about. As a wind, he rushed above the ground, bending mighty trees, twisting leaves, and blowing ships across the ocean. "Ah, now this truly is better," the stonecutter said, realizing a new kind of power as he blew about the land . . . until he struck a large boulder and bounced off. Angered at the power of the stone, the stonecutter blew and blew with reckless abandon, all to no avail. When the stonecutter saw the tremendous power that the boulder held against the wind, he said, "If I had the ability to stall the wind, surely things would be different for me." The fairy heard the man's words and-being a cunning sort-granted the stonecutter's wish. All at once he felt his extreme weightlessness disappear as he plummeted to the ground as a stone. There he rested. He was completely resistant to the sun, the clouds, and the wind until, one day, a group of stonecutters came to chisel the mighty stone. The stonecutter saw the tremendous power that lay in the strength of the other cutters. He said, "If I had the ability to return to my old self, surely things would be different for me." Nothing happened, but the stonecutter knew that an enchanted being must have transformed him, so he begged again: "Please, fairy, oh please, allow me to transform back to my former self, because I realize there is nothing I would rather be." A hard lesson learned by the stonecutter, the fairy-being a cunning but understanding sort-changed the man back to his former self. He lived out his life content as a stonecutter, realizing the true value of just being himself. 1 This question has 2 parts. Be sure to complete all parts. A Based on the passage, what conclusion can the reader draw about the stonecutter?
A. The stonecutter is greedy and wants power.
B he stonecutter is selfish and wants wealth.
C. The stonecutter is merciful and wants to do good in the world.
D. The stonecutter is devoted and wants to please the fairy.
B Select ALL the correct answers. Which of the sentences from the passage best support the answer in Part A? Choose two answers.
"When the stonecutter saw that such a wind could manipulate a cloud, the stonecutter became infatuated with a new idea."
"He said, 'If I had the ability to cause clouds to move at will, surely things would be different for me.' "
"He lived out his life content as a stonecutter, realizing the true value of just being himself."
"Not too far from him lived a certain fairy who heard his request and-being a cunning sort-allowed the stonecutter's wish to be fulfilled."
