Literary Text: Folk Tale Read this Chinese folk tale. Then, answer the question(s). (1) [A Buddhist nun] left her nunnery near W
ei-hai city and set out on a long journey for the purpose of collecting subscriptions for casting a new image of the Buddha.... The first passer-by who took any notice of her was an amiable maniac. His dress was made of colored shreds and patches, and his general appearance was wild and uncouth. “Whither away, nun?” he asked. She explained that she was collecting subscriptions for the casting of a great image of Buddha.... “Throughout my life,” remarked the madman, “I was ever a generous giver.” So, taking the nun’s subscription-book, he headed a page with his own name ... and the amount subscribed. The amount in question was two cash, equivalent to a small fraction of a farthing. He then handed over the two small coins and went on his way. (2) In course of time the nun returned from Wei-hai-wei with her subscriptions, and the work of casting the image was duly begun. When the time had come for the process of smelting, it was observed that the copper remained hard and intractable.... The head workman [said,] “An offering of great value must be missing.” ... The nun, who was standing by, immediately produced the madman’s money, which on account of its minute value she had not taken the trouble to hand over. “There is one cash,” she said, “and there is another. Certainly the offering of these must have been an act of the highest merit, and the giver must be a holy man who will some day attain Buddhahood.” As she said this she threw the two cash into the midst of the cauldron. Great bubbles rose and burst, the metal melted and ran like the sap from a tree, limpid as flowing water, and in a few moments the work was accomplished and the new Buddha successfully cast.
Which phrase best defines the term cast as it is used at the end of paragraph 2? Use context clues as a guide.
throw metal into an oven to melt it
sculpt an image using chisels and hammers
boil metal in a cauldron to cause bubbles to form
shape metal by melting it and pouring it into a mold
