What atmosphere is reflected in this excerpt from Yei Theodora Ozaki’s “The Story of the Old Man Who Made Withered Trees to Flow
er”? A strange thing happened! His wife put the rice into the mortar, and no sooner had he begun to pound it to make the cakes, than it began to increase in quantity gradually till it was about five times the original amount, and the cakes were turned out of the mortar as if an invisible hand were at work.
When the old man and his wife saw this, they understood that it was a reward to them from Shiro for their faithful love to him. They tasted the cakes and found them nicer than any other food. So from this time they never troubled about food, for they lived upon the cakes with which the mortar never ceased to supply them.
A. peace and happiness
B. wonder and excitement
C. horror and unease
D. dullness and boredom
The old man and his wife were delighted to have received a reward from Shiro for all the love and dedication the couple dedicated to him. The reward makes them very happy, and they get excited about not having to worry about food anymore, because thanks to Shiro's reward, they would live off the cakes the mortar never failed to provide them with.
When reading the excerpt the reader realizes that the passage gives a tone of wonder and excitement. Leave the reader with a sense of satisfaction and happiness.
to set up the central conflict between the families, to invoke feelings of sympathy in the audience, and to inform the audience where the story takes place
