The Three Questions (Supplementary)

Unit 3 – Supplementary

The Three Questions

Leo Tolstoy

Section I

There was a king who had three questions in his mind:

1. If he always knew the right time to begin everything;
2. If he knew who were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid;
3. And, above all, if he always knew what was the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything he might undertake.

This thought having occurred to him, he had it proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to anyone who would teach him:

• What was the right time for every action,
• Who were the most necessary people, and
• How he might know what was the most important thing to do.

Learned men came to the king, but they all answered his questions differently.

Answers to the First Question

• Some said: draw up in advance a table of days, months, and years and live strictly according to it.
• Others declared: do not decide beforehand; attend to what is going on and do what is most needful.
• Others said: have a council of wise men to fix the proper time.
• Yet others: some things cannot wait; consult magicians to know what will happen.

Answers to the Second Question

Equally various were the answers:

• Councilors
• Priests
• Doctors
• Warriors

Answers to the Third Question

As to the most important occupation:

• Some replied: science
• Others: skill in warfare
• Others: religious worship

All the answers being different, the king agreed with none of them and gave the reward to none.

Still wishing to find the right answers, he decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.

The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted and received none but common folk. So the king:

• Put on simple clothes
• Dismounted from his horse
• Left his bodyguard behind
• Went on alone

When the king approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. Seeing the king, he greeted him and went on digging. The hermit was frail and weak; each time he stuck his spade into the ground he breathed heavily.

The king said:

“I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask you to answer three questions:
How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time?
Who are the people I most need, and to whom should I pay more attention?
And what are the most important things needing my first attention?”

The hermit listened but answered nothing. He spat on his hand and recommenced digging.

“You are tired,” said the king, “let me take the spade and work awhile for you.”
“Thanks!” said the hermit, giving the spade to the king.

When the king had dug two beds, he stopped and repeated his questions. The hermit again gave no answer, but rose and said:

“Now rest awhile – and let me work a bit.”

But the king did not give him the spade and continued to dig. One hour passed, and another. The sun began to sink. At last the king said:

“I came to you for an answer. If you can give me none, tell me so, and I will return home.”

“Here comes someone running,” said the hermit. “Let us see who it is.”

Glossary

• proclaimed (v) – announced officially
• absorbed (v) – took in or soaked up
• renowned (adj) – famous, eminent, distinguished
• affairs (n) – event, incident

A. Choose the correct answer

1. The king wanted to know the answers for three questions.
   a) three b) five c) nine

2. The hermit lived in a wood.
   a) cottage b) palace c) wood

3. Hermit was widely renowned for his wisdom.
   a) hermit b) messengers c) warriors

B. Fill in the blanks

1. The answer for the first question was to have a council of wise men to fix the proper time for everything.
2. Magicians were referred to know the right time for every action.
3. The king decided to consult a hermit.

C. Who said these words?

1. “They all answered his questions differently.” – Narrator
2. “How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time?” – King
3. “Now rest awhile – and let me work a bit?” – Hermit

D. Answer the following questions

1. What questions did the king ask?
   – Right time for every action, most necessary people, most important thing to do.

2. Was the king satisfied with the answers? Why?
   – No; every learned man gave a different answer.

3. Why was the king advised to go to the magicians?
   – Because only magicians could foretell the future and thus decide the right time.

4. Whose advice did the people say would be important for the second question?
   – Councilors, priests, doctors, warriors (various opinions).

Section II

The king turned and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach; blood was flowing. When he reached the king, he fell fainting on the ground, moaning feebly.

The king and the hermit:

• Unfastened the man’s clothing
• Found a large wound in his stomach
• Washed and bandaged it with the king’s handkerchief and the hermit’s towel
• Repeatedly removed the soaked bandage, washed and re-bandaged

When the blood ceased, the man revived and asked for water. The king brought fresh water. The sun had set; it became cool. They carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed. The king, exhausted, crouched on the threshold and fell asleep.

At dawn, the king awoke and saw the stranger gazing intently at him.

“Forgive me!” said the bearded man weakly.
“I do not know you, and have nothing to forgive,” replied the king.

The man explained:

“I am your enemy. You executed my brother and seized my property. I lay in ambush to kill you, but your bodyguard wounded me. You have saved my life; now I and my sons will serve you as faithful slaves. Forgive me!”

The king:

• Forgave him
• Promised to send his physician and servants
• Promised to restore his property

Before leaving, the king again begged the hermit for answers.

“You have already been answered!” said the hermit.

“If you had not dug these beds, you would have been attacked.
When the wounded man came, he was the most important.
Now is the only time we have power.
The most necessary person is the one with whom you are.
The most important affair is to do that person good.”

About the Author

Leo Tolstoy (1828 – 1910) was a Russian writer regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time. He is best known for the novels War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1877).

Glossary

• moaning (v) – sob, cry
• unfasten (v) – undo, untie
• revived (v) – restored to life
• crouched (v) – bent down
• threshold (n) – doorstep
• seized (v) – grabbed forcibly
• ambush (n) – surprise attack

A. True or False

1. The bearded man was an enemy of the king. – True
2. The king and the hermit refused to help the wounded man. – False
3. The wounded man asked for forgiveness from the king. – True
4. The king promised to restore the property of the bearded man. – True

B. Match the words

A	B
physician	medical practitioner
restore	bring back
repent	regret
ambush	surprise attack

C. Answer the following questions

1. Who came running out of the wood? What happened to him?
   – A bearded enemy; he had a bleeding stomach wound.

2. How did the king and the hermit restore the life of the wounded man?
   – Washed and bandaged the wound, gave water, carried him to bed.

3. Why did the king sleep through the night?
   – He was tired from walking and digging.

4. How did the behaviour of the wounded man change at the end?
   – From vengeful enemy to grateful, faithful servant.

D. Answer in 100 words

1. What were the answers to the three questions? What is the message of the hermit?
   – Now is the only important time; the person with you is the most necessary; doing that person good is the most important affair.
   – Message: Live in the present, serve whoever is before you.

2. Why did the bearded man ask for forgiveness? What did the king do?
   – The man had plotted to kill the king, but the king saved his life.
   – The king forgave him, promised medical help and restoration of property.

Step to Success

Read the English folk tale and fill the blanks with: and, that, after, where, on

There were once three tortoises – a father, a mother and a baby. One fine morning during spring, they decided that they would like to go for a picnic. They picked the place where they would go, a nice wood at some distance, and they began to put their things together. They got tins of cheese, vegetable, meat and fruits. They were ready for the picnic. They set out carrying their baskets. After eighteen months they sat down for rest. They enjoyed the picnic very much.

Connecting to Self

Steps to gain wisdom
Wisdom is a virtue that isn’t innate, but can only be acquired through experience.

ICT Corner

Grammar – Prepositions

Objective: Familiarize prepositions through an interactive game.

Steps:
1. Access the app via the link or QR code and install.
2. Choose Single player or Multiplayer.
3. Select any level.
4. Click the correct preposition quickly to earn stars.
5. Play all levels for more practice.

App: Preposition Master – Learn English
Download here

Practice Practice Exercises

1. The king wanted to know the answers for questions.

a) three

b) five

c) nine

2. The hermit lived in a .

a) cottage

b) palace

c) wood

3. widely renowned for his wisdom.

a) hermit

b) messengers

c) warriors

1. The answer for the first question was to have to fix the proper time for everything.

2. were referred to know the right time for every action.

3. The king decided to consult a .

1. “They all answered his questions differently.”

2. How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time?

3. “Now rest awhile – and let me work a bit? ”

1. What questions did the king ask?

2. Was the king satisfied with the answers? Why?

3. Why was the king advised to go to the magicians?

4. Whose advice did the people say would be important for the second question the king asked?

1. The bearded man was an enemy of the king.

2. The king and the hermit refused to help the wounded man.

3. The wounded man asked for forgiveness from the king.

4. The king promised to restore the property of the bearded man.

1. Who came running out of the wood? What happened to him?

2. How did the king and the hermit restore the life of a wounded man?

3. Why did the king sleep through the night?

4. How did the behavior of the wounded man change at the end?

1. What were the answers to the three questions? What is the message of the hermit?

2. Why did the bearded man ask for the king’s forgiveness? What did the king do to show his forgiveness?

There were once three tortoises – a father, a mother a baby one fine morning during spring, they decided they would like to go for a picnic. They picked the place they would go, a nice wood at some distance, they began to put their things together. They got tins of cheese, vegetable, meat and fruits. They were ready for the picnic. They set out carrying their baskets eighteen months they sat down for rest. They enjoyed the picnic very much.