The Shepherd Treasure

Exercise

Questions

1.The shepherd hadn’t been to school because
(i) he was very poor.
(ii) there were very few schools in those days.
(iii) he wasn’t interested in studies.
Choose the right answer.

Answer: (ii) there were very few schools in those days.
2. Who visited the shepherd one day, and why?
Answer: The king of Iran had come to visit the shepherd. He had heard a lot about his wisdom. The king disguised himself as a shepherd and riding on a mule, came to visit the humble shepherd.
3. Why did the other governors grow jealous of the shepherd?
Answer: The king appointed wise shepherd as the governor of a small district. People loved and honoured him for his wisdom, sympathy and goodness. His fame spread far and wide throughout the country. So, the governors of other provinces grew terribly jealous of him and began to talk to the king against him.
4. Why was the new governor called to the palace?
Answer: The jealous governors poisoned the king’s ears against the humble new governor and reported that he was dishonest. They complained that he kept for himself part of the money in an iron chest that he collected as tax from the people. Hearing all these, finally the king called the new governor to the palace and ordered him to explain why he always carried an iron chest along with him.
5. Why was everyone delighted to see the iron chest on the camel’s back?

Answer: Everyone in the palace was delighted to see the iron chest on the camel’s back when the new governor arrived because they thought that the iron chest contained gold, silver and jewels in it. They knew if the king found the treasure inside the chest, he would dismiss the new governor of his duties and punish him for his bad deeds.
6. (i) What did the iron chest contain?
(ii) Why did the shepherd always carry it?
(iii) Is it an example of the shepherd’s humility or wisdom or both?
Answer:
(i). The iron chest contained an old blanket inside it.
(ii). The shepherd always carried an old blanket in an iron chest because it was his oldest friend. He said that it would still protect him, if some day the king took away his position and power.
(iii). Yes, it is an ideal example of the shepherd’s humility, wisdom and goodness.
7. How did the king reward the new governor?
Answer: The king was extremely pleased with the new governor’s humility, wisdom and honesty. He immediately rewarded the wise man and promoted him to the position of a governor of a bigger district that very same day.