Question

Read the passage from "The Goatherd and the Wild Goats."

A goatherd, driving his flock from their pasture at eventide, found some Wild Goats mingled among them, and shut them up together with his own for the night.

The next day it snowed very hard, so that he could not take the herd to their usual feeding places, but was obliged to keep them in the fold.

He gave his own goats just sufficient food to keep them alive, but fed the strangers more abundantly in the hope of enticing them to stay with him and of making them his own.

When the thaw set in, he led them all out to feed, and the Wild Goats scampered away as fast as they could to the mountains.

The Goatherd scolded them for their ingratitude in leaving him, when during the storm he had taken more care of them than of his own herd.

One of them, turning about, said to him: "That is the very reason why we are so cautious; for if you yesterday treated us better than the Goats you have had so long, it is plain also that if others came after us, you would in the same manner prefer them to ourselves.”



Which statement accurately explains the theme most exemplified in this passage?

Good leaders treat everyone the same.
Kindness inspires others to be kind.
Strangers cannot always be trusted.
Ingratitude leads to unhappiness.

Answer 1

The correct answer is A. The Goatherd took good care of the Wild Goats during the storm, enven to almost neglect the others,but his motive was not good, desiring only increase his flock. And, not getting the result he wanted, he scolded them, showing his character and failing to be a good leader, whose job is to care, provide and protect without selfish expectations.

Answer 2

• The statement that accurately explains the theme in the Fable's passage is: "Good leaders treat everyone the same."

• An explanation is that if the Goatherd would have treated both his goats and the Wild Goats the same way, the latter would have trusted him and stayed with him. The fact that they were "new" does not mean it is right to leave his own flock behind.