Question

Read "The Tiger, the Fox, and the Hunters" by Ramaswami Raju and answer the question that follows.

A fox was once caught in a trap. A hungry Tiger saw him and said, "So you are here!"

"Only on your account," said the Fox in a whisper.

"How so?" said the Tiger.

"Why, you were complaining you could not get men to eat, so I got into this net to-day, that you may have the men when they come to take me," said the Fox, and gave a hint that if he would wait a while in a thicket close by he would point out the men to him.

"May I depend upon your word?" said the Tiger.

"Certainly," said the Fox.

The Hunters came, and seeing the Fox in the net, said, "So you are here!"

"Only on your account," said the Fox, in a whisper.

"How so?" said the men.

"Why, you were complaining you could not get at the Tiger that has been devouring your cattle; I got into this net to-day that you may have him. As I expected, he came to eat me up, and is in yonder thicket," said the Fox, and gave a hint that if they would take him out of the trap he would point out the Tiger.

"May we depend upon your word?" said the men.

"Certainly," said the Fox, while the men went with him in a circle to see that he did not escape.

Then the Fox said to the Tiger and the men, "Sir Tiger, here are the men; gentlemen, here is the Tiger."

The men left the Fox and turned to the Tiger. The former beat a hasty retreat to the wood, saying, "I have kept my promise to both; now you may settle it between yourselves."

The Tiger exclaimed, when it was too late, "Alas! what art for a double part!"

The universal theme of this fable is "Be careful of those you have to ask if you can trust." Which of the following lines from the fable does not help develop the universal theme?

A. "I have kept my promise to both; now you may settle it between yourselves."
B. The Tiger exclaimed, when it was too late, "Alas! what art for a double part!"
C. A fox was once caught in a trap.
D."Sir Tiger, here are the men; gentlemen, here is the Tiger."

Answer 1

C. A fox was once caught in a trap

Answer 2

The line from the fable that does not help develop the theme of trust is "A fox was once caught in a trap." It simply sets the scene without addressing the theme of trust or deceit.

Step-by-step explanation:

The line from "The Tiger, the Fox, and the Hunters" by Ramaswami Raju that does not help develop the universal theme of 'Be careful of those you have to ask if you can trust' is C. "A fox was once caught in a trap." This sentence merely sets the scene and does not speak to the theme of trust or betrayal. In contrast, the other sentences directly relate to the cunning actions of the fox and the consequences of misplaced trust.

The fox's promise and subsequent betrayal in both A. "I have kept my promise to both; now you may settle it between yourselves." and D. "Sir Tiger, here are the men; gentlemen, here is the Tiger." highlight his deceit and reinforce the theme.

Similarly, line B. "The Tiger exclaimed, when it was too late, 'Alas! what art for a double part!'" reflects on the consequences of the tiger's misguided trust in the fox.