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King Midas wanted to be the richest king in the world, and one day, he had the chance to make it happen. His servants had captured a satyr, a half-man and half-goat creature. The satyr happened to be good friends with a very powerful god named Dionysus.

(2) Midas thought that Dionysus just might give him a reward for finding the satyr, so he asked the satyr to stay at the palace where he would be treated as a guest. The satyr was given a nice room with fine linens and any food he desired. The satyr was quite happy about all this.
(3) Soon, Dionysus arrived at the palace, as he had been searching for the satyr. Midas took Dionysus to see the satyr, who told the god about all the rich foods and fine things the king had given him. Dionysus was grateful to Midas for treating his friend so well, and he offered to grant Midas one wish.
(4) "I wish that everything I touch would turn to gold!" Midas exclaimed without thinking. He couldn't believe his luck! Now he would definitely become the world's richest king. Dionysus asked if he was sure, and because Midas said he was sure, Dionysus granted the wish.
(5) For the next few hours, Midas was in heaven. He touched flowers, and they became gold. He touched his bed, and it became gold. He touched his castle, and it became gold. Then, because he was thirsty, Midas tried to drink some water, but it dried as it touched his lips and also became gold. He tried to eat an orange, but it too turned into the precious metal. Finally, his daughter ran to give him a hug, and she too became gold! Midas realized that his wish had become a curse.
(6) Midas begged Dionysus to take back his wish. Dionysus saw how sorry Midas was and took pity on him. He sent Midas to bathe in the River Pactolus. The waters cleansed him and released him from the golden touch. Midas realized then that riches are not the most important things in the world.
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What is the best summary of the passage?
A.
King Midas has a special talent. He can turn anything he touches into gold. Midas loves his gift, and he even turns his daughter into gold.
B.
King Midas performs a favor for the god Dionysus. As a reward, Dionysus grants Midas one wish. Midas wishes that everything he touches turns into gold.
C.
King Midas is greedy and all he wants to be is rich. He begs Dionysus to grant him the gift of turning things into gold. He turns flowers, water, an orange, and even his bed into gold.
D.
King Midas wants to be rich, and he asks Dionysus to to allow him to turn anything he touches to gold. King Midas turns his daughter into gold. He realizes that being rich isn't the most important thing.

User Ghoul
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Option D is the correct summary: King Midas' wish to turn things into gold becomes a curse when he accidentally turns his daughter into gold, leading to a lesson that riches aren't everything.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best summary of the passage about King Midas and his golden touch is option D. King Midas, desiring wealth, makes a wish to Dionysus to turn anything he touches into gold. This wish initially fills him with joy as objects around him become gold, but the reality of the curse is realized when he turns even his daughter into a statue of gold. In desperation, he implores Dionysus to reverse the wish, which Dionysus does, teaching Midas a valuable lesson about the true importance of life beyond riches.

User Ruchira Nawarathna
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