English Reading Comprehension

It is believed that ancestors of the Hunza people deserted the army of Alexander the Great because

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

The earthly paradises of Bali and of the South Sea Islands, and the gentle, non-acquisitive civilization of Burma have been aptly described and romanticized. One can add to them the Nicobar Islands, where a small population lives happily on a very low cultural level. But perhaps the most remarkable and the least known of these earthly paradises is the small kingdom of Hunza in the Himalayas, which was recently visited and enthusiastically described by the journalist, Noel Barber (Daily Mail, 5, 6, 8 June 1962).

A fair-skinned population of 18,000,  live in a fertile and almost inaccessible valley not far from the Sinkiang border, 8,000 feet up. A legend has it that they are the descendants of three deserters from the army of Alexander the Great, who settled here with Persian wives - which make one inclined to believe that pacifism may be hereditary, because these people had no war in 2,000 years. They have no money, no crime, and no diseases, they rarely die before ninety. Their psychosomatic control is almost unbelievable, childbirth is painless and toothache, a joke. They keep their numbers stationary without contraceptives, and without abortion, but by sheer abstinence, though Noel Barber saw the new born son of a chuckling father aged eighty-nine. Their diet, which consists mostly of apricots and raw vegetables, may have something to do with their unshakeable serenity. It makes one gasp with surprise that human nature can be like this. One is reminded of Huxley's Island, but unlike the Palanese, the Hunza people have no art, only serenity.

How many arguments did the new student offer to counter the geography master's routine argument?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

Returning home after a decade-and-half abroad, our ge­ography master remained incurably addicted to foreign ways and ideas for years after landing here. He would forever stick to his theory of Africans suffering from a curse inflicted on them by the Almighty God for some heinous sins committed centuries ago. He would, in support of this theory ask listen­ers, “Why would our mosquito inflict deadly malaria on us whereas the British mosquito does not bite? Why aren't there poisonous snakes in Britain whereas here most snakes are deadly? Why should the deadly sickle cell disease be peculiar to the black race?”

Of course, he would hardly wait for answers to these and similar questions before jumping to the same inevitable con­clusion. However, he met his match one day when a new student joined the class and heard the litany we were used to. The new boy calmly said. "Sir, I happened to know a few white men who suffer from the sickle cell disease: some are Italians and some are Spanish. The mosquito is equally deadly in India, South East Asian countries and South America. The United States and some other South American countries have their deadly snakes. And, sir, I know many white folks; some of them British, who would prefer our brilliant sunshine to their horribly cold winter." And he sat down.

I had never, before that day, seen our master so con­sumed with anger. He directed a burning look at the poor boy who had no answer to this new battle. Without as much as saying a single word, the master stalked out of the classroom. Needless to say, our anger was turned on the new boy, who had decided to rock the boat without taking the time to sound the water. A delegation was sent to the master to apologise to him. He was appeased. But we all noticed something rather unusual thereafter; never again did he dwell on the issue of Africans being the accursed people.

The unshakable serenity of the Hunza people is possibly attributable to

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

The earthly paradises of Bali and of the South Sea Islands, and the gentle, non-acquisitive civilization of Burma have been aptly described and romanticized. One can add to them the Nicobar Islands, where a small population lives happily on a very low cultural level. But perhaps the most remarkable and the least known of these earthly paradises is the small kingdom of Hunza in the Himalayas, which was recently visited and enthusiastically described by the journalist, Noel Barber (Daily Mail, 5, 6, 8 June 1962).

A fair-skinned population of 18,000,  live in a fertile and almost inaccessible valley not far from the Sinkiang border, 8,000 feet up. A legend has it that they are the descendants of three deserters from the army of Alexander the Great, who settled here with Persian wives - which make one inclined to believe that pacifism may be hereditary, because these people had no war in 2,000 years. They have no money, no crime, and no diseases, they rarely die before ninety. Their psychosomatic control is almost unbelievable, childbirth is painless and toothache, a joke. They keep their numbers stationary without contraceptives, and without abortion, but by sheer abstinence, though Noel Barber saw the new born son of a chuckling father aged eighty-nine. Their diet, which consists mostly of apricots and raw vegetables, may have something to do with their unshakeable serenity. It makes one gasp with surprise that human nature can be like this. One is reminded of Huxley's Island, but unlike the Palanese, the Hunza people have no art, only serenity.

Which word in the passage can replace the expression 'a sudden intake of breath'?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

The earthly paradises of Bali and of the South Sea Islands, and the gentle, non-acquisitive civilization of Burma have been aptly described and romanticized. One can add to them the Nicobar Islands, where a small population lives happily on a very low cultural level. But perhaps the most remarkable and the least known of these earthly paradises is the small kingdom of Hunza in the Himalayas, which was recently visited and enthusiastically described by the journalist, Noel Barber (Daily Mail, 5, 6, 8 June 1962).

A fair-skinned population of 18,000,  live in a fertile and almost inaccessible valley not far from the Sinkiang border, 8,000 feet up. A legend has it that they are the descendants of three deserters from the army of Alexander the Great, who settled here with Persian wives - which make one inclined to believe that pacifism may be hereditary, because these people had no war in 2,000 years. They have no money, no crime, and no diseases, they rarely die before ninety. Their psychosomatic control is almost unbelievable, childbirth is painless and toothache, a joke. They keep their numbers stationary without contraceptives, and without abortion, but by sheer abstinence, though Noel Barber saw the new born son of a chuckling father aged eighty-nine. Their diet, which consists mostly of apricots and raw vegetables, may have something to do with their unshakeable serenity. It makes one gasp with surprise that human nature can be like this. One is reminded of Huxley's Island, but unlike the Palanese, the Hunza people have no art, only serenity.

The students of the class got annoyed with the new boy because

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

Returning home after a decade-and-half abroad, our ge­ography master remained incurably addicted to foreign ways and ideas for years after landing here. He would forever stick to his theory of Africans suffering from a curse inflicted on them by the Almighty God for some heinous sins committed centuries ago. He would, in support of this theory ask listen­ers, “Why would our mosquito inflict deadly malaria on us whereas the British mosquito does not bite? Why aren't there poisonous snakes in Britain whereas here most snakes are deadly? Why should the deadly sickle cell disease be peculiar to the black race?”

Of course, he would hardly wait for answers to these and similar questions before jumping to the same inevitable con­clusion. However, he met his match one day when a new student joined the class and heard the litany we were used to. The new boy calmly said. "Sir, I happened to know a few white men who suffer from the sickle cell disease: some are Italians and some are Spanish. The mosquito is equally deadly in India, South East Asian countries and South America. The United States and some other South American countries have their deadly snakes. And, sir, I know many white folks; some of them British, who would prefer our brilliant sunshine to their horribly cold winter." And he sat down.

I had never, before that day, seen our master so con­sumed with anger. He directed a burning look at the poor boy who had no answer to this new battle. Without as much as saying a single word, the master stalked out of the classroom. Needless to say, our anger was turned on the new boy, who had decided to rock the boat without taking the time to sound the water. A delegation was sent to the master to apologise to him. He was appeased. But we all noticed something rather unusual thereafter; never again did he dwell on the issue of Africans being the accursed people.

The major difference between the kingdom of Hunza and the other earthly paradises described in the passage is that

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

The earthly paradises of Bali and of the South Sea Islands, and the gentle, non-acquisitive civilization of Burma have been aptly described and romanticized. One can add to them the Nicobar Islands, where a small population lives happily on a very low cultural level. But perhaps the most remarkable and the least known of these earthly paradises is the small kingdom of Hunza in the Himalayas, which was recently visited and enthusiastically described by the journalist, Noel Barber (Daily Mail, 5, 6, 8 June 1962).

A fair-skinned population of 18,000,  live in a fertile and almost inaccessible valley not far from the Sinkiang border, 8,000 feet up. A legend has it that they are the descendants of three deserters from the army of Alexander the Great, who settled here with Persian wives - which make one inclined to believe that pacifism may be hereditary, because these people had no war in 2,000 years. They have no money, no crime, and no diseases, they rarely die before ninety. Their psychosomatic control is almost unbelievable, childbirth is painless and toothache, a joke. They keep their numbers stationary without contraceptives, and without abortion, but by sheer abstinence, though Noel Barber saw the new born son of a chuckling father aged eighty-nine. Their diet, which consists mostly of apricots and raw vegetables, may have something to do with their unshakeable serenity. It makes one gasp with surprise that human nature can be like this. One is reminded of Huxley's Island, but unlike the Palanese, the Hunza people have no art, only serenity.

Which of the following is not an argument that the geography master used to substantiate his theory?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

Returning home after a decade-and-half abroad, our ge­ography master remained incurably addicted to foreign ways and ideas for years after landing here. He would forever stick to his theory of Africans suffering from a curse inflicted on them by the Almighty God for some heinous sins committed centuries ago. He would, in support of this theory ask listen­ers, “Why would our mosquito inflict deadly malaria on us whereas the British mosquito does not bite? Why aren't there poisonous snakes in Britain whereas here most snakes are deadly? Why should the deadly sickle cell disease be peculiar to the black race?”

Of course, he would hardly wait for answers to these and similar questions before jumping to the same inevitable con­clusion. However, he met his match one day when a new student joined the class and heard the litany we were used to. The new boy calmly said. "Sir, I happened to know a few white men who suffer from the sickle cell disease: some are Italians and some are Spanish. The mosquito is equally deadly in India, South East Asian countries and South America. The United States and some other South American countries have their deadly snakes. And, sir, I know many white folks; some of them British, who would prefer our brilliant sunshine to their horribly cold winter." And he sat down.

I had never, before that day, seen our master so con­sumed with anger. He directed a burning look at the poor boy who had no answer to this new battle. Without as much as saying a single word, the master stalked out of the classroom. Needless to say, our anger was turned on the new boy, who had decided to rock the boat without taking the time to sound the water. A delegation was sent to the master to apologise to him. He was appeased. But we all noticed something rather unusual thereafter; never again did he dwell on the issue of Africans being the accursed people.

What does the author say about the complexion of Hunza population?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

The earthly paradises of Bali and of the South Sea Islands, and the gentle, non-acquisitive civilization of Burma have been aptly described and romanticized. One can add to them the Nicobar Islands, where a small population lives happily on a very low cultural level. But perhaps the most remarkable and the least known of these earthly paradises is the small kingdom of Hunza in the Himalayas, which was recently visited and enthusiastically described by the journalist, Noel Barber (Daily Mail, 5, 6, 8 June 1962).

A fair-skinned population of 18,000,  live in a fertile and almost inaccessible valley not far from the Sinkiang border, 8,000 feet up. A legend has it that they are the descendants of three deserters from the army of Alexander the Great, who settled here with Persian wives - which make one inclined to believe that pacifism may be hereditary, because these people had no war in 2,000 years. They have no money, no crime, and no diseases, they rarely die before ninety. Their psychosomatic control is almost unbelievable, childbirth is painless and toothache, a joke. They keep their numbers stationary without contraceptives, and without abortion, but by sheer abstinence, though Noel Barber saw the new born son of a chuckling father aged eighty-nine. Their diet, which consists mostly of apricots and raw vegetables, may have something to do with their unshakeable serenity. It makes one gasp with surprise that human nature can be like this. One is reminded of Huxley's Island, but unlike the Palanese, the Hunza people have no art, only serenity.

The geography master developed a special affinity to foreign ways and ideas because

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

Returning home after a decade-and-half abroad, our ge­ography master remained incurably addicted to foreign ways and ideas for years after landing here. He would forever stick to his theory of Africans suffering from a curse inflicted on them by the Almighty God for some heinous sins committed centuries ago. He would, in support of this theory ask listen­ers, “Why would our mosquito inflict deadly malaria on us whereas the British mosquito does not bite? Why aren't there poisonous snakes in Britain whereas here most snakes are deadly? Why should the deadly sickle cell disease be peculiar to the black race?”

Of course, he would hardly wait for answers to these and similar questions before jumping to the same inevitable con­clusion. However, he met his match one day when a new student joined the class and heard the litany we were used to. The new boy calmly said. "Sir, I happened to know a few white men who suffer from the sickle cell disease: some are Italians and some are Spanish. The mosquito is equally deadly in India, South East Asian countries and South America. The United States and some other South American countries have their deadly snakes. And, sir, I know many white folks; some of them British, who would prefer our brilliant sunshine to their horribly cold winter." And he sat down.

I had never, before that day, seen our master so con­sumed with anger. He directed a burning look at the poor boy who had no answer to this new battle. Without as much as saying a single word, the master stalked out of the classroom. Needless to say, our anger was turned on the new boy, who had decided to rock the boat without taking the time to sound the water. A delegation was sent to the master to apologise to him. He was appeased. But we all noticed something rather unusual thereafter; never again did he dwell on the issue of Africans being the accursed people.

The word in the passage that can replace the expression 'cruel and wicked' is

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

Returning home after a decade-and-half abroad, our ge­ography master remained incurably addicted to foreign ways and ideas for years after landing here. He would forever stick to his theory of Africans suffering from a curse inflicted on them by the Almighty God for some heinous sins committed centuries ago. He would, in support of this theory ask listen­ers, “Why would our mosquito inflict deadly malaria on us whereas the British mosquito does not bite? Why aren't there poisonous snakes in Britain whereas here most snakes are deadly? Why should the deadly sickle cell disease be peculiar to the black race?”

Of course, he would hardly wait for answers to these and similar questions before jumping to the same inevitable con­clusion. However, he met his match one day when a new student joined the class and heard the litany we were used to. The new boy calmly said. "Sir, I happened to know a few white men who suffer from the sickle cell disease: some are Italians and some are Spanish. The mosquito is equally deadly in India, South East Asian countries and South America. The United States and some other South American countries have their deadly snakes. And, sir, I know many white folks; some of them British, who would prefer our brilliant sunshine to their horribly cold winter." And he sat down.

I had never, before that day, seen our master so con­sumed with anger. He directed a burning look at the poor boy who had no answer to this new battle. Without as much as saying a single word, the master stalked out of the classroom. Needless to say, our anger was turned on the new boy, who had decided to rock the boat without taking the time to sound the water. A delegation was sent to the master to apologise to him. He was appeased. But we all noticed something rather unusual thereafter; never again did he dwell on the issue of Africans being the accursed people.

What do we do in our deathbed?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4^th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best. 

He also loved the 3^rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.
He too, loved his 2^nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2^nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times. 

Now, the merchant's 1^st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her. 

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!"
Thus, he asked the 4^th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?". "No way!" replied the 4^th wife and she walked away without another word. 

The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3^rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?". "No!" replied the 3^rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold. 

He then asked the 2^nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?". "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2^nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated. 

Then a voice called out : "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have !"
Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives
a. The 4^th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die. 

b. Our 3^rd wife? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others. 

c. The 2^nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave. 

d. The 1^st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.

What is the meaning of barracks?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Piffle and poffle!” cried Mandarin. “You are not a dragon! Everyone can see that you are only a dusty old wanderer. We have no time to give you free meals or to talk politely. Get out of the way.”
And he ran home to the palace and crawled under the bed where he lay shivering.
“ My gallant army,” command the Captain, “follow me!”
He turned and ran to the barracks and all his soldiers followed him. They all hid under their beds and lay there shaking.
The Merchant, The Wise Man, and the Chief of the Workmen fled to their own houses and all the people hurried after them. In a few minutes, the streets were empty except for Han and the little fat old man.
“Well,” said Han, “I don’t think we have much time. The enemy will be here soon. I don’t know whether you are a dragon or not, but if you are hungry and thirsty, please do me the honour of coming into my humble house.”
With a low bow, he showed the old man the way into his tiny hut.There, he gave him the bowl of rice and the cup of wine, which were all he had.
The old man ate and drank. Then he stood up.
“I don’t think much of the people of Wu,” he said, “but for your sake I will save the city.”
He went out to the gate. The Wild Horsemen were very close. There wore fur caps and the skins of tigers. They shot arrows at the city as they rode hard on their shaggy horses.
The little fat man puffed out his checks.He blew a long breath. The sky grew dark and lightning sizzled from the clouds to the earth. A great wind arose. It caught the Wild Horsemen and blew them far and wide. Those who escaped turned and galloped madly away through the storm.
The sky cleared. The sun shone again. The plain was empty.
The little fat man said, “Now I will show you what a dragon looks like.”
He sprang up into the air and his form changed. He grew taller than the tallest tree, taller than the tallest tower. He was the colour of sunset shining through rain. Scales covered him, scattering light. His claws and teeth glittered like diamonds. His eyes were noble like those of a proud horse. He was more beautiful and more frightening than anything Han had ever seen.
He flew high, roaring, and vanished into the deep sky. Han gave a long sigh and went to tell the Mandarin what had happened.
The people of the city crowded around to hear the tale. They could see for themselves that the enemy had vanished. They cheered Han, pinned medals on him, gave him many gold pieces, and from that day on called him “The Honourable Defender of the city.”

What is the meaning of humble in context to the passage?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Piffle and poffle!” cried Mandarin. “You are not a dragon! Everyone can see that you are only a dusty old wanderer. We have no time to give you free meals or to talk politely. Get out of the way.”
And he ran home to the palace and crawled under the bed where he lay shivering.
“ My gallant army,” command the Captain, “follow me!”
He turned and ran to the barracks and all his soldiers followed him. They all hid under their beds and lay there shaking.
The Merchant, The Wise Man, and the Chief of the Workmen fled to their own houses and all the people hurried after them. In a few minutes, the streets were empty except for Han and the little fat old man.
“Well,” said Han, “I don’t think we have much time. The enemy will be here soon. I don’t know whether you are a dragon or not, but if you are hungry and thirsty, please do me the honour of coming into my humble house.”
With a low bow, he showed the old man the way into his tiny hut.There, he gave him the bowl of rice and the cup of wine, which were all he had.
The old man ate and drank. Then he stood up.
“I don’t think much of the people of Wu,” he said, “but for your sake I will save the city.”
He went out to the gate. The Wild Horsemen were very close. There wore fur caps and the skins of tigers. They shot arrows at the city as they rode hard on their shaggy horses.
The little fat man puffed out his checks.He blew a long breath. The sky grew dark and lightning sizzled from the clouds to the earth. A great wind arose. It caught the Wild Horsemen and blew them far and wide. Those who escaped turned and galloped madly away through the storm.
The sky cleared. The sun shone again. The plain was empty.
The little fat man said, “Now I will show you what a dragon looks like.”
He sprang up into the air and his form changed. He grew taller than the tallest tree, taller than the tallest tower. He was the colour of sunset shining through rain. Scales covered him, scattering light. His claws and teeth glittered like diamonds. His eyes were noble like those of a proud horse. He was more beautiful and more frightening than anything Han had ever seen.
He flew high, roaring, and vanished into the deep sky. Han gave a long sigh and went to tell the Mandarin what had happened.
The people of the city crowded around to hear the tale. They could see for themselves that the enemy had vanished. They cheered Han, pinned medals on him, gave him many gold pieces, and from that day on called him “The Honourable Defender of the city.”

What did the Merchant, the Wise Man and the Chief of the Workmen do?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Piffle and poffle!” cried Mandarin. “You are not a dragon! Everyone can see that you are only a dusty old wanderer. We have no time to give you free meals or to talk politely. Get out of the way.”
And he ran home to the palace and crawled under the bed where he lay shivering.
“ My gallant army,” command the Captain, “follow me!”
He turned and ran to the barracks and all his soldiers followed him. They all hid under their beds and lay there shaking.
The Merchant, The Wise Man, and the Chief of the Workmen fled to their own houses and all the people hurried after them. In a few minutes, the streets were empty except for Han and the little fat old man.
“Well,” said Han, “I don’t think we have much time. The enemy will be here soon. I don’t know whether you are a dragon or not, but if you are hungry and thirsty, please do me the honour of coming into my humble house.”
With a low bow, he showed the old man the way into his tiny hut.There, he gave him the bowl of rice and the cup of wine, which were all he had.
The old man ate and drank. Then he stood up.
“I don’t think much of the people of Wu,” he said, “but for your sake I will save the city.”
He went out to the gate. The Wild Horsemen were very close. There wore fur caps and the skins of tigers. They shot arrows at the city as they rode hard on their shaggy horses.
The little fat man puffed out his checks.He blew a long breath. The sky grew dark and lightning sizzled from the clouds to the earth. A great wind arose. It caught the Wild Horsemen and blew them far and wide. Those who escaped turned and galloped madly away through the storm.
The sky cleared. The sun shone again. The plain was empty.
The little fat man said, “Now I will show you what a dragon looks like.”
He sprang up into the air and his form changed. He grew taller than the tallest tree, taller than the tallest tower. He was the colour of sunset shining through rain. Scales covered him, scattering light. His claws and teeth glittered like diamonds. His eyes were noble like those of a proud horse. He was more beautiful and more frightening than anything Han had ever seen.
He flew high, roaring, and vanished into the deep sky. Han gave a long sigh and went to tell the Mandarin what had happened.
The people of the city crowded around to hear the tale. They could see for themselves that the enemy had vanished. They cheered Han, pinned medals on him, gave him many gold pieces, and from that day on called him “The Honourable Defender of the city.”

What is the meaning of galloped?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Piffle and poffle!” cried Mandarin. “You are not a dragon! Everyone can see that you are only a dusty old wanderer. We have no time to give you free meals or to talk politely. Get out of the way.”
And he ran home to the palace and crawled under the bed where he lay shivering.
“ My gallant army,” command the Captain, “follow me!”
He turned and ran to the barracks and all his soldiers followed him. They all hid under their beds and lay there shaking.
The Merchant, The Wise Man, and the Chief of the Workmen fled to their own houses and all the people hurried after them. In a few minutes, the streets were empty except for Han and the little fat old man.
“Well,” said Han, “I don’t think we have much time. The enemy will be here soon. I don’t know whether you are a dragon or not, but if you are hungry and thirsty, please do me the honour of coming into my humble house.”
With a low bow, he showed the old man the way into his tiny hut.There, he gave him the bowl of rice and the cup of wine, which were all he had.
The old man ate and drank. Then he stood up.
“I don’t think much of the people of Wu,” he said, “but for your sake I will save the city.”
He went out to the gate. The Wild Horsemen were very close. There wore fur caps and the skins of tigers. They shot arrows at the city as they rode hard on their shaggy horses.
The little fat man puffed out his checks.He blew a long breath. The sky grew dark and lightning sizzled from the clouds to the earth. A great wind arose. It caught the Wild Horsemen and blew them far and wide. Those who escaped turned and galloped madly away through the storm.
The sky cleared. The sun shone again. The plain was empty.
The little fat man said, “Now I will show you what a dragon looks like.”
He sprang up into the air and his form changed. He grew taller than the tallest tree, taller than the tallest tower. He was the colour of sunset shining through rain. Scales covered him, scattering light. His claws and teeth glittered like diamonds. His eyes were noble like those of a proud horse. He was more beautiful and more frightening than anything Han had ever seen.
He flew high, roaring, and vanished into the deep sky. Han gave a long sigh and went to tell the Mandarin what had happened.
The people of the city crowded around to hear the tale. They could see for themselves that the enemy had vanished. They cheered Han, pinned medals on him, gave him many gold pieces, and from that day on called him “The Honourable Defender of the city.”