Chapter: 18. The Second Voyage
Answer Key: Practice Paper
Comprehension
A. Answer these questions.
What valuable lesson did Sinbad learn immediately after realizing he was left behind on the island? Sinbad learned that it is foolish to cry out and do nothing; instead, one should take action. Describe the Roc’s leg, comparing it to something familiar to Sinbad. Sinbad described the Roc’s leg as being “like a tree” in size. Why did the merchants throw meat into the Valley of Diamonds? The merchants threw meat into the Valley of Diamonds so that diamonds would stick to it, and large birds would carry the meat (with the diamonds) out of the valley, allowing the merchants to retrieve them. How did Sinbad secure the diamonds he found before his escape? Sinbad secured the diamonds by filling the bag he carried food in with the biggest and best diamonds he could find. What was Sinbad’s emotional state when the merchants saw him emerge from the meat? Sinbad was covered in red meat and feeling ill after his two air journeys, but the merchants were petrified (terrified) when they saw him. B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
“I took the turban from my head and tied one end around the roc’s leg, which was like a tree. And then, I waited.”
a. What item did Sinbad use from his headwear?
* Sinbad used his turban from his headwear.
b. What was the purpose of tying himself to the roc’s leg?
* The purpose was to be carried away by the roc and escape the island.
c. What does “And then, I waited” suggest about Sinbad’s character at this moment?
* It suggests that Sinbad was patient, determined, and had a clear plan, waiting for the right moment to execute it. “There was a great thump on the ground near me, and I saw a very big bit of meat on the diamonds. It was red where knives had cut it.”
a. What caused the “great thump”?
* A very big bit of meat being thrown into the valley caused the “great thump.”
b. What significant detail about the meat confirmed Sinbad’s earlier thoughts about the Valley?
* The fact that the meat was “red where knives had cut it” confirmed Sinbad’s thoughts about the stories he had heard about merchants throwing cut meat into the valley.
c. What was the common practice associated with this sight in the Valley of Diamonds?
* The common practice was for merchants to throw meat into the valley for diamonds to stick to, and then for great birds to carry the meat (and diamonds) out of the valley. C. Answer this literature-based question.
Folk tales often serve to entertain while also teaching a lesson or sharing cultural beliefs. What cultural belief or human value is highlighted by Sinbad’s willingness to share his diamonds with the merchants who rescued him?
Sinbad’s willingness to share his diamonds highlights the values of gratitude, generosity, and fairness (or reciprocity). He acknowledged that the merchants indirectly helped him escape and also provided a means for him to sell his wealth, so he offered them a share of his fortune as a token of thanks and good faith.
Answer key