GRADE 3 Volume Two
PRACTICE, PROGRESS, AND PROFICIENCY IN ELA USING THE CALIFORNIA STATE COMMON CORE STANDARDS
Context: Gain a deeper understanding of the entire work through micro and macro appreciation.
Cite the text: Use sentences from the text to explain your reasoning.
Implied and Inferred Meaning: Use evidence from the text to gain unstated meaning.
Comprehend the Tone: Explain the situation/setting to understand the frame of mind the author wants to convey.
Cite the text: Use sentences from the text to explain your reasoning.
Implied and Inferred Meaning: Use evidence from the text to gain unstated meaning.
Comprehend the Tone: Explain the situation/setting to understand the frame of mind the author wants to convey.
Ooka and the Honest Thief
By I. G. Edmonds
One day Yahichi, owner of a rice store, came to Ooka’s court, complaining that each night some of his rice disappeared.
This sentence introduces the ________ and the _____________ and the begins the __________________
“It is such a small amount that I hesitate to trouble your Honorable Honor,” Yahichi said, touching the ground with his head to show proper respect for the great magistrate. “But I am reminded of the story of the mountain that was reduced to a plain because a single grain was stolen from it each day for centuries.”
Ooka nodded gravely. “It is just as dishonest to steal one grain of rice as it is to steal a large snack,’’ he remarked. ‘’Did you take proper steps to guard your property?’’
‘’Yes, my lord. I stationed a guard with the rice each night, but still it disappears. I cannot understand it,’’ the rice merchant said, pulling his white beard nervously.
‘’What about your guard. Can he be trusted?’’
‘’Absolutely, Lord Ooka,’’ Yahichi said. ‘’The guard is Chogoro. He has served my family for seventy -five years.’’
‘’Yes, I know Chogoro,’’ Ooka said. ‘’He is a most conscientious man. He could not be the thief. But it is possible that he falls asleep at his post. After all, he is eighty years old.’’
‘’A man can be just as alert at eighty as at twenty,’’ Yahichi replied quickly. ’’I am eighty-one myself, and I have never been so alert. Besides, I stood guard myself with Chogoro these last two nights. The rice vanished just the same.”
“In that case I will watch with you tonight,” Ooka said, “I should like to see this for myself.”
As he promised, Ooka made his way that evening to Yahichi’s rice store. He was sure tat both Yahichi and Chogoro had fallen asleep and had allowed the thief to enter each time the rice had been stolen, and it was not long before his suspicions had proved correct. Within an hour, both men were sleeping soundly. Ooka smiled. He was certain that when the men awoke neither would admit they had slept at all.
A little past midnight, Ooka heard a slight sound outside the building. He sprang to his feet and peered cautiously out the window. To his astonishment, Ooka found himself staring straight into the face of a man standing in the shadows just outside the building. The judge recognized him as Gonta, a laborer who had been out of work for some time. The man was rooted to the spot by fear.
Ooka hesitated to arrest him. After all, he had not entered the rice store. Ooka would have no proof he had come to steal. He could simply say that he had lost his way in the dark. Though Ooka had recognized the thief, Gonta had not recognized the judge, for the darkness inside the building hid his face.
Ooka decided the best thing to do would be to pretend that he, too, was a thief. In this way he might trap Gonta into completing his crime. Speaking in a harsh tone to disguise his voice, he said, “You have obviously come here to steal rice just as I have.”
Gonta was relieved to find himself face to face with another thief instead of a guard.
“As a favor from one thief to another,” Ooka continued, “I will pass the rice out to you, so that you will not need to risk coming in yourself.”
Gonta thanked him profusely for his courtesy, and Ooka picked up a large sack of rice and handed it out to him.
“This is too much,” Gonta protested. “I want only a few handfuls.”
By I. G. Edmonds
One day Yahichi, owner of a rice store, came to Ooka’s court, complaining that each night some of his rice disappeared.
This sentence introduces the ________ and the _____________ and the begins the __________________
“It is such a small amount that I hesitate to trouble your Honorable Honor,” Yahichi said, touching the ground with his head to show proper respect for the great magistrate. “But I am reminded of the story of the mountain that was reduced to a plain because a single grain was stolen from it each day for centuries.”
Ooka nodded gravely. “It is just as dishonest to steal one grain of rice as it is to steal a large snack,’’ he remarked. ‘’Did you take proper steps to guard your property?’’
‘’Yes, my lord. I stationed a guard with the rice each night, but still it disappears. I cannot understand it,’’ the rice merchant said, pulling his white beard nervously.
‘’What about your guard. Can he be trusted?’’
‘’Absolutely, Lord Ooka,’’ Yahichi said. ‘’The guard is Chogoro. He has served my family for seventy -five years.’’
‘’Yes, I know Chogoro,’’ Ooka said. ‘’He is a most conscientious man. He could not be the thief. But it is possible that he falls asleep at his post. After all, he is eighty years old.’’
‘’A man can be just as alert at eighty as at twenty,’’ Yahichi replied quickly. ’’I am eighty-one myself, and I have never been so alert. Besides, I stood guard myself with Chogoro these last two nights. The rice vanished just the same.”
“In that case I will watch with you tonight,” Ooka said, “I should like to see this for myself.”
As he promised, Ooka made his way that evening to Yahichi’s rice store. He was sure tat both Yahichi and Chogoro had fallen asleep and had allowed the thief to enter each time the rice had been stolen, and it was not long before his suspicions had proved correct. Within an hour, both men were sleeping soundly. Ooka smiled. He was certain that when the men awoke neither would admit they had slept at all.
A little past midnight, Ooka heard a slight sound outside the building. He sprang to his feet and peered cautiously out the window. To his astonishment, Ooka found himself staring straight into the face of a man standing in the shadows just outside the building. The judge recognized him as Gonta, a laborer who had been out of work for some time. The man was rooted to the spot by fear.
Ooka hesitated to arrest him. After all, he had not entered the rice store. Ooka would have no proof he had come to steal. He could simply say that he had lost his way in the dark. Though Ooka had recognized the thief, Gonta had not recognized the judge, for the darkness inside the building hid his face.
Ooka decided the best thing to do would be to pretend that he, too, was a thief. In this way he might trap Gonta into completing his crime. Speaking in a harsh tone to disguise his voice, he said, “You have obviously come here to steal rice just as I have.”
Gonta was relieved to find himself face to face with another thief instead of a guard.
“As a favor from one thief to another,” Ooka continued, “I will pass the rice out to you, so that you will not need to risk coming in yourself.”
Gonta thanked him profusely for his courtesy, and Ooka picked up a large sack of rice and handed it out to him.
“This is too much,” Gonta protested. “I want only a few handfuls.”