The Jay and the Bridge Bell
Written by Studio AM.
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A bell hung beside a bridge in a valley where fog came often. Travelers rang once before crossing, so anyone on the far side knew to wait.
A jay laughed that the bell knew only one note. He offered to sing a different tune for every kind of traveler. The bell agreed to rest. That morning, a goat heard a quick song and began crossing. A mule was already halfway over. He heard the tune too and stopped, unsure whether it warned of danger. The goat reached him in the middle, and they had to back away.
By evening, the jay was tired and the bridge was empty. He asked the bell to return. One plain ring carried across the fog, and the travelers moved in turn. The jay still sang beside the bridge, but never again called a clear shared signal dull.
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Questions
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Question 1 of 4
What is the main idea of the fable?
The answer is A: A simple signal works when everyone shares its meaning, while clever variety can cause confusion.
The goat and mule do not know what the song asks them to do. The bell's agreed ring restores orderly crossing.
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Question 2 of 4
Why did the goat and mule meet in the middle?
The answer is B: They did not know whether the song meant cross or wait.
The goat starts crossing while the mule stops partway over. Neither can rely on an agreed instruction.
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Question 3 of 4
What does “signal” mean in the final sentence?
The answer is C: A sign or sound that carries a message
The bell's ring tells unseen travelers when to wait, so it is a sound carrying an agreed message.
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Question 4 of 4
How many times did travelers ring the bell before crossing?
The answer is D: Once
The opening states that travelers rang once before crossing.
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