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SACE Stage 2 Karen (continuers) study materials
SACE Stage 2 Karen (continuers) study resources

SACE Stage 2 Karen (continuers) practice questions

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Question 1Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which language family does the Karen language belong to?

  1. Austronesian
  2. Sino-Tibetan Correct answer.
  3. Austroasiatic
  4. Tai-Kadai

Explanation

Karen languages are classified within the Sino-Tibetan family, specifically the Karenic branch, which is distinct from the Tibeto-Burman subgroups. This classification is based on shared grammatical and phonological features studied by linguists. Recognising the family helps explain structural similarities Karen shares with other Sino-Tibetan languages.

Question 2Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

In the Karen script, what does the term 'Sgaw' primarily refer to?

  1. A major Karen subgroup and its dialect Correct answer.
  2. A Buddhist monastery title
  3. A traditional woven garment
  4. A type of harvest festival

Explanation

Sgaw is one of the principal Karen subgroups, and Sgaw Karen is the most widely written variety, with its own orthography developed by missionaries. The term identifies a community and its speech variety rather than an object or institution. Understanding subgroup names clarifies dialect diversity within Karen.

Question 3Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which writing system was historically adapted to write Sgaw Karen?

  1. A syllabary derived from Chinese characters
  2. A pictographic system unique to Karen
  3. A script based on Burmese letters modified for Karen sounds Correct answer.
  4. An alphabet borrowed unchanged from Thai

Explanation

The Sgaw Karen orthography was developed in the nineteenth century using Burmese script characters, adapted and supplemented to represent Karen phonemes not found in Burmese. This adaptation shows how writing systems travel and are reshaped for new languages. Recognising the Burmese base explains visual similarities between the two scripts.

Question 4Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

A Karen speaker writes a note using tone marks. Why are tone markers important in Karen orthography?

  1. They indicate the speaker's emotional state
  2. They show sentence boundaries
  3. They mark borrowed words from English
  4. Karen is tonal, so marks distinguish words otherwise spelled alike Correct answer.

Explanation

Karen languages use pitch to distinguish lexical meaning, so tone notation changes the identity of a word rather than its emphasis. Without tone marks, readers could confuse unrelated words sharing consonants and vowels. This parallels tone marking in neighbouring Southeast Asian orthographies.

Question 5Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

What is the typical word order of a Karen clause?

  1. Verb–subject–object
  2. Subject–verb–object Correct answer.
  3. Object–verb–subject
  4. Subject–object–verb

Explanation

Karen clauses generally follow subject–verb–object order, which contrasts with many neighbouring Tibeto-Burman languages that place the verb last. This ordering affects how learners build sentences and where particles appear. Knowing the basic order supports accurate translation and composition.

Question 6Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which feature commonly marks plurality on Karen nouns?

  1. A prefix attached before the noun
  2. A change in the noun's final consonant
  3. A separate plural pronoun replacing the noun
  4. A particle placed after the noun Correct answer.

Explanation

Karen frequently expresses plurality with a postnominal particle rather than by inflecting the noun itself. This analytic strategy means the noun stem stays unchanged while a separate morpheme carries number. Recognising particles helps learners parse noun phrases correctly.

Question 7Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

In Karen culture, the 'hta' refers to which item?

  1. A woven shoulder bag used in daily life Correct answer.
  2. A bamboo flute
  3. A rice-storage basket
  4. A ceremonial drum

Explanation

The hta is a woven bag traditionally carried over the shoulder, often decorated with distinctive patterns and used for everyday transport of goods. It is a recognisable marker of Karen material culture and craftsmanship. Knowing such terms supports discussion of traditional arts and daily life.

Question 8Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which traditional Karen agricultural practice is often associated with upland communities?

  1. Hydroponic vegetable farming
  2. Commercial rubber plantations
  3. Rotational swidden cultivation Correct answer.
  4. Paddy rice monoculture on terraces

Explanation

Many upland Karen communities have practised rotational swidden cultivation, clearing and farming plots in cycles to allow soil recovery. This system reflects detailed ecological knowledge and customary land rules. Understanding it helps explain Karen relationships with forest environments.

Question 9Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

A student hears a Karen elder use a proverb about a slow river. What is the most likely function of this proverb?

  1. To offer moral guidance through a natural image Correct answer.
  2. To report a weather forecast
  3. To name a local river
  4. To request payment for goods

Explanation

Karen proverbs commonly use images from nature, such as rivers and forests, to convey moral or practical wisdom about patience and persistence. The image is figurative, guiding behaviour rather than describing geography. Interpreting proverbs requires attention to metaphor and cultural values.

Question 10Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

What does the Karen New Year celebration primarily mark?

  1. The beginning of the agricultural cycle and community renewal Correct answer.
  2. The anniversary of a treaty
  3. The start of the school year
  4. The end of the Buddhist Lent

Explanation

Karen New Year is a major cultural celebration associated with community renewal and the agricultural calendar, bringing people together for music, dance and traditional dress. It reinforces shared identity among Karen communities. Recognising its significance supports discussion of cultural continuity.

Question 11Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which form of address would a Karen speaker typically use for an older respected person?

  1. A bare first name with no marker
  2. A kinship or honorific term showing respect Correct answer.
  3. A plural pronoun only
  4. A diminutive nickname

Explanation

Karen address systems use kinship terms and honorifics to encode relative age and respect, so an older person receives a term that signals deference. Using a bare name can seem overly familiar. Choosing appropriate address forms is a key sociolinguistic skill.

Question 12Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

What is the main purpose of the Karen weaving tradition in many communities?

  1. Producing clothing and goods that carry cultural identity Correct answer.
  2. Generating electricity for villages
  3. Recording historical dates
  4. Teaching mathematics to children

Explanation

Weaving produces garments such as tunics and bags whose patterns express group identity and aesthetic traditions passed between generations. The craft also supports household economies. Understanding its role links material culture with social meaning.

Question 13Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

A Karen sentence uses a classifier. What does a classifier do?

  1. It replaces the subject of the clause
  2. It indicates the speaker's gender
  3. It categorises a noun according to shape or type when counting Correct answer.
  4. It marks the tense of the verb

Explanation

Classifiers group nouns into categories based on features such as shape, function or animacy and appear when nouns are counted or quantified. They are common across Southeast Asian languages. Learning classifiers helps learners produce natural noun phrases.

Question 14Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which statement best describes code-switching among multilingual Karen speakers?

  1. They alternate languages depending on setting and interlocutor Correct answer.
  2. They forget their first language permanently
  3. They speak only in formal registers
  4. They refuse to use any other language

Explanation

Code-switching is the context-sensitive alternation between languages, shaped by setting, topic and addressee. Multilingual Karen speakers may use Karen at home and another language at work or school. This is a normal bilingual practice rather than a sign of loss.

Question 15Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

What is the Karen term for a traditional community leader or headman in many villages?

  1. A village head recognised for wisdom and mediation Correct answer.
  2. A government-appointed police officer
  3. A Buddhist abbot
  4. A school principal

Explanation

Many Karen villages have traditionally recognised a headman or elder whose authority rests on wisdom, mediation and knowledge of customary law. This role is community-based rather than a state police appointment. Understanding local governance clarifies social structure.

Question 16Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

In Karen oral literature, what is a common role of animal characters in folktales?

  1. They illustrate human virtues and flaws through allegory Correct answer.
  2. They provide scientific explanations of biology
  3. They teach foreign vocabulary
  4. They list genealogies of kings

Explanation

Karen folktales often use animals such as tigers, monkeys and birds to dramatise human qualities like cleverness, greed or loyalty. The allegorical frame lets storytellers teach moral lessons memorably. Analysing these tales reveals shared cultural values.

Question 17Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which greeting behaviour is most appropriate when meeting a Karen elder for the first time?

  1. Turning away and remaining silent
  2. Ignoring them until spoken to
  3. A loud handshake and backslap
  4. A respectful gesture with a polite verbal greeting Correct answer.

Explanation

Karen etiquette emphasises respect toward elders, typically shown through a polite verbal greeting and modest body language. Loud or overly familiar gestures can seem disrespectful. Appropriate greetings build rapport and demonstrate cultural awareness.

Question 18Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

What does the term 'karen' mean when used as an endonym in some communities?

  1. A self-designation for the people and their language Correct answer.
  2. A type of rice
  3. A word for a foreign visitor
  4. A term for a market

Explanation

Karen functions as an endonym, the name communities use for themselves and their language, rather than an external label for an object or place. Endonyms reflect self-identification and should be respected in communication. Understanding naming conventions supports cultural sensitivity.

Question 19Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

A Karen speaker uses a polite particle at the end of a request. What does this particle signal?

  1. Negation
  2. Politeness and the relationship between speaker and listener Correct answer.
  3. Past tense
  4. Future obligation

Explanation

Sentence-final particles in Karen often manage politeness and social relationships rather than tense or negation. Their use depends on the relative status and familiarity of the speakers. Selecting the right particle makes requests sound appropriate.

Question 20Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which statement best explains why Karen communities value oral storytelling?

  1. It is required by national law
  2. It transmits history, values and language across generations Correct answer.
  3. It replaces written laws entirely
  4. It teaches only arithmetic

Explanation

Oral storytelling preserves genealogies, moral lessons and language forms, especially where written records are limited. Elders pass on knowledge through performance, song and narrative. This makes storytelling a central mechanism of cultural transmission.

Question 21Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

What is a common challenge for Karen language maintenance among diaspora youth?

  1. Government bans in every country
  2. Lack of any written Karen materials ever produced
  3. Limited daily exposure to Karen outside the home Correct answer.
  4. A complete absence of Karen speakers

Explanation

Diaspora youth often hear Karen mainly at home while schooling and media occur in a dominant language, reducing natural exposure and vocabulary growth. This pattern can lead to gradual shift unless community classes and media intervene. Recognising the mechanism informs language-maintenance strategies.

Question 22Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

In a Karen sentence, how is negation typically expressed?

  1. By changing the tone of the noun
  2. By reversing the word order
  3. By adding a plural suffix
  4. With a negative particle near the verb Correct answer.

Explanation

Karen typically marks negation with a negative particle positioned near the verb, leaving the basic clause structure intact. This analytic strategy is common in the region. Knowing negation patterns is essential for forming accurate negative statements.

Question 23Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which of these best describes the relationship between Karen and Burmese vocabulary?

  1. Karen vocabulary is entirely English-derived
  2. Karen has borrowed some words from Burmese through long contact Correct answer.
  3. Karen and Burmese are mutually intelligible
  4. Karen is a dialect of Burmese

Explanation

Centuries of contact have led Karen to borrow vocabulary from Burmese, especially in domains like administration and religion. However, Karen remains a distinct language in a different branch of the family. Distinguishing contact effects from genealogical relationship is key in historical linguistics.

Question 24Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

What role do community language schools play for Karen children abroad?

  1. They replace all mainstream schooling
  2. They teach only mathematics
  3. They are illegal in most countries
  4. They provide structured literacy and cultural instruction Correct answer.

Explanation

Community-run weekend or after-school programs teach Karen literacy, songs and cultural knowledge that children may not encounter in mainstream schools. They complement rather than replace formal education. Such institutions are important for intergenerational transmission.

Question 25Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

A Karen poem uses a forest image repeatedly. In literary analysis, what is this device called?

  1. Hyperbole
  2. Alliteration
  3. Onomatopoeia
  4. Motif Correct answer.

Explanation

A recurring image or symbol in a literary work is a motif, which builds thematic resonance across a text. Repeated forest imagery might evoke home, memory or loss. Identifying motifs strengthens interpretation of Karen poetry.

Question 26Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which Karen language variety is the most widely spoken and often used as a lingua franca among Karen communities?

  1. Sgaw Karen Correct answer.
  2. Kayah Li
  3. Pa'O
  4. Pwo Karen

Explanation

Sgaw Karen has the largest number of speakers and is widely used in education, church, and cross-community communication, which gives it a lingua franca role. Pwo Karen is also a major Karen variety but has fewer speakers overall and less cross-community reach.

Question 27Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

The Karen writing system used in many Sgaw Karen communities is based on an alphabet associated with which missionary?

  1. Hudson Taylor
  2. John Wade Correct answer.
  3. Adoniram Judson
  4. David Livingstone

Explanation

The Sgaw Karen script in wide use was developed in the nineteenth century by the missionary John Wade, building on earlier work. Judson is associated with Burmese, while Livingstone and Taylor worked in Africa and China respectively.

Question 28Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

A Karen speaker writes a vowel symbol above a consonant letter. What does this placement most commonly indicate?

  1. The consonant is silent
  2. The vowel is pronounced after that consonant Correct answer.
  3. The syllable carries high tone
  4. The word is a loanword

Explanation

In the Karen script, vowel symbols are written around the consonant, and a symbol placed above the consonant signals a vowel pronounced after it. Placement encodes the order of sounds in the syllable rather than marking silence, loan status, or tone.

Question 29Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which feature is typical of Karen syllable structure?

  1. Words contain no vowels
  2. Open syllables with simple onsets are common Correct answer.
  3. Syllables require three initial consonants
  4. Every syllable must end in a consonant cluster

Explanation

Karen languages favour simple syllable shapes, typically a single initial consonant followed by a vowel, often with no final consonant. Complex clusters and vowelless syllables are not characteristic of the language.

Question 30Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Karen languages are often described as tonal. What does this mean for a learner?

  1. Volume indicates politeness
  2. Pitch differences can change word meaning Correct answer.
  3. Stress always falls on the last syllable
  4. Vowel length replaces consonants

Explanation

In a tonal language, the pitch or contour of a syllable is part of the word itself, so changing pitch can produce a different word. Volume, vowel length, and stress placement do not replace this function.

Question 31Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

A Karen clause has the order subject, then verb, then object. Which term describes this ordering?

  1. VSO
  2. OSV
  3. SVO Correct answer.
  4. SOV

Explanation

When the subject comes first, the verb second, and the object third, the order is called SVO. The other options describe different arrangements of these three elements.

Question 32Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

How do Karen languages typically form comparative statements such as 'taller than'?

  1. By adding a plural suffix to the adjective
  2. By adding a comparative marker meaning 'more' or 'exceed' Correct answer.
  3. By placing the adjective before the noun only
  4. By changing the noun into a verb

Explanation

Comparison is usually expressed with a dedicated marker, often a verb meaning 'exceed' or a particle meaning 'more', placed in a fixed position in the clause. Plural suffixes, noun-to-verb conversion, and adjective placement alone do not create comparatives.

Question 33Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

A Karen speaker wants to ask a yes/no question. Which strategy is most typical?

  1. Adding a plural marker to the verb
  2. Reversing the order of subject and object
  3. Adding a question particle at the end of the clause Correct answer.
  4. Doubling the final consonant

Explanation

Yes/no questions are commonly signalled by a sentence-final particle that marks interrogative force while word order stays largely unchanged. Object-subject reversal, plural marking, and consonant doubling do not serve this function.

Question 34Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which statement best describes how Karen expresses past time reference?

  1. By changing the verb's tone to a low pitch
  2. Through time adverbs and context rather than obligatory verb inflection Correct answer.
  3. By adding a fixed past-tense suffix to every verb
  4. By prefixing a past marker to the subject

Explanation

Karen verbs generally do not inflect obligatorily for tense; speakers rely on time words and context to locate events in time. Fixed past suffixes, tone changes for tense, and subject prefixes are not the usual mechanism.

Question 35Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

In Karen, what is the main function of a serial verb construction?

  1. Indicating that a noun is definite
  2. Forming the comparative degree
  3. Combining several verbs in one clause to express linked actions or directions Correct answer.
  4. Marking the subject as plural

Explanation

Serial verb constructions string verbs together without conjunctions to express a sequence of actions, causation, or direction. Number, comparison, and definiteness are handled by other means.

Question 36Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which of these is a common source of new vocabulary in modern Karen?

  1. Replacing nouns with tones
  2. Borrowing and calquing from contact languages Correct answer.
  3. Abandoning the writing system
  4. Removing all vowels from old words

Explanation

Like most languages, Karen expands its lexicon through borrowing and loan translation from languages in contact, such as Burmese, Thai, and English. Deleting vowels, substituting tones for nouns, and dropping the script are not lexical strategies.

Question 37Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

A Karen community in a diaspora setting holds weekly language classes for children. Which outcome does research most strongly associate with such classes?

  1. Complete replacement of the home language by the school language
  2. Loss of the community's oral traditions
  3. Improved heritage-language proficiency and stronger identity Correct answer.
  4. Reduced contact between generations

Explanation

Community language schools are consistently linked with better heritage-language skills and a stronger sense of cultural identity among diaspora youth. They do not cause language shift, erode traditions, or reduce intergenerational contact.

Question 38Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which factor most often accelerates a shift away from Karen among second-generation speakers abroad?

  1. Listening to Karen music at home
  2. Participation in traditional festivals
  3. Frequent visits to Karen-speaking relatives
  4. Daily dominance of the majority language in school and work Correct answer.

Explanation

Language shift is driven mainly by the majority language taking over the domains of school, work, and peers, reducing everyday need for Karen. Visits to relatives, festivals, and music tend to support retention rather than undermine it.

Question 39Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

What is the Karen practice of 'hta' most closely associated with in many communities?

  1. A stringed musical instrument
  2. A woven carrying bag used in daily work Correct answer.
  3. A type of rice cake served at weddings
  4. A form of poetic recitation

Explanation

The hta is a woven bag traditionally made and used by Karen people for carrying goods and produce. It is not a food, an instrument, or a genre of recitation.

Question 40Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Karen New Year celebrations commonly include which activity?

  1. Traditional dancing and sports competitions Correct answer.
  2. Silent meditation only
  3. Exchanging decorated eggs
  4. Boat racing on major rivers

Explanation

Karen New Year gatherings typically feature dancing, sports, and communal meals that bring villages and diaspora groups together. Silent meditation alone, boat racing, and decorated eggs are not characteristic of this celebration.

Question 41Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

In many Karen villages, what is the main role of the monastery or church in cultural transmission?

  1. Hosting language, music, and moral instruction Correct answer.
  2. Managing national elections
  3. Issuing official identity documents
  4. Settling only commercial disputes

Explanation

Religious institutions in Karen communities often serve as centres for teaching literacy, music, and moral values alongside worship. They are not primarily commercial courts, election bodies, or document-issuing agencies.

Question 42Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which statement best describes the traditional Karen kinship system in many communities?

  1. Bilateral, tracing descent through both parents Correct answer.
  2. Strictly matrilineal with no paternal ties
  3. Based only on age grades
  4. Strictly patrilineal with no maternal ties

Explanation

Karen kinship is commonly bilateral, recognising relatives on both the mother's and father's sides. It is not strictly unilineal, and age grades alone do not define kinship.

Question 43Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

A Karen proverb says that a person who plants a tree will not sit in its shade alone. What value does this proverb most likely teach?

  1. Avoiding all physical labour
  2. Acting for the benefit of future generations Correct answer.
  3. Keeping wealth within one family
  4. Distrusting neighbours

Explanation

The image of planting a tree whose shade others will enjoy points to long-term, community-minded effort rather than immediate reward. It does not counsel idleness, hoarding, or suspicion.

Question 44Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

What is a common structural feature of Karen folk poetry and song lyrics?

  1. Absence of any imagery
  2. Parallel lines that repeat a pattern with variation Correct answer.
  3. Strict rhyming in every syllable
  4. Random line lengths with no pattern

Explanation

Karen oral poetry and songs often use parallelism, where successive lines echo a structure and vary the content. Random form, imageless lines, and syllable-by-syllable rhyme are not typical.

Question 45Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

In a Karen folktale, a clever small animal outwits a powerful larger one. What does this pattern most often convey?

  1. That animals should be feared
  2. That size always determines success
  3. That tales have no moral purpose
  4. That wisdom can overcome physical strength Correct answer.

Explanation

Tales pitting a small clever animal against a stronger one typically celebrate intelligence and resourcefulness over brute force. They do not claim size guarantees success, promote fear of animals, or lack moral intent.

Question 46Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which greeting practice is generally respectful when a Karen person meets an elder?

  1. Turning one's back while speaking
  2. A loud slap on the back
  3. Direct eye contact held silently for a long time
  4. A slight bow with a gentle, polite tone Correct answer.

Explanation

Respect toward elders is shown through restrained body language and a polite tone of voice, often with a slight bow. Physical familiarity, prolonged silent staring, and turning away would be considered disrespectful.

Question 47Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

A Karen speaker uses a kinship term such as 'older brother' when addressing an unrelated older man. What does this usage mainly express?

  1. That the two are biological siblings
  2. That the speaker is angry
  3. That the man holds a government office
  4. Warmth and social closeness within a respectful frame Correct answer.

Explanation

Extending kinship terms to non-relatives is a common way to signal warmth while maintaining an appropriate level of respect. It does not assert biological relatedness, express anger, or indicate official rank.

Question 48Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

When a Karen speaker switches to the majority language to discuss a technical topic, what does this most clearly show?

  1. Refusal to identify as Karen
  2. Complete loss of the Karen language
  3. Domain-based code-switching shaped by topic Correct answer.
  4. Inability to form sentences

Explanation

Code-switching often follows domain: technical or school topics may be handled in the language where the speaker learned them. This reflects situational choice, not language loss, identity rejection, or grammatical inability.

Question 49Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

Which statement best explains why some Karen words have no single-word English equivalent?

  1. They encode cultural concepts that English expresses differently Correct answer.
  2. They are deliberately kept secret
  3. They are pronounced too quietly to translate
  4. They are all recent inventions

Explanation

Vocabulary reflects the experiences and categories of a culture, so some Karen terms bundle meanings that English spreads across several words or phrases. Secrecy, recency, and volume are not explanations for translation gaps.

Question 50Inquiry into the language and culture of Karen-speaking communities (school-assessed)

A student translating a Karen proverb into English produces a literal word-for-word version that sounds strange. What is the best next step?

  1. Keep the literal version without comment
  2. Delete the proverb from the text
  3. Replace it with an unrelated English idiom
  4. Render the intended meaning and note the cultural image Correct answer.

Explanation

Proverbs carry cultural images that rarely survive literal translation, so a translator should convey the meaning while preserving or explaining the image. Deleting it, substituting an unrelated idiom, or leaving a confusing literal version would lose or distort meaning.