An original classical-style exchange
This newly written teaching passage has no claimed historical author: 「子、庭に出でて、落ちたる実を拾ひけり。父、『いづこに持ち行くぞ』と問ふ。子、『鳥の来る所に置かむ』と言ふ。父、ほほゑみて、『道をふさがぬ所に置け』と言ひければ、子、木のもとに置きて帰りぬ。」 For this exercise, a note gives いづこ = where and 木のもと = at the foot of the tree. The complete action sequence is supplied. Students should distinguish the child's intended action from the father's instruction and from the final completed action. There is no statement that a bird later ate the fruit. The task therefore requires careful recovery of the text's actions rather than a continuation imagined by the reader.
1. What does the child intend, and what condition does the father add?
Read the worked answer
The child intends to place the fruit where birds come. The father instructs the child to choose a place that does not block the path.
2. What final action is actually stated?
Read the worked answer
The child places the fruit at the foot of the tree and returns. The text does not state a later feeding result or identify a historical work.