1. What did the priest announce at the temple of Banaras one day?
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2. What does the line "after a patient weighing of the worth of all mean?
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3. Why did the visitors to the temple donate generously?
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Answer:
One day a wonderful plate made of gold fell from heaven into the court of a temple in Banaras and on the plate these words were inscribed; "A gift from heaven to him who loves best." The priests at once made a proclamation that every day at twelve o'clock, all who would like to claim the plate should assemble at the temple to have their kind deeds judged. Every year for a whole year all kinds of holy men, hermits, scholars and noble came and related to the priests their deeds of charity and the priests in solemn council heard their claims. At last they decided that the one who seemed to be the greatest lover of mankind was a rich man who had that very year given all his wealth to the poor. So, they gave him the plate of gold but when he took it in his hand, it turned to worthless lead, though, when he dropped it in his amazement on to the floor, it became gold again. For another year claimants came and the priest awarded the prize three times. But the same thing happened, showing that God did not consider these men worthy of the gift. Meanwhile, a large number of beggars came and lay about the temple gate, hoping that the claimants who came would give them alms to prove they were worthy of the golden plate. It was a good time for the beggars, because the pilgrims gave them plenty of money; but they gave them no sympathy, not even a look of pity. At last a simple peasant who had heard nothing about the plate of gold, came. He was so touched by the sight of the miserable beggars that he wept. When he saw a poor blind and maimed wretch at the temple gate, he knelt at his side and took his maimed hands in his and comforted him with kind words. When this peasant came to the temple, he was shocked to find it full of men boasting of their kind deeds and quarelling with the priests. One priest, who held the golden plate in his hand, seeing the peasant standing there, beckoned to him. The peasant came, and knowing nothing about the plate, took it in his hands. At once it shone out with three times its former splendour and the priests said, "Son, the gift is yours, for you love best."
Answer the following questions :
(a) Who was the plate of gold meant for ?
(b) It took the priests one year to decide who the plate of gold was to be awarded to. Why did they choose that man ?
(c) What happened when that man took the plate of gold in his hands ?
(d) Why was the peasant chosen to be the owner of the gold plate ?
Very Short Questions :
(a) Why did a large number of beggars gather in front of the temple ?
(b) Why didn't God consider the first four men worthy of the gift ?
(c) What were the men boasting about themselves in the temple ?
(d) Find a word from the passage which means, "public announcement."