Why the River Bends

• ○A. People earn respect by completing difficult tasks without help.
• ○B. Keeping a promise matters more than reaching a destination.
• ○C. Unexpected setbacks make success less valuable than it seemed.
• ○D. Changing course to meet others’ needs can be worth a delay.

The shell sounded again across the valley.Sere loosened the cord and sent part of her current into Tavren’s unfinished trench, choosing the longer route so her water could reach the shelf.Tavren dug beside her until the water widened its own passage.The abandoned cord lay on the bank.By dusk, water had collected beside the empty well.

• ○A. Her wish to work alone conflicts with the sea’s demand for cooperation.
• ○B. Her concern about the well conflicts with her duty to other rivers.
• ○C. Her focus on arriving quickly conflicts with the valley’s need for water.
• ○D. Her fear of unfamiliar ground conflicts with Tavren’s wish to explore.

• ○A. “Sere glanced at the cord.”
• ○B. “When Tavren heard Sere approaching, he hurried down with a cup.”
• ○C. “Each evening, the sea rang a shell to welcome arriving waters.”
• ○D. “‘A turn would cost me time.’”

• ○A. Its steep slopes allow Sere to reach the sea faster by turning.
• ○B. Its narrow entrance prevents Tavren from approaching Sere for help.
• ○C. Its raised shelves mean Sere must leave her direct route to bring water.
• ○D. Its dry ground makes Tavren prefer the well to the passing river.

• ○A. “On one shelf, a reed weaver named Tavren lived with his grandfather.”
• ○B. “Its hard ground rose in shelves, so water passing through the lowest channel could not reach the higher land.”
• ○C. “Along her route lay a broad, dry valley.”
• ○D. “Beyond the ridge, the land sloped back toward Sere’s original course.”

• ○A. It interrupts her direct course and creates an opportunity to reconsider it.
• ○B. It opens a channel to the shelf and removes the need for her decision.
• ○C. It makes her miss the sea’s welcome and abandon her destination.
• ○D. It proves Tavren caused the delay and gives her a reason to distrust him.

At the narrowest point, a fallen stone blocked the straight channel.Sere struck it until her silver surface clouded.Tavren arrived carrying a small spade.He pointed toward a low ridge.A shallow trench there could lead around the stone and past the shelf.Beyond the ridge, the land sloped back toward Sere’s original course.

• ○A. She has made helping others a purpose rather than a response to an obstacle.
• ○B. She views each bend as a temporary solution to a blocked channel.
• ○C. She hopes that helping others will let her reach the sea first.
• ○D. She now depends on Tavren to choose the direction of her journeys.

• ○A. “The sea made room for her without asking when she had arrived.”
• ○B. “On her next journey, Sere curved toward another dry shelf, though no stone blocked her way.”
• ○C. “Other rivers followed her example.”
• ○D. “Sere reached the sea after the other rivers, carrying brown soil and a floating reed.”

• ○A. Sere follows a silver cord toward the sea. A stone blocks her route, so she orders Tavren to dig through a ridge. His work allows her to continue toward the evening welcome.
• ○B. Sere selfishly refuses to help a thirsty family. Fortunately, a stone forces her to learn a valuable lesson. Her wonderful decision makes the valley a better place for everyone.
• ○C. Sere values a quick, straight journey over helping a dry valley. When a stone blocks her, she and Tavren create a longer channel that supplies water. She later chooses more bends, and other rivers follow.
• ○D. Tavren and his grandfather live above a river channel with an empty well. Tavren carries a cup and a spade to Sere. A cord, a stone, and a reed appear during her journey to the sea.