1The old fisherman floated on the Black Sea, boat bobbing from side to side as a frigid wind sliced through his threadbare sweater. Though the fisherman and his wife were struggling to survive without much money, he thought happily of the meager but delicious dinner of homemade bread that was waiting for him at home. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pull on the fishing line, and the fisherman heaved a large, shining, yellow fish onto the boat. Its fins sparkled like coins cascading from a treasure chest.

2The fish began to beg. “If you release me,” the fish blubbered, “I’ll give you everything you need.”

3The fisherman eyed the fantastic creature. “I am content with what I have, but I will let you go regardless,” the fisherman said as he plopped the fish back into the sea.

4W
hen the sun’s heavy eyelids began to droop, the fisherman returned home through the town. He passed a wealthy man arguing with a shopkeeper about merchandise and sadly shook his head at the annoyed men as he entered his house. Why does the fisherman shake his head at the wealthy man and the shopkeeper?

A) He does not care about other people’s problems at that moment.
B) He does not think that the men should be arguing in the street.
C) He does not understand why some people are so consumed by money.
D) He does not agree with the wealthy man’s argument about the merchandise.