Question 1

How did Tao Ying's son influence the way she led her life?
2. Pick out instances from the story to show that official rules are often arbitrary.
3. Tao Ying was very careful about spending money. What were her reasons for refusing the compensation offered by the temple officials?
4. Why was her final vindication important to Tao Ying?

Accepted Answer

1. Tao Ying's son influenced her life by making her more cautious and protective. She became more aware of the world around her and the challenges they faced, especially regarding official rules and social attitudes. His presence and innocence motivated her to stand up for herself and seek justice.

2. Instances showing that official rules are often arbitrary include the officials measuring Xiao Ye's height with a metallic tape and drawing a line on the wall, which was challenged by Tao Ying as inaccurate. Also, the officials' offer of money and tickets as compensation for their earlier refusal to let them enter the temple shows the rigidity and lack of empathy in official procedures.

3. Tao Ying refused the compensation because she valued her dignity and the principle of fairness over money. She did not want to accept money or tickets that symbolized an apology for an injustice that had caused her and her son unhappiness. She wanted recognition of the wrong done rather than material compensation.

4. Her final vindication was important because it restored her self-respect and cleared her name in front of her son. It was a moral victory that showed she had done nothing wrong and that the officials' actions were unjust. This vindication was more valuable to her than any monetary compensation. — The answers are derived from the story's events and themes. Tao Ying's protective nature and her son's innocence influence her actions. The arbitrary nature of official rules is shown through the officials' behavior and measurements. Tao Ying's refusal of compensation is based on her principles and desire for justice rather than material gain. The final vindication restores her dignity and moral standing.

Question 2

Discuss the following in pairs or in small groups

1. The way a child looks at the world is very different from that of an adult.
2. There is always a gap between what we really are and what we wish to appear to be to others.

Accepted Answer

1. Children often see the world with innocence, curiosity, and simplicity, focusing on immediate experiences and emotions. Adults, however, tend to view the world with complexity, influenced by social norms, responsibilities, and past experiences.

2. The gap between our true selves and the image we project arises because of social expectations, fear of judgment, or desire for acceptance. This discrepancy can lead to misunderstandings and internal conflicts. — These discussion points encourage reflection on perspectives and social behavior, highlighting differences in perception and identity.

Question 3

Comment on the significance of the first sentence of the story to its theme.
2. Would you describe the author's portrayal of Tao Ying's character in the story as sympathetic, critical or realistic?
3. Identify the episodes that bring out the ambivalent attitude to ethics commonly seen in human life?
4. How effectively does the narrative technique adopted in this story illustrate 'unity of thought'?

Accepted Answer

1. The first sentence sets the tone for the story, introducing the theme of memory and the lingering impact of past events on the characters' present lives.

2. The author's portrayal of Tao Ying is realistic, showing her strengths, vulnerabilities, and moral dilemmas without idealizing or criticizing her.

3. Episodes such as the officials' arbitrary measurement and their offer of money and tickets reveal the ambivalence in ethics, where rules conflict with human feelings and justice.

4. The narrative technique, focusing closely on Tao Ying's thoughts and experiences, effectively illustrates unity of thought by maintaining a consistent perspective and emotional tone throughout the story. — These appreciation questions analyze literary elements and thematic concerns, encouraging deeper understanding of the story's construction and moral complexity.

Question 4

Pick out examples of simile and metaphor from the story and state the two elements or concepts that are compared and the manner of comparison.

Accepted Answer

Examples of simile:
- 'Her jacket is caught, ballooning up like a tent behind her.'
  Comparison: The ballooning jacket is compared to a tent using 'like', making it a simile.
- 'The white of the wall looks like a virgin canvas and Xiao Ye a painting filling up the space.'
  Comparison: The whiteness of the wall is compared to a virgin canvas using 'like'.

Example of metaphor:
- 'But in order to melt the ice in her son's eyes, she must do something.'
  Comparison: The 'ice' metaphorically represents coldness and distance in her son's eyes. This is an implied comparison without using 'like' or 'as'. — Similes use explicit comparisons with 'like' or 'as', while metaphors imply comparisons by applying words to concepts they do not literally denote. Identifying these figures of speech helps understand the author's vivid imagery.

Question 5

The following words can be used as both a noun and a verb

conduct protest permit progress desert

- Where would the stress fall? Mark the stress when the word is used
(i) as a noun
(ii) as a verb
- Is there a change in the pronunciation of the first syllable? Form words that rhyme with the pronunciation of the first syllable, as in the example of 'object' given above.

Accepted Answer

Stress and pronunciation for the words:

1. conduct
- Noun: 'CON-duct' (stress on first syllable), first syllable pronounced like 'con' in 'con'
- Verb: 'con-DUCT' (stress on second syllable), first syllable pronounced like 'cun' in 'cunning'

2. protest
- Noun: 'PRO-test' (stress on first syllable), 'pro' rhymes with 'go'
- Verb: 'pro-TEST' (stress on second syllable), 'pro' pronounced softer, similar to 'pruh'

3. permit
- Noun: 'PER-mit' (stress on first syllable), 'per' rhymes with 'her'
- Verb: 'per-MIT' (stress on second syllable), 'per' pronounced softer, similar to 'purr'

4. progress
- Noun: 'PRO-gress' (stress on first syllable), 'pro' rhymes with 'go'
- Verb: 'pro-GRESS' (stress on second syllable), 'pro' pronounced softer, like 'pruh'

5. desert
- Noun: 'DES-ert' (stress on first syllable), 'des' rhymes with 'mess'
- Verb: 'de-SERT' (stress on second syllable), 'de' pronounced like 'dee'

Change in pronunciation of first syllable is common; rhyming words:
- con (con, con)
- pro (go, no)
- per (her, fur)
- des (mess, yes)
- de (dee, see) — The stress shifts from the first syllable (noun) to the second syllable (verb) in these words. The pronunciation of the first syllable also changes accordingly, as shown by rhyming examples.

Question 6

How did Tao Ying's son influence the way she led her life?
2. Pick out instances from the story to show that official rules are often arbitrary.
3. Tao Ying was very careful about spending money. What were her reasons for refusing the compensation offered by the temple officials?
4. Why was her final vindication important to Tao Ying?

Accepted Answer

1. Tao Ying's son influenced her life by making her more cautious and careful, especially in dealing with officialdom and rules. She became more protective and sensitive to the environment around her because of her son's presence and experiences.

2. Instances showing that official rules are often arbitrary include the officials measuring Xiao Ye's height with a metallic tape and drawing a line on the wall, which seemed formal but was challenged by Tao Ying's observation that the measurement was not accurate. The officials also offered money and tickets as compensation, which seemed like a token gesture rather than a genuine resolution.

3. Tao Ying refused the compensation because she was careful about money and did not want to accept something that could not buy back the happiness lost. She also wanted to maintain her dignity and not be seen as accepting a bribe or token compensation for an injustice.

4. Her final vindication was important because it restored her self-respect and cleared her name. It was not about the money or tickets but about the acknowledgment that she had done nothing wrong, which was crucial for her peace of mind and dignity. — The answers are derived from the narrative where Tao Ying's interactions with officials and her protective attitude towards her son are highlighted. The story emphasizes the arbitrariness of rules and the importance of personal dignity over material compensation.

Question 7

Discuss the following in pairs or in small groups

1. The way a child looks at the world is very different from that of an adult.
2. There is always a gap between what we really are and what we wish to appear to be to others.

Accepted Answer

1. Children often see the world with innocence, curiosity, and simplicity, whereas adults tend to view it with experience, skepticism, and complexity. This difference affects perceptions and reactions.

2. The gap between our true selves and the image we project arises from social expectations, fear of judgment, and desire for acceptance. This can lead to conflicts and misunderstandings in personal and social contexts. — These discussion points encourage critical thinking and reflection on human nature and perception, as suggested by the story's themes.

Question 8

Comment on the significance of the first sentence of the story to its theme.
2. Would you describe the author's portrayal of Tao Ying's character in the story as sympathetic, critical or realistic?
3. Identify the episodes that bring out the ambivalent attitude to ethics commonly seen in human life?
4. How effectively does the narrative technique adopted in this story illustrate 'unity of thought'?

Accepted Answer

1. The first sentence sets the tone and introduces the central theme of perception and measurement, which is crucial to the story's exploration of truth and justice.

2. The author's portrayal of Tao Ying is realistic, showing her strengths, vulnerabilities, and moral dilemmas without idealizing or criticizing her excessively.

3. Episodes such as the officials' arbitrary measurement, the offer of money and tickets, and Tao Ying's refusal highlight the complex ethical situations people face.

4. The narrative technique, focusing closely on Tao Ying's thoughts and interactions, effectively unifies the story's themes and emotions, providing coherence and depth. — These appreciation questions analyze literary elements and thematic concerns, encouraging deeper engagement with the text.

Question 9

Pick out examples of simile and metaphor from the story and state the two elements or concepts that are compared and the manner of comparison.

Accepted Answer

Examples of Simile:
- 'Her jacket ballooning up like a tent behind her.' Here, the jacket's ballooning is compared to a tent using the word 'like'.
- 'The white of the wall looks like a virgin canvas and Xiao Ye a painting filling up the space.' The whiteness of the wall is compared to a virgin canvas using 'like'.

Examples of Metaphor:
- 'But in order to melt the ice in her son's eyes, she must do something.' Here, 'ice' metaphorically represents coldness and distance in her son's eyes.

In similes, the comparison is explicit using words like 'like' or 'as'. In metaphors, the comparison is implicit, applying a word or phrase to something it does not literally denote. — The answer identifies similes and metaphors from the text, explaining the two elements compared and how the comparison is made, as per the definitions provided.

Question 10

The following words can be used as both a noun and a verb

conduct protest permit progress desert

- Where would the stress fall? Mark the stress when the word is used
(i) as a noun
(ii) as a verb
- Is there a change in the pronunciation of the first syllable? Form words that rhyme with the pronunciation of the first syllable, as in the example of 'object' given above.

Accepted Answer

For each word:

1. conduct
- Noun: stress on first syllable CON-duct (rhymes with 'con')
- Verb: stress on second syllable con-DUCT (rhymes with 'duck')

2. protest
- Noun: PRO-test (rhymes with 'pro')
- Verb: pro-TEST (rhymes with 'test')

3. permit
- Noun: PER-mit (rhymes with 'per')
- Verb: per-MIT (rhymes with 'mit')

4. progress
- Noun: PRO-gress (rhymes with 'pro')
- Verb: pro-GRESS (rhymes with 'gress')

5. desert
- Noun: DES-ert (rhymes with 'des')
- Verb: de-SERT (rhymes with 'sert')

Explanation:
- The stress shifts from the first syllable when used as a noun to the second syllable when used as a verb.
- The pronunciation of the first syllable changes accordingly, similar to the example of 'object'. — This task illustrates the change in stress and pronunciation between noun and verb forms of the same word, enhancing understanding of English pronunciation patterns.

Question 11

Who is Bi Shu-min, the author of 'One Centimetre'?

Accepted Answer

A Chinese doctor and acclaimed writer with a Master's degree in literature — Bi Shu-min is a Chinese doctor who has served her country for over twenty years and also holds a Master's degree in literature from Beijing Teacher's College. She is a well-known writer whose works have won many literary awards.

Question 12

What rationale does Tao Ying use to justify not buying a bus ticket when she travels alone?

Accepted Answer

She believes the bus service will continue regardless of her fare payment — Tao Ying feels that without her, the bus would still operate with the same driver, conductor, and petrol consumption, so she sometimes chooses not to buy a ticket, considering it a small punishment for careless conductors and a saving for herself.

Question 13

What is the significance of the height measurement '1.10 m' painted on the bus door in the story?

Accepted Answer

It marks the minimum height for children to buy a bus ticket — The height of 1.10 meters is the minimum requirement for children to buy a bus ticket. Children shorter than this height can travel without a ticket.

Question 14

Why does Xiao Ye insist on having a ticket even though he is one centimetre short of the height requirement?

Accepted Answer

Because children are more conscious of rituals and want to follow rules — Xiao Ye believes that without a ticket, the ride does not count as a proper ride. Children often value rituals and rules more strictly than adults.

Question 15

What does the gap on the top of a person's head, where the two hemispheres meet, symbolize in the story?

Accepted Answer

The door to life and vulnerability to the outside world — The story describes the gap as the door to life itself; if it remains open, the world outside can flow into the body, symbolizing vulnerability and the delicate nature of life.

One Centimetre

One Centimetre — Study Notes

Introduction to One Centimetre

Tao Ying and Xiao Ye on the Bus

The Temple Visit and Ticket Dispute

Practice Questions — One Centimetre

All 21 Chapters in Kaliedoscope