Read the following passage from heywood broun's the fifty-first dragon to answer questions 6-10.
of all the pupils at the knight school gawaine le cœur-hardy was among the least promising. he was tall and sturdy, but his instructors soon discovered that he lacked spirit. he would hide in the woods when the jousting class was called, although his companions and members of the faculty sought to appeal to his better nature by shouting to him to come out and break his neck like a man. even when they told him that the lances were padded, the horses no more than ponies and the field unusually soft for late autumn, gawaine refused to grow enthusiastic. the headmaster and the assistant professor of pleasaunce were discussing the case one spring afternoon and the assistant professor could see no remedy but expulsion.
"no," said the headmaster, as he looked out at the purple hills which ringed the school, "i think i'll train him to slay dragons."
"he might be killed," objected the assistant professor.
"so he might," replied the headmaster brightly, but he added, more soberly, "we must consider the greater good. we are responsible for the formation of this lad's character."
"are the dragons particularly bad this year? " interrupted the assistant professor. this was characteristic. he always seemed restive when the head of the school began to talk ethics and the ideals of the institution.
"i've never known them worse," replied the headmaster. "up in the hills to the south last week they killed a number of peasants, two cows and a prize pig. and if this dry spell holds there's no telling when they may start a forest fire simply by breathing around indiscriminately."
"would any refund on the tuition fee be necessary in case of an accident to young cœur-hardy? "
"no," the principal answered, judicially, "that's all covered in the contract. but as a matter of fact he won't be killed. before i send him up in the hills i'm going to give him a magic word."
"that's a good idea," said the professor. "sometimes they work wonders."
6. what is this passage about?
a. the problems that may arise from fighting dragons
b. how the educators would change gawaine's course of study
c. the way the professor and the headmaster taught about dragons
d. giving gawaine a magic word to him fight dragons
7. what is the best way to describe gawaine's character?
a. fearless and excitable
b. careless and frigid
c. spiritual and careful
d. cowardly and apathetic
8. what is the meaning of "his better nature"?
a. an increased sense of honesty b. a man's ignoble ideas
c. a desire for propriety
d. a man's nobler instincts
9. why does the headmaster mention some "peasants, two cows, and a prize pig"?
a. to the professor understand dragon behavior
b. to show that gawaine would be perfect for fighting dragons
c. to illustrate how much trouble dragons are this year
d. to explain why gawaine's talents were needed
10. how does the headmaster put the professor at ease about gawaine?
a. he tells him that gawaine will only fight small dragons.
b. he assures him that gawaine's contract has not expired.
c. he talks to him about the animals that have been killed by the dragons.
d. he mentions that gawaine will be given a magic word.