The Flying Machine by Ray Bradbury

What was the Emperor Yuan doing early on the morning of the first day of the first week of the second month of the new year?

• He was inspecting his army.

• He was sipping tea and fanning himself.

• He was overseeing the harvest.

• He was writing a proclamation.

What did the servant see that made him call it a miracle?

• A dragon in the sky.

• The sun rising.

• A man flying in the sky.

• The sea turning blue.

How did the Emperor react when he first heard the servant's claim about the miracle?

• He immediately went to see the flying man.

• He dismissed it as a dream.

• He ordered the servant to be silent.

• He was curious and asked for more details.

What did the Emperor say when he finally saw the flying man?

• "It is too beautiful."

• "It is a threat to the empire."

• "It is an omen of good fortune."

• "It is the only one in the world."

Who claimed to be the inventor of the flying machine?

• The Emperor.

• The servant.

• The man who was flying.

• The farmer in the fields.

What did the Emperor do when the guards caught the flier with the machine?

• He ordered the flier to be released immediately.

• He asked the flier to explain the purpose of the machine.

• He commanded the guards to hold the flier and called for the executioner.

• He congratulated the flier on his invention.

Why did the Emperor want the flier to create the machine without knowing why he has done so?

• Because the Emperor wanted to test the flier's obedience.

• Because the Emperor believed it would be more beautiful that way.

• Because the Emperor feared the flier would misuse the machine.

• Because the Emperor wanted to keep the machine a secret.

What did the Emperor say when he saw the smoke from the burning kite and inventor's body?

• He expressed regret for the loss of beauty.

• He felt satisfied with the justice served.

• He ordered the construction of another machine.

• He praised the efficiency of his guards.

What was the old man's reaction to the sight of the guards burning the beautiful machine?

• He was indifferent and did not care.

• He was pleased and admired the Emperor's decision.

• He was bewildered and afraid.

• He was angry and protested against the Emperor.

According to the Emperor, what might a man with an evil face and an evil heart do with an apparatus of paper and reed?

• He might use it to fly and escape from the Emperor's lands.

• He might use it to create beautiful art.

• He might use it to drop huge stones upon the Great Wall of China.

• He might use it to overthrow the Emperor.