The Bundle of Sticks

An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered his servants to bring in a faggot of sticks, and said to his eldest son, "Break it." The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the Bundle. The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful. "Untie the faggots," said the father, "and each of you take a stick." When they had done so, he called out to them, "Now, break," and each stick was easily broken. "You see my meaning," said their father.

Questions:

1. Why did the sons get together?
   It was their father's birthday.
   Their father was dying.
   They wanted to count their father's sticks.
2. When did the sons manage to break the sticks?
   When the sticks were tied up in a bundle.
   When they all tried together.
   When everyone had only one stick.
   They were not able to break them at all.
3. What moral did the father try to teach his sons?
   Kindness effects more than severity.
   Union gives strength.
   It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.

   Transform the following sentence into reported speech.

4. The father said to his eldest son, »Break the sticks.« -

   Change into a relative clause.

5. The servant brought some sticks. The old man gave the sticks to his eldest son.
   The servant