Laozi — Questions and answers

Read the full story

Who was the legendary old man Meera and Marta saw on the ox cart?

Choices

  1. Laozi ✓
  2. A busy merchant
  3. A border guard
  4. An important official

Answer: Laozi

From page 1

What does the 'uncarved block' represent in Laozi's teachings?

Choices

  1. Inherent simplicity and naturalness ✓
  2. A block of wood that has not been carved yet
  3. Something that needs to be forced into shape
  4. A complicated idea or design

Answer: Inherent simplicity and naturalness

From page 2

What does 'Wu Wei' mean, as explained by Marta?

Choices

  1. Doing nothing at all
  2. Forcing your way against the current
  3. Non-action or effortless action, acting in harmony with the flow of things ✓
  4. Making the water flow faster

Answer: Non-action or effortless action, acting in harmony with the flow of things

From page 4

What advice did Marta give Meera when she was frustrated trying to stack stones?

Choices

  1. To try even harder to force them
  2. To give up and stop playing with stones
  3. To stop forcing things and find the natural way ✓
  4. To use glue to make the stones stick

Answer: To stop forcing things and find the natural way

From page 5

When Meera stumbled and dropped the stone, what did Marta remind her about the 'uncarved block'?

Choices

  1. To try and force the stone to stay in her hand
  2. To give up and throw the stone away
  3. To trust in the natural way and find the simplest path ✓
  4. To change the path to make it smoother

Answer: To trust in the natural way and find the simplest path

From page 8

How do Laozi's ideas help us today, according to Marta?

Choices

  1. They make the world more complicated
  2. They help us find peace in a busy world ✓
  3. They encourage us to force our will on others
  4. They teach us to rush through life

Answer: They help us find peace in a busy world

From page 9

What did Marta say Laozi's wisdom is NOT about?

Choices

  1. Choosing the path of least resistance
  2. Finding strength in flexibility
  3. Giving up or being lazy ✓
  4. Bringing inner harmony

Answer: Giving up or being lazy

From page 10