Oil seller worksheet answers full version

Welcome to GETUTOR's study resource on The Oil Vendor! This article provides full worksheet answers, detailed translations and literary appreciation of Ouyang Xiu's classic work to help you gain an in-depth understanding of the theme of 'Practice Makes Perfect'. Whether you're preparing for an exam or improving your literary skills, this comprehensive study guide will help you get the most out of it.

Students read the classical Chinese literary work "The Oil Vendor".

Content of this page

  • Overview of the text - Basic information on The Oil Vendor
  • Full Translation - Sentence by sentence against the vernacular language
  • Vocabulary Practice - Explanation and Use of Key Words and Phrases
  • Comprehension Q&A - In-depth analysis of the content of the text
  • Literary Appreciation - Theme Ideas and Writing Techniques
  • Grammar - Sentence Structure and Grammatical Points
  • Exam Practice - DSE Question Types and Exam Tips
  • Complete Answers - Detailed Explanation of All Exercise Questions

Overview of the text - Basic information on The Oil Vendor

The Oil Vendor is a prose work written by Ouyang Xiu, a writer of the Northern Song Dynasty. Through the story of Duke Chen Kangsu and the Oil Vendor, he elaborates on the principle that "practice makes perfect".

About the Author

  • Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072):Politician, Literary Scholar and Historian of the Northern Song Dynasty
  • Word Yongshu:No. Drunken Master, later to be known as the Sixth Husbandman.
  • Representative Works:The Records of the Drunken Master's Pavilion, The Autumn Voice, The Oil Vendor, etc.
  • Literary status:One of the Eight Great Poets of the Tang and Song dynasties, and the leader of the ancient literary movement of the Northern Song Dynasty

Background

  • The Northern Song Dynasty was a period of social stability and cultural prosperity.
  • Ouyang Xiu advocated the Ancient Wen movement and opposed the Bianwen (駢文).
  • Illustrating profound truths through life's little stories
  • The Song Dynasty prose is characterised by its simplicity and clarity.
Portrait of Ouyang Xiu and Illustration of a Scene from the Story of the Oil Vendor

Stylistic Features

  • Narrative style, complete structure
  • The language is simple and the story is vivid.
  • put reason into action, a profound philosophy
  • Striking contrasts and outstanding characters

Full Translation - Sentence by sentence against the vernacular language

Paragraph 1: Duke Chen Kangsu was good at archery.

classical Chinese

Chen Kangsu Gong Yaozui was a good archer, and he boasted of this. When he was shooting in his family's garden, an oil seller stood there with his burden released and looked at him askance, but he did not go away. When he saw him shoot, he hit eight or nine out of ten shots, but he slightly chipped his chin.

Translation in vernacular language

Chen Kangsu Duke Yao Zi was so good at archery that no one else in the world could compare with him, and Chen Kangsu Duke boasted about it. Once, when he was shooting arrows in the garden of his house, an old man selling oil put down his burden and stood by the side, squinting and watching him shooting arrows for a long time. When he saw that he could hit eight or nine out of ten times, the oil seller just nodded his head slightly.

The scene of Lord Chan Hongsu shooting arrows in the garden of his house while an oil seller watched on

Paragraph 2: The Oil Vendor Demonstrates His Skills

classical Chinese

Kang Su said, "Do you know how to shoot? I'm a good shot, aren't I?" Weng said, "No, but my hands are familiar with it". Kang Su said angrily: "How dare you belittle my shooting! Weng said, "I can tell by the oil I pour." He took a gourd and put it on the ground, covered its mouth with money, and slowly drained it with oil from a ladle, and the money did not get wet. He said, "I have nothing else, but my hands are familiar with it. Kang Su laughed and dismissed him.

Translation in vernacular language

Lord Chen Kangsu asked, "Do you also know how to shoot arrows? Isn't my archery skill very good?" The oil seller said, "There is no other mystery, it is just that I am skilled in my archery. Lord Chen Kangsu said angrily, "How dare you belittle my archery skills! The oil seller said, "I know this from my experience of pouring oil. So he took a gourd and put it on the ground, covered the mouth of the gourd with a copper coin and slowly poured oil into the gourd with a spoon. The oil was poured into the gourd through the square hole of the copper coin, but the coin did not get wet. So he said, "I have no other magic, I am only skilled in my technique. Lord Chen Kangsu laughed and sent him away.

An oil seller demonstrates the technique of pouring oil through the hole of a gourd without wetting the money.

Vocabulary Practice - Explanation and Use of Key Words and Phrases

Focus on Real Words

1. Good

Pronunciation:shàn

Wordiness:Vocabulary

Explanation:Expertise, specialised in

Example sentence:Chen Kangsu Gong Yao Zi is good at archery (Chen Kangsu Gong Yao Zi is good at archery)

2. Reservation

Pronunciation:jīn

Wordiness:Vocabulary

Explanation:Boast. Be proud.

Example sentence:He also boasts of this. (Chen Kangsu also boasts of this.)

3. Interpretation

Pronunciation:shì

Wordiness:Vocabulary

Explanation:put down

Example sentence:There was an oil seller who released his burden and stood up (There was an oil seller who put down his burden and stood up)

4. Looking askance

Pronunciation:nì

Wordiness:Vocabulary

Explanation:askance

Example sentence:He looked at him askance for a long time, but didn't go away.

5. Lancets

Pronunciation:hàn

Wordiness:Vocabulary

Explanation:nod one's head

Example sentence:"But the slightest nod.

6. Resentment

Pronunciation:fèn rán

Wordiness:adverbs

Explanation:angrily

Example sentence:Kangsu said angrily.

Focus on Vocabulary

1. Also

Usage:Adverbs, too

Example sentence:He also boasts of this. (Chen Kangsu also boasts of this.)

2. but

Usage:Adverb, just, only

Example sentence:"But the slightest nod.

3. Er

Usage:Auxiliaries. Forget it.

Example sentence:But it's just that it's done well.

Explanations of key Chinese characters and words in the answers to the oil seller's worksheets

Vocabulary Practice

Exercise 1: Explain the meaning of the following words in the following sentences

  1. Chen Kangsu Kung Yao Ziwell-disposedallude to
  2. with thisblow one's own horn
  3. There are oil sellers.explainstand on a擔而立
  4. look askance atover a long period of time
  5. tiny bitchinher

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Comprehension Q&A - In-depth analysis of the content of the text

Basic Comprehension Questions

Question 1: How was Duke Chen Kangsu's archery skill? What was his attitude towards his skill?

Refer to the answer:

Duke Chen Kangsu's archery skills were so good that he was "unrivalled in the world", hitting "eighty-nine out of ten" arrows. He was so proud of his skill that he "boasted of it". When the oil seller only nodded his head slightly, he was dissatisfied and questioned whether the oil seller knew archery and whether his own archery skills were superb.

Question 2: What did the oil seller think of Lord Chen Kangsu's archery skills?

Refer to the answer:

The oil seller thought that Lord Chen Kangsu's archery skill was "nothing else but a skillful hand", i.e. there was no special mystery, just a skillful technique. He didn't think it was a great skill.

Understanding Q&A Exercise in the Oil Seller Worksheet

In-depth analyses

Question 3: Why is the title of the article "The Oil Vendor" instead of "Lord Chen Kangsu"?

Refer to the answer:

The main idea of the essay is revealed by the oil seller's demonstration. The oil seller is the main character, while Lord Chen Kangsu is just a sidekick. The oil seller illustrates the principle of "practice makes perfect" through the art of pouring oil, which is also the central theme of the essay, and thus the title of the essay is "The Oil Seller".

Q4: Which is a brief description of Lord Chen Kangsu's archery and the oil seller's draining of oil? Which one is written in detail? Why?

Refer to the answer:

In the article, the shooting of arrows by Lord Chen Kangsu is briefly described as "hitting eighty-nine out of ten", while the draining of oil by an oil seller is described in detail as "taking a gourd and placing it on the ground, covering the mouth of the gourd with money, and then draining it with a ladle of oil, the oil draining through the hole of the money, and the money not getting wet". The main purpose of the article is to illustrate the principle of "practice makes perfect" through the oil seller's technique of draining oil, so the process of the oil seller's draining process is described in detail.

Literary Appreciation - Theme Ideas and Writing Techniques

Theme Ideas

1. Practice makes perfect

The central theme of the article is "practice makes perfect". Through the archery skills of Lord Chan Hong Su and the oil-pouring skills of the oil seller, the article illustrates that there is nothing mysterious or special about any skill that is reached through repeated practice.

2. The importance of humility

By comparing the pride and complacency of Lord Chen Kangsu and the modesty and calmness of the oil seller, the article warns people not to be proud and complacent just because they have a skill, but to remain modest and learn with an open mind.

Thematic Ideas of Practice Makes Perfect in the Story of the Oil Vendor Illustrated

Writing Skills

1. Contrast

The article highlights the theme by contrasting the pride of Lord Chen Kangsu with the modesty of the oil seller, and the archery of Lord Chen Kangsu with the oil seller's pouring of oil.

2. reasoning by facts

Instead of teaching directly, the author illustrates the truth through a vivid short story, which makes the article more vivid and interesting, and the truth more easily accepted.

3. appropriately detailed

The archery skills of Lord Chen Kangsu are briefly described, while the oil seller's process of pouring oil is written in detail, highlighting the oil seller's skills and the principle that "practice makes perfect".

Compare items The Oil Vendor The Story of Drunken Master's Pavilion
Theme Ideas Practice makes perfect, humility is the essence. Joy to the People, Political Ideals
Writing Techniques Reasoning with facts and contrasts Writing Scenery and Expressing Emotions through Scenery
Structural features Concise and clear, with appropriate details Layered and echoed at the beginning and end
Language Style Plain and vivid, dialogue is very impressive. Elegant and profound

Grammar - Sentence Structure and Grammatical Points

special sentence structure

1. Omitted sentences

  • Example sentence:(The Oil Vendor) Release the Burden and Stand Up
  • Analysis:Omit the subject "oil seller".
  • Example sentence:(Duke Kangsu of Chen) tried to shoot in the family garden.
  • Analysis:Omit the subject, "Lord Chen Kangsu."

2. rhetorical questions

  • Example sentence:Do you know how to shoot?
  • Analysis:Use "乎" to express doubt
  • Example sentence:I'm a good shot, aren't I?
  • Analysis:Use "不也......乎" to express a rhetorical question.
Grammar Analysis Chart for Oil Vendor Language

word usage

1. verbs used as nouns

  • Example sentence:I'll shoot you if you dare.
  • Analysis:"Archery", a verb used as a noun, refers to the skill of archery.

2. adjectives activated as verbs

  • Example sentence:light utility vehicle (as opposed to electric car)
  • Analysis:"Light", an adjective used as a verb meaning "to despise".

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Exam Practice - DSE Question Types and Exam Tips

DSE Frequently Asked Questions

1. Interpretation

Example Question:Translate the following sentences into modern Chinese.

"Duke Yao Zi of Chen Kang Su was an excellent marksman, and he boasted of this."

Exam Tips:

  • Accurate understanding of the meaning of key words and phrases
  • Note the difference between ancient and modern anagrams
  • Maintaining sentence integrity and fluency
  • Don't leave out important information

2. Comprehension questions

Example Question:In what way does the oil seller prove that practice makes perfect?

Exam Tips:

  • Read the relevant passage carefully
  • Contextualisation
  • Pay attention to the keywords in the questions
  • Answers should be complete and accurate
Analysis of Question Types in the DSE Chinese Language Examination (Chinese version only)

Analysis of the latest DSE questions for 2024

In the Reading Comprehension section of Paper 1 of the 2024 DSE Chinese Language paper, the assessment of Literature and Literature focuses more on the candidates' ability to understand and analyse the text at a deeper level. The following question types have been added:

  • Cross-Chapter Comparative Analysis Questions
  • Exploring the relationship between writing techniques and content
  • Analysis of Cultural Contexts and Works

Candidates are advised to prepare not only by mastering word explanations and content comprehension, but also by enhancing their study of literary devices and cultural background.

Practice test questions

Part I: Translation Questions (5 marks each, 20 marks in total)

  1. Translate the following sentences into modern Chinese:
    "An oil seller stood there with his burden unclasped and looked askance at him, but he did not go away for a long time.
  2. Translate the following sentences into modern Chinese:
    "I saw him hit eighty-nine out of ten, but he was slightly chipped."

Part II: Comprehension Questions (8 marks each, 24 marks in total)

  1. What is Lord Chen Kangsu's attitude towards his archery skills? Where can this be seen in the text?
  2. How did the oil seller respond to the question of Lord Chan Hongsu? What kind of character does this reflect in him?
  3. At the end of the article, Lord Chen Kangsu "laughed and dismissed him", what does this "laugh" tell us?

Complete Answers - Detailed Explanation of All Exercise Questions

Answers to Phraseological Exercises

Exercise 1 Answer:

  1. Good:Expertise, specialised in
  2. Self-reserve:Boast. Be proud.
  3. Explanation:put down
  4. Look askance:askance
  5. Jaws:nod one's head
Oil seller worksheet answers page

Answers to Mock Questions

Part I: Answers to Translation Questions

  1. An old man selling oil put down his burden and stood by, squinting and watching him shoot arrows for a long time.
  2. Seeing that Lord CHAN Kangsu could hit the target eight or nine times out of ten, the oil seller just nodded his head slightly.

Part II : Answers to Comprehension Questions

  1. The attitude of Mr CHAN Kangsu:
    I am very proud of myself and I am proud and complacent. From "The gentleman also boasts of this" to the question to the oil seller, "Do you also know how to shoot? I'm a good shot, aren't I?" and "I was furious" at the oil salesman's remark. and "he was furious" after hearing the oil seller's words.
  2. Response from the oil seller:
    He calmly said, "There is no other way, but to be familiar with it", and proved his point by pouring oil on the table. He demonstrated his humility, calmness and unassuming character.
  3. The meaning of "smile":
    It shows that Chen Kangsu understands and accepts the point of view of the oil seller, and realises the principle of "practice makes perfect". He is embarrassed by his previous pride, showing his quality of being able to accept criticisms and correct his mistakes.

Enhancement of DSE Chinese Language results

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In-depth study of classical literature and mastery of the essence of the literary language!

The Oil Vendor tells us that practice makes perfect, and the same is true for learning the language. With continuous practice and professional guidance, you too can become as skilled as the Oil Vendor.

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