Weekly Assessment 3.26

1- As Liang drew in the dirt with a stick, an old woman stopped to look at his drawing. “It is so full of life,” she said.

2- Then she handed Liang a beautiful paintbrush. “This is for you,” she said, “but don’t misuse it. Paint only things you love for people you love.”

3- That afternoon, Liang painted a picture for his mother. He painted a round body, four little paws, a tail, and two pointed ears. He added bright eyes, a nose, a mouth, and whiskers. Then Liang fell asleep.

4- A soft meow woke him. To his surprise, a kitten had appeared!

5- Each day, Liang painted for the people in his village. For an old man, Liang painted a horse to carry him to market. For a sad woman, he painted a big, colorful garden. Everyone talked of Liang’s wonderful paintings that came to life.

6- One day, the emperor sent for Liang. “Paint me a mountain of gold or I will lock you up,” said the emperor.

7- Liang thought of the old woman’s words: “Paint only things you love for people you love.” He shook his head

8-The emperor’s guards took Liang’s paintbrush and locked him up.

9- Days later, Liang was brought before the emperor again. The emperor held the magic paintbrush. “If you paint me a mountain of gold, I will let you return to your mother,” he said.

10- Liang knew his mother needed his help. He took the paintbrush and painted a mountain of gold across a wide sea. 

11-“That mountain is too far away!” the emperor roared.

12- “I cannot move a mountain,” Liang said, “but I will paint a ship to take you there.

13- Liang painted a ship, and the emperor went aboard.

14- “Paint me wind to sail!” yelled the emperor.

15- Liang painted the wind.

16-The waves grew taller and stronger until the emperor’s ship overturned. He had to swim to shore and was stuck on his mountain of gold.

17-Then Liang painted himself wings and flew home to his mother