What does the grandfather mean by 'It is patience that floats'?
Every spring, Hana walked with her grandfather to the edge of the marsh, where a narrow boat made of reeds waited among the tall green stems. He had built it himself, bundling the reeds tightly and sealing the hull with tar, as his own father had taught him. "A boat is not only wood or reed," he would say. "It is patience that floats." Hana, who preferred the speed of the motor launches that crossed the open water, thought the old craft slow and awkward. But one afternoon the launch engines stopped in a sudden storm, and passengers drifted helplessly. Her grandfather poled the light boat through shallows no motor could enter and brought three children safely home. That evening Hana helped him mend a torn reed bundle without being asked.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Skilled slow work, not just materials, makes a boat reliable
- Step 1: Read the saying in the context of his craft.
- Step 2: He values careful slow work over speed and materials.
Answer
Skilled slow work, not just materials, makes a boat reliable
Why not the others: The passage does not say calm water, reeds versus wood, or building quickly.
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