Story 010b

Loes, The Resolute Protector of Community and Dike

Story 10: Loes, The Resolute Protector of Community and Dike

In an era long before the rise of the internet and mobile phones, there lived a vigilant girl named Loes in a Dutch village. Her village and the surrounding ones were situated five meters below sea level and were protected against water by dykes and pumping stations. Loes, with her attentive nature, was keenly aware of the importance of this protection.

One day, as she walked along the dyke, Loes spotted muskrats and beavers burrowing their way through the earth. From the lessons she had at school and reading library books, she knew that these animals could weaken the dyke, posing a great danger to her village. She ran to the villagers to warn them, but her stories were dismissed as childish fantasies.

Driven by a desire to protect her village, Loes devised a plan to take photos of the rats as evidence. She asked her family and neighbors to lend her a camera, but no one was willing to help. With determination, she saved enough money to buy a second-hand camera. She waited patiently by the dyke for hours until she finally captured the rats on photos

When she returned with the photos as evidence, the villagers couldn't believe their eyes. They immediately called in the dyke wardens, who were shocked to find that the dyke was already showing cracks and would soon give way. All the surrounding villages were evacuated that very day. Afterwards, the dyke was promptly repaired and reinforced. Moreover, the muskrats and beavers were captured and taken to a place where they could live freely without causing any damage. Loes was honored as a heroine, not only for her bravery but also for her perseverance and ingenuity.

Five questions of story 10: Loes, The Resolute Protector of Community and Dike

1) What protected Loes's village from water?
A - Umbrellas and roofs
B - Dykes and pumps

2) How did the villagers initially react to Loes's warning?

A - They took immediate action.
B - Dismissed it as a child's fantasy

3) How did Loes acquire a camera?

A - She borrowed one.
B - Saved money to buy one

4) What was the condition of the dyke when the dyke wardens inspected it?

A - Perfectly fine
B - Showing cracks and near to collapse

5) What was the immediate action taken after Loes presented her evidence?

A - Festival was held
B - Surrounding villages of the dyke were evacuated