Question

Four friends 1, 2, 3 and 4 are arguing on who is right in stating an English proverb.
1. states that the correct proverb is "A swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a
full moon; but a swarm in July is not worth a fly."
2. states that the proverb is "A swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a looney
toon; but a swarm in July is not worth a fly."
3. states the proverb as "A swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a silver
spoon ; but a swarm in July is not worth a fly."
4. states that the proverb actually is "A swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth
a golden boon; but a swarm in July is not worth a fly."
Who is correct in stating the proverb?
(Note:- DO NOT include spaces in your answer)

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 3

Step 1: Identify the task → Four friends (1, 2, 3, and 4) are each quoting a version of an English proverb about swarms in different months. We must determine who quoted the correct traditional proverb.
Step 2: Recall the authentic proverb → The well-known English proverb goes: “A swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon; but a swarm in July is not worth a fly.”
Step 3: Compare each friend’s version:
- Friend 1: Uses “full moon” for June — incorrect.
- Friend 2: Uses “looney toon” for June — clearly incorrect and nonsensical.
- Friend 3: Uses “silver spoon” for June — this matches the authentic proverb.
- Friend 4: Uses “golden boon” for June — incorrect.
Step 4: Conclude correctness → Since the original version uses “silver spoon,” Friend 3 is the one who quoted the proverb correctly.
Step 5: Apply the formatting rule → The answer must be given without spaces, so we present it simply as the numeral.
FinalAnswer:3

Answer 2

This question tests familiarity with a traditional English beekeeping proverb about swarms occurring in different months, presented in four slightly different versions.

1. Friend 1: Ends the middle line with "full moon". A full moon is a natural event, but it has no established idiomatic link to the value of a bee swarm, so this reads as an invented substitution.
2. Friend 2: Ends the middle line with "looney toon", a playful cartoon reference that clearly breaks the tone of a centuries-old rural saying, marking it as a fabricated version.
3. Friend 3: Ends the middle line with "silver spoon", an old English idiom for good fortune that fits both the meaning and the rhythm of the original beekeeping saying.
4. Friend 4: Ends the middle line with "golden boon", which sounds poetic but is not part of the recognised wording of the saying.

Only the version ending in "silver spoon" matches the genuine, long-established wording of the proverb, so friend 3 has stated it correctly.

the correct answer is 3.