Which term refers to stories of wonderful events believed to have historical basis and passed down through generations?

• A. Legends
• B. Myths
• C. Tragedy
• D. Parables

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing traditional stories that mix remarkable events with a sense of historical truth and are handed down through generations. That mix of “these events really happened” with extraordinary details is what makes legends fit best. Legends are stories about real places, people, or events, but they’re embellished over time and kept alive in a community’s memory, often to explain origins or to celebrate a notable figure or site.

Myths, in contrast, tend to explain natural phenomena, origins, or the actions of gods and supernatural forces, and aren’t anchored in historical fact in the way legends are. Tragedies are dramatic works focused on serious, usually unhappy outcomes and human flaws, not transmitted as traditional histories. Parables are short, moral stories meant to teach a lesson, not to recount historical events.

So, stories described as wonderful events believed to have historical basis and passed down through generations align most closely with legends.