"This made Taro sadder than ever"
'This' refers to :

Question

"This made Taro sadder than ever" 
'This' refers to :

Accepted Answer

The statement "This made Taro sadder than ever" refers to Taro's inability to buy expensive sake for his father, as indicated by Option 3. Here's a detailed explanation supporting why Option 3 is correct and why the other options are incorrect:

1. **Explanation for Option 3:**
   - Taro was a devoted son who wanted to provide comfort and happiness to his aging father. His father expressed a desire for sake, a traditional Japanese rice wine, which was expensive. Taro's inability to afford this luxury for his father made him feel deeply saddened and inadequate. This emotional response highlights Taro's love and respect for his father, as well as his frustration over his financial limitations. The narrative emphasizes Taro's desire to fulfill his father's wishes, making his inability to do so a significant source of sadness.

2. **Why Option 1 is incorrect:**
   - A strong wind beginning to blow does not directly relate to Taro's emotional state or his sadness. While environmental factors like weather can influence mood, the context of the story focuses on Taro's personal struggles and desires, particularly his wish to provide for his father. Therefore, the wind is not the cause of Taro's sadness.

3. **Why Option 2 is incorrect:**
   - Taro's father's old age is a natural part of life and not something that directly causes Taro's sadness in the context of the story. While Taro may be concerned about his father's well-being due to his age, the specific sadness mentioned is tied to Taro's inability to buy sake, not his father's age itself.

4. **Why Option 4 is incorrect:**
   - The purchase of a new house is not mentioned as a concern or desire for Taro in the context of the story. Taro's primary focus is on providing sake for his father, not acquiring a new home. Therefore, this option does not align with the source of Taro's sadness as described in the narrative.

In conclusion, Option 3 is the correct answer because it directly addresses the emotional conflict Taro experiences due to his financial inability to fulfill his father's wish for sake, which is central to the story's theme of familial duty and love.