Which plan succeed in spite of a final problem in "Dad and the Cat and the Tree"?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:

The poem "Dad and the Cat and the Tree," by Kit Wright, humorously details the father's escalating attempts, or "plans," to rescue his cat stuck up a tree. The plans are introduced sequentially: Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C. Plan C is the final and successful attempt mentioned in the narrative, but it succeeds *despite* a major problem. After Dad fails with Plan A (ladder and jumping) and Plan B (using a tree branch), he introduces Plan C, which involves climbing the garden wall and then swinging from the wall onto the tree using a rope. This plan appears to be the most ambitious and, ultimately, the one that dislodges the cat. The poem specifies that Dad "gave a mighty swing" and landed "in the flower bed," but he also brought the cat down. The "final problem" that Plan C succeeds in spite of is Dad's inability to maintain his balance or safe landing after reaching the tree; he ends up falling into the flower bed, covered in dirt and soaked. Importantly, he also gets stuck in the tree himself momentarily, which leads to the final, unexpected outcome of the cat being safe but Dad being the one who needs rescuing, resulting in the final, ironic problem. However, in terms of getting the cat *down*, Plan C is the successful one, despite the humiliating consequences for Dad.

The incorrect option is 1 (Plan B):
Plan B involves Dad attempting to reach the cat by stepping from a low branch of the tree, which he thinks is his easiest plan yet. However, Plan B fails when the branch snaps, causing Dad to tumble and land awkwardly on the ground, leaving him unable to complete the rescue. Therefore, Plan B does not succeed.

The incorrect option is 2 (Plan A):
Plan A is the father’s first attempt, where he uses a ladder but misjudges the distance and slips, landing with a loud "BUMP." Although he claims it was "a slip," it clearly results in failure to reach the cat and instead results in Dad becoming annoyed and shaken. Thus, Plan A is a failure, not a success.

The incorrect option is 3 (Plan D):
The poem only describes Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C. Plan D is not mentioned as a distinct, formulated attempt by Dad in the poem. The narrative concludes with the success of Plan C in rescuing the cat, followed by Dad's ultimate predicament, meaning Plan D is irrelevant to the plot and was never executed or even planned.