Read the following passage: from Shen Nong, a known shape-shifter, was the son of a princess and a sky-dragon. His shapes
were many. Most often he chose to appear as a human with the head of an ox. At other times, his
form became an encompassing and fiery wind.
Wherever Shen Nong roamed in the form of this scorching wind, he would destroy the plants and
trees of the land and dry the ground of all its moisture. The fires made by the heat of the wind
would consume entire forests. Shen Nong, content and quick in his travels, was oblivious to the
havoc he left behind in his wake.
Before all hope was lost and the world's vegetation was completely ruined by Shen Nong's careless
destruction, Shi Zong Di, one of the Lord of the Wind's ministers, used his powers to intervene.
After pouring water into a large bowl, he put a branch into it, and then shook the water off the
branch and over the entire Earth. The fires were extinguished and the parched soil received much-
needed water. This was the first rain ever to shower down from the sky.
Based on the passage, what can be inferred about how this Chinese culture felt about
rain?
O Rain was just a natural occurrence that happens at random.
O Rain is a destructive force.
O Rain has the power to heal.
O Rain is valued highly as a life-giving phenomenon.