The Quest Book
Follow the Money, Follow the Motive
Cui bono
- Hero
- James
- Realm
- Hidden History
- Difficulty
- Tier 1 · Novice
- Reward
- $1 · 10 XP
Memorize word for word
Learn the question "Cui bono?" - who benefits? Explain what it means and use it on one event in the news.
Have you ever wondered why certain things happen in the world? Sometimes, knowing who gained something important can help us understand the real reason behind an event.
What this means
Today we are learning a special phrase: 'Cui bono?' It is an old Latin phrase, which is a language people spoke a long, long time ago. It means, 'To whom is it a benefit?'
This question is super helpful when you hear about something happening, especially something big or a bit confusing. It helps you think about who might have gotten something good out of the event. This 'good' could be money, more power, or even just hiding a mistake they made.
When you ask 'Cui bono?', you are trying to find the motive. A motive is the reason someone does something. If someone gains a lot from an event, they might have had a motive to make it happen, or at least they don't mind that it happened.
Thinking this way can help you look past what everyone is saying and try to figure out the deeper truth. It's like being a detective, looking for clues to solve a mystery!
Words to know
- Cui bono
- An old Latin phrase that means 'To whom is it a benefit?'
- Motive
- The real reason someone does something or why an event happened.
Examples
- If a new park is built, asking 'Cui bono?' might lead you to discover that a construction company owned by a local official got the job.
- If a new rule is made at school, asking 'Cui bono?' could help you see if it mainly benefits teachers, students, or the principal.
What a great answer looks like
Let's say you hear about a new company making a special kind of super-fast scooter that no one else has. You ask, 'Cui bono?' The answer is clear: the company making the scooter benefits a lot because they can sell many and make money. This helps you understand why they spent so much time inventing it and why they want to tell everyone about it.
The exact words to memorize
Cui bono - Latin, "to whom is it a benefit?" Ask who gained money, power, or cover from an event.
How to do this quest
- Read the passage: 'Cui bono - Latin, 'to whom is it a benefit?' Ask who gained money, power, or cover from an event.' out loud several times.
- Memorize the phrase 'Cui bono' and what it means.
- Find a recent news story in a newspaper or online (ask a grown-up to help you find one that's right for you).
- Read the story carefully and identify the main event.
- Ask yourself: 'Cui bono?' Who benefits from this event? Did someone gain money, power, or did it cover up a problem?
- Write down the news event and explain who you think benefited and how, using the 'Cui bono?' question.
Check yourself before you turn it in
- Can I say 'Cui bono' and explain what it means without looking?
- Did I find a news event and clearly describe it?
- Did I ask 'Cui bono?' about the event and explain who benefited?
- Is my explanation clear and easy for someone else to understand?