I go with e), Mary.  This is a humerous story, but the ten men were not the ones that I would pick to accompany me on a dangerous mission!  Nor would I pick the woman in the story.

Lawton

Well Mary,

You would pick another good topic and I see two choices that can fit here.

b) Flatery is dangerous   &   d) Too late we get so smart.

We see b) happen here at AdlandPro alot and many people that have been flattered have followed the flattering person and have been burned in certain programs.

Like the Pied Piper and his flute. He'd play a song that made the mice soooo happy they followed him everywhere to their ... well, you know.

And d). And it's 'til we get burned (too late) we get smart about it (if we survived).

Kenneth

Hi Mary

I don't know which option a,b,c,d, or e. But I can guess  what happened. The woman was so clever, the men got excited at her speech and clapped forgetting that they were hanging on to the rope. You know the result, they all fell down.  The  woman was the only survivor.

Lissa Nixon

Hi Mary,

How did they know the rope wasn't strong enough?

I rest my case!

Best Wishes

John.

Hi Mary,

   Good one!!

I thought women already ruled the world, we just aren't letting the men know. LOL

Thanks, Mary.

Your Good Friend

Deborah