Read the excerpt from L. Frank Baum's "The Queen of Quok." Why would the people not miss the
king if he died?

A king once died, as kings are apt to do, being as likely to shortness of breath as other
people. It was high time this king gave up his earth life, for he had lived in a sadly wastefut
manner, and his subjects could let go of him without the slightest problem. His father had left
him a full treasury, both money and jewels being in plenty. But the foolish king had wasted
every penny in lavish living. He had then taxed his subjects until most of them became
beggars, and this money vanished in more lavish living. Next he sold all the grand old
furniture in the palace; all the silver and gold plate and bric-a-brac; all the rich carpets and
furnishings and even his own kingly clothes, reserving only a robe to fold over his dress. And
he spent the money in further lavish living. Don't ask me to explain what lavish living is. I only
know that it is an excellent way to get rid of money. And so this wasteful king found it. He
now picked all the magnificent jewels from this kingly crown and sold them and spent the
money. Lavish living, of course. But at last he was at the end of his resources. He couldn't sell
the crown itself, because no one but the king had the right to wear it. Neither could he sell
the royal palace, because only the king had the right to live there. So, finally, he found himself
reduced to an empty palace, containing only a big mahogany bed that he slept in, a small
stool on which he sat to pull off his shoes and the robe.

A. because the king had started to sell the royal furniture, carpets, and clothes

B. because the king wasted all his money and unnecessarily taxed his people

C. because the king had a son who could rule the kingdom after his death

D. because the king wanted his people to live as lavishly as he did in his palace