How would you answer this English question?

[steppemum]

So
DON'T read anyone else's answer first.
DON'T explain your answer for now, just answer.
DON'T overthink it, go with what your first response would be.

This is a comprehension passgae based on a poem. The first verse of the poem is:

Hamelin's Town's in Brunswick
By famous Hanover city;
The river Weser deep and wide,
Washes its wall on the southern side;

The question is:

In relation to the river, Hamelin lies:
a) to the north
b) to the south
c) to the west
d) to the east

So which answer would you choose? I'll be back in a couple of hours to explain why I'm asking and see what people put.

Thank you!!

I learned this poem off by heart as a child and still remember most of it!

I think the reason they get it wrong is that they simply scan the text for the answer and see 'southern', so put south.

I teach MFL, which involves a lot of listening and reading comprehension. Students quite often get answers wrong not because they can't understand the language, but because they do exactly this - search and select without thinking.

I read this to my 15 year old, and they immediately said North.

North

To the north of the river

A) to the north