An Enchanted Fish

An Enchanted Fish

Beware/ Be Careful of what you wish for

Paragraph 1

There once was a fisherman who lived with his wife in a small hut close by the seaside. The fisherman used to go fishing every day. One day, as he sat in his boat with his rod, looking at the sparkling waves and watching his line, all of a sudden his float was dragged away deep into the water. He quickly started to reel in his line and managed to pull out a huge fish. “Wow! This will feed us for days.” Much to his surprise, the fish started to talk and said, “Pray, let me live! I am not a real fish; I am an enchanted prince. Put me in the water again, and let me go! Have mercy o' kind fisherman.” The astonished fisherman quickly threw him back, exclaiming, “I don't want to hurt a talking fish! Go on! Go where you came from.”

Multiple Choice

There once was a fisherman who lived with his wife in a small hut close by the seaside. The fisherman used to go fishing every day. One day, as he sat in his boat with his rod, looking at the sparkling waves and watching his line, all of a sudden his float was dragged away deep into the water. He quickly started to reel in his line and managed to pull out a huge fish. “Wow! This will feed us for days.” Much to his surprise, the fish started to talk and said, “Pray, let me live! I am not a real fish; I am an enchanted prince. Put me in the water again, and let me go! Have mercy o' kind fisherman.” The astonished fisherman quickly threw him back, exclaiming, “I don't want to hurt a talking fish! Go on! Go where you came from.”

Why did the fisherman let the fish go?

• because the fish could talk

• because he did not like the taste of fish

• because he was scared of the fish

• because flounders brought bad luck

Multiple Choice

There once was a fisherman who lived with his wife in a small hut close by the seaside. The fisherman used to go fishing every day. One day, as he sat in his boat with his rod, looking at the sparkling waves and watching his line, all of a sudden his float was dragged away deep into the water. He quickly started to reel in his line and managed to pull out a huge fish. “Wow! This will feed us for days.” Much to his surprise, the fish started to talk and said, “Pray, let me live! I am not a real fish; I am an enchanted prince. Put me in the water again, and let me go! Have mercy o' kind fisherman.” The astonished fisherman quickly threw him back, exclaiming, “I don't want to hurt a talking fish! Go on! Go where you came from.”

Who did the fish say he was?

• A king

• A wizard

• An emperor

• An enchanted prince

Multiple Choice

There once was a fisherman who lived with his wife in a small hut close by the seaside. The fisherman used to go fishing every day. One day, as he sat in his boat with his rod, looking at the sparkling waves and watching his line, all of a sudden his float was dragged away deep into the water. He quickly started to reel in his line and managed to pull out a huge fish. “Wow! This will feed us for days.” Much to his surprise, the fish started to talk and said, “Pray, let me live! I am not a real fish; I am an enchanted prince. Put me in the water again, and let me go! Have mercy o' kind fisherman.” The astonished fisherman quickly threw him back, exclaiming, “I don't want to hurt a talking fish! Go on! Go where you came from.”

Which sentence showed that the fisherman did not mind letting the fish go?

• "Pray, let me live!"

• Put me in the water again and let me go"

• "I don't want to talk to a talking fish"

• "Go on! Go where you came from"

Paragraph 2

When the fisherman went home to his wife, he told her everything that had happened and how, on hearing it speak, he had let it go again. “Didn't you ask it for anything?” said the wife. “No, I didn't, what should I have asked for?” replied the fisherman. “I am surprised you don't realize what you should have asked for. We live very wretchedly here, in this nasty dirty hut. We are poor and I am so miserable. You should have asked for a nice cozy cottage. Now go back and ask the fish that we want a snug little cottage”, said his wife.

Multiple Choice

When the fisherman went home to his wife, he told her everything that had happened and how, on hearing it speak, he had let it go again. “Didn't you ask it for anything?” said the wife. “No, I didn't, what should I have asked for?” replied the fisherman. “I am surprised you don't realize what you should have asked for. We live very wretchedly here, in this nasty dirty hut. We are poor and I am so miserable. You should have asked for a nice cozy cottage. Now go back and ask the fish that we want a snug little cottage”, said his wife.

What can you infer the life of fisherman's wife from the paragraph?

• Unhappy

• pleasant

• cheerful

• bright

Multiple Choice

When the fisherman went home to his wife, he told her everything that had happened and how, on hearing it speak, he had let it go again. “Didn't you ask it for anything?” said the wife. “No, I didn't, what should I have asked for?” replied the fisherman. “I am surprised you don't realize what you should have asked for. We live very wretchedly here, in this nasty dirty hut. We are poor and I am so miserable. You should have asked for a nice cozy cottage. Now go back and ask the fish that we want a snug little cottage”, said his wife.

How did the wife react to the fisherman's deed?

• She agreed with him

• She regretted it

• She was happy to hear it

• She was indifferent

Paragraph 3

The fisherman wasn't sure about this but he still went to the seashore, sat in his boat, went to the middle of the sea and said:

“O enchanted beautiful fish!

Hear my plea!

My wife wants not what I want,

and she won't give up till she has her own will,

so come forth and help me!”

The fish immediately came swimming to him, and said, “Well, what is her will? How can I help your wife?” “Ah!” said the fisherman, “she says that when I had caught you, I ought to have asked you for something before I let you go. She does not like living in our little hut, and wants a snug little cottage.” “Go home, then,” said the fish, “She is already in the cottage!” So the fisherman went home, and saw his wife standing at the door of a nice trim little cottage. “Come in, come on in! Look at the beautiful cottage we have.”

Multiple Choice

The fisherman wasn't sure about this but he still went to the seashore, sat in his boat, went to the middle of the sea and said:

“O enchanted beautiful fish!

Hear my plea!

My wife wants not what I want,

and she won't give up till she has her own will,

so come forth and help me!”

The fish immediately came swimming to him, and said, “Well, what is her will? How can I help your wife?” “Ah!” said the fisherman, “she says that when I had caught you, I ought to have asked you for something before I let you go. She does not like living in our little hut, and wants a snug little cottage.” “Go home, then,” said the fish, “She is already in the cottage!” So the fisherman went home, and saw his wife standing at the door of a nice trim little cottage. “Come in, come on in! Look at the beautiful cottage we have.”

How do the fisherman and his wife respond to the cottage?

• They were both impressed.

• The husband was impressed but the wife did not think it is nice.

• The wife thought the house was nice but the husband did not like it

• Neither were impressed and wanted another wish.

Paragraph four

Everything went fine for a while, and then one day fisherman's wife said, “Husband, there is not enough room for us in this cottage, go back to the fish and tell him to make me an emperor.” “Wife,” said the fisherman, “I don't want to go to him again. Perhaps he will be angry. We ought to be happy with what the fish has given us and not be greedy.” “Nonsense!” said the wife; “The fish will do it very willingly, I know. Go along and try!” With a heavy heart the fisherman went to the middle of the sea and said:

“O enchanted beautiful fish!

Hear my plea!

My wife wants not what I want,

and she won't give up till she has her own will,

so come forth and help me!”

“What would she have now?” said the fish. “Ah!” said the fisherman, “she wants to be an emperor.” “Go home,” said the fish; “She is an emperor already.”

Multiple Choice

Everything went fine for a while, and then one day fisherman's wife said, “Husband, there is not enough room for us in this cottage, go back to the fish and tell him to make me an emperor.” “Wife,” said the fisherman, “I don't want to go to him again. Perhaps he will be angry. We ought to be happy with what the fish has given us and not be greedy.” “Nonsense!” said the wife; “The fish will do it very willingly, I know. Go along and try!” With a heavy heart the fisherman went to the middle of the sea and said:

“O enchanted beautiful fish!

Hear my plea!

My wife wants not what I want,

and she won't give up till she has her own will,

so come forth and help me!”

“What would she have now?” said the fish. “Ah!” said the fisherman, “she wants to be an emperor.” “Go home,” said the fish; “She is an emperor already.”

How did the fisherman feel about his wife’s request to be king?

• He thought they would be unhappy

• He appreciated her motivation.

• He thought she would be a bad king.

• He felt no need to be a king.

Multiple Choice

Everything went fine for a while, and then one day fisherman's wife said, “Husband, there is not enough room for us in this cottage, go back to the fish and tell him to make me an emperor.” “Wife,” said the fisherman, “I don't want to go to him again. Perhaps he will be angry. We ought to be happy with what the fish has given us and not be greedy.” “Nonsense!” said the wife; “The fish will do it very willingly, I know. Go along and try!” With a heavy heart the fisherman went to the middle of the sea and said:

“O enchanted beautiful fish!

Hear my plea!

My wife wants not what I want,

and she won't give up till she has her own will,

so come forth and help me!”

“What would she have now?” said the fish. “Ah!” said the fisherman, “she wants to be an emperor.” “Go home,” said the fish; “She is an emperor already.”

Why did the wife want to be an emperor? Because

• She thought she would be more-likable as an emperor.

• She was not satisfied with just being a townswoman

• She was angry with the fish for making her a poor woman.

• Her kingdom had no people in it, and she wanted to rule over people.

Multiple Choice

So he went home and he saw his wife sitting on a very lofty throne made of solid gold, with a great crown on her head full two yards high. And on each side of her stood her guards and attendants in a row. The fisherman went up to her and said, “Wife, are you an emperor?” “Yes”, said she, “I am an emperor.” “Ah!” said the man, as he gazed upon her, “What a fine thing it is to be an emperor!” “Husband,” said she, “it is good to be an emperor.” They were happy for a while.

What did the fisherman find when he got home?

• His wife had an affair with an emperor

• His wife threw a party

• His wife wore a crown liked an emperor

• His wife danced with her guards

Paragraph five

Then a time came when she was not able to sleep all night for she was thinking what she should ask next. At last, as she was about to fall asleep, morning broke, and the sun rose. “Ha!'” thought she, as she woke up and looked at it through the window, “after all I cannot prevent the sun from rising.” At this thought she was very angry, and wakened her husband, and said, “Husband, go to the fish and tell him I must be Lord of the sun and the moon.” The fisherman was half asleep, but the thought frightened him so much that he fell out of the bed. “Alas, wife!” said he, “cannot you be happy with being such a  powerful emperor?” “No,” said she, “I am very uneasy as long as the sun and the moon rise without my permission. Go to the fish at once!” “I don't think this is a good idea,” said the fisherman but his wife wouldn't listen to him. “ Why don't you just go and ask the fish to make me the Lord of everything,” she said.

Multiple Choice

Then a time came when she was not able to sleep all night for she was thinking what she should ask next. At last, as she was about to fall asleep, morning broke, and the sun rose. “Ha!'” thought she, as she woke up and looked at it through the window, “after all I cannot prevent the sun from rising.” At this thought she was very angry, and wakened her husband, and said, “Husband, go to the fish and tell him I must be Lord of the sun and the moon.” The fisherman was half asleep, but the thought frightened him so much that he fell out of the bed. “Alas, wife!” said he, “cannot you be happy with being such a  powerful emperor?” “No,” said she, “I am very uneasy as long as the sun and the moon rise without my permission. Go to the fish at once!” “I don't think this is a good idea,” said the fisherman but his wife wouldn't listen to him. “ Why don't you just go and ask the fish to make me the Lord of everything,” she said.

The wife could sleep peacefully after she became an emperor.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Then a time came when she was not able to sleep all night for she was thinking what she should ask next. At last, as she was about to fall asleep, morning broke, and the sun rose. “Ha!'” thought she, as she woke up and looked at it through the window, “after all I cannot prevent the sun from rising.” At this thought she was very angry, and wakened her husband, and said, “Husband, go to the fish and tell him I must be Lord of the sun and the moon.” The fisherman was half asleep, but the thought frightened him so much that he fell out of the bed. “Alas, wife!” said he, “cannot you be happy with being such a  powerful emperor?” “No,” said she, “I am very uneasy as long as the sun and the moon rise without my permission. Go to the fish at once!” “I don't think this is a good idea,” said the fisherman but his wife wouldn't listen to him. “ Why don't you just go and ask the fish to make me the Lord of everything,” she said.

Why did she want to become the Lord of the sun and the moon? Because ...

• she could not sleep at night

• she was very uneasy

• she was powerful

• she wanted to control when the sun and the moon rise

Paragraph six

Then the man went shivering with fear. As he was going down to the shore a dreadful storm arose. The trees and the very rocks shook and the sky became black with stormy clouds. There were great black waves, swelling up like mountains with crowns of white foam upon their heads. Unfortunately the fisherman did not have any choice, so he got onto his boat and rowed to the middle of the sea and cried out as loud as he could:

“O enchanted beautiful fish!

Hear my plea!

My wife wants not what I want,

and she won't give up till she has her own will,

so come forth and help me!”

“What does she want now?” said the fish. “I am truly ashamed of my wife's greed but I can't do anything. She wants to be Lord of the sun and the moon. “Go home,” said the fish, “to your small hut.” And it is said that they live there to this very day.

Multiple Choice

Then the man went shivering with fear. As he was going down to the shore a dreadful storm arose. The trees and the very rocks shook and the sky became black with stormy clouds. There were great black waves, swelling up like mountains with crowns of white foam upon their heads. Unfortunately the fisherman did not have any choice, so he got onto his boat and rowed to the middle of the sea and cried out as loud as he could:

“O enchanted beautiful fish!

Hear my plea!

My wife wants not what I want,

and she won't give up till she has her own will,

so come forth and help me!”

“What does she want now?” said the fish. “I am truly ashamed of my wife's greed but I can't do anything. She wants to be Lord of the sun and the moon. “Go home,” said the fish, “to your small hut.” And it is said that they live there to this very day.

How did the man feel when he came to visit the fish?

• happy

• dreadful

• jubilant

• unsatisfied

Multiple Choice

Then the man went shivering with fear. As he was going down to the shore a dreadful storm arose. The trees and the very rocks shook and the sky became black with stormy clouds. There were great black waves, swelling up like mountains with crowns of white foam upon their heads. Unfortunately the fisherman did not have any choice, so he got onto his boat and rowed to the middle of the sea and cried out as loud as he could:

“O enchanted beautiful fish!

Hear my plea!

My wife wants not what I want,

and she won't give up till she has her own will,

so come forth and help me!”

“What does she want now?” said the fish. “I am truly ashamed of my wife's greed but I can't do anything. She wants to be Lord of the sun and the moon. “Go home,” said the fish, “to your small hut.” And it is said that they live there to this very day.

What was the weather like when the fisherman went to the sea to talk to the fish?

Multiple Choice

Then the man went shivering with fear. As he was going down to the shore a dreadful storm arose. The trees and the very rocks shook and the sky became black with stormy clouds. There were great black waves, swelling up like mountains with crowns of white foam upon their heads. Unfortunately the fisherman did not have any choice, so he got onto his boat and rowed to the middle of the sea and cried out as loud as he could:

“O enchanted beautiful fish!

Hear my plea!

My wife wants not what I want,

and she won't give up till she has her own will,

so come forth and help me!”

“What does she want now?” said the fish. “I am truly ashamed of my wife's greed but I can't do anything. She wants to be Lord of the sun and the moon. “Go home,” said the fish, “to your small hut.” And it is said that they live there to this very day.

Did the fish grant the wife's wish to be the Lord of the sun and the moon?

• Yes

• No