The Emperor's New Clothes

Reading Enhancement Program 2

Folktale: The Emperor's New Clothes

Read the story "The Emperor's New Clothes" and answer the following questions.

Write your answers in your notebook. Answers only. No need to copy the questions. We will check them during onsite classes.

The Emperor's New Clothes
A folktale from Denmark

The emperor was so fond of new clothes that he spent all his money on them. One day, two tricksters came to visit the town and claimed to be weavers. The Emperor thought the clothes were splendid and wanted to order some to be woven for him. He paid them a lot of money in advance and they pretended to weave but had nothing on their shuttles. The Emperor sent his faithful old minister to the weavers to see how they were doing with the finest silk and purest gold thread.

The Emperor's New Clothes
A folktale from Denmark

The old minister opened his eyes wide and could not see anything, but the two tricksters begged him to step a little closer and asked if he did not think it was a good pattern and beautiful coloring. The two tricksters pointed to the empty loom and the old minister stared as hard as he could, but he could not see anything. The one who was pretending to weave said nothing about the stuff. The old minister thought he was a fool and was not fit for his post.

The Emperor's New Clothes
A folktale from Denmark

The tricksters demanded more money, silk, and gold, but put it all into their own pockets. The Emperor sent an official to see the weaving, but could not see anything. The tricksters showed beautiful patterns and colors, but the official praised the design. Everyone in the town was talking about it, and the Emperor wanted to see it while it was still on the loom. The Emperor went to visit the crafty tricksters, who were working at an empty loom.

The Emperor's New Clothes
A folktale from Denmark

The Emperor was amazed by the design and colors, but could not see anything. His Majesty agreed to wear a suit made of the cloth on the occasion of a procession. The Emperor gave each of the tricksters an order of knighthood and the title of ‘Gentleman weavers’.

The Emperor's New Clothes
A folktale from Denmark

The tricksters were worried about getting the Emperor’s new clothes ready, so they burned sixteen candles and pretended to take the stuff off the loom. The Emperor, with his courtiers, took off all his clothes and the impostors pretended to give him one article of dress after the other of the new ones they had pretended to make. The Emperor turned round and round in front of the mirror and said how well his majesty looked in the new clothes. The Emperor is wearing gorgeous robes and a canopy to be carried over him in a procession. The chamberlains who were to carry the train stooped and pretended to lift it from the ground with both hands, and the Emperor walked along in the procession under the canopy.

The Emperor's New Clothes
A folktale from Denmark

However, a little child whispered that the Emperor had nothing on, and the Emperor writhed and held himself stiffer than ever. The chamberlains held up the invisible train.





Source: Essential English for Active Learners pp. 24-25

A. Match the definition in Column A with its term in Column B.
Write the letter of the correct answer in the blank space provided.

Column A Column B

__________ 1.   King’s officials A.   chamberlains

__________ 2.   Clever and sly B.   courtiers

__________ 3.   Like very much C.   crafty

__________ 4.   King’s attendants D.   fond

__________ 5.   Twisted and squirmed E.   loom

__________ 6.   A mechanism that spins and weaves the fabric F.    shuttles

__________7.   Regular transportation to and from routes/destination G.   writhed

B. Answer the following questions about The
Emperor’s New Clothes:

1. What is the setting of the story? __________________________________________________

2. Who are the characters in the story? ______________________________________________

3. What is the conflict in the story? __________________________________________________

4. What happened in the end? _____________________________________________________

5. What is a folktale? _____________________________________________________________

C. Use the Plot Diagram to answer the
questions below about the story The Emperor's New Clothes.