Andersen's Fairy Tales — Comprehension Quiz

Multiple Choice

1. What did the Emperor in "The Emperor's New Clothes" love more than anything else?
A. His soldiers
B. New clothes
C. Going to the theatre
D. Hunting

2. What did the two rogues claim to be?
A. Tailors
B. Magicians
C. Weavers
D. Royal advisors

3. What special property did the rogues say their cloth had?
A. It would never wear out
B. It was invisible to anyone unfit for their office or very foolish
C. It changed color with the weather
D. It could only be seen by children

4. What did the rogues actually do at their looms?
A. Wove beautiful silk cloth
B. Worked with empty looms and did nothing at all
C. Made simple clothes from wool
D. Wove cloth but used cheap thread

5. Who finally said the truth that the Emperor had no clothes on?
A. The old minister
B. The Emperor's second ambassador
C. A little child
D. One of the rogues

6. In "The Swineherd," what was unusual about the rose tree that grew where the Prince's father was buried?
A. It bloomed every day
B. It blossomed only once every five years and bore just one flower
C. It had thorns made of gold
D. It never bloomed at all

7. What gift, besides the rose, did the Prince have to send to the Princess?
A. A golden crown
B. A nightingale that sang beautifully
C. A silver mirror
D. A diamond ring

8. Why did the Emperor's officers and courtiers all praise the invisible cloth?
A. They truly could see it
B. They didn't want to seem foolish or unfit for their jobs
C. They were paid to lie
D. They liked the rogues very much

Short Answer

9. Why didn't the old minister tell the Emperor that he could see nothing on the looms?

10. What lesson do you think "The Emperor's New Clothes" teaches about honesty and pride?

11. How were the rose and the nightingale sent to the Princess in "The Swineherd"?

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Answer Key

1. B. New clothes
2. C. Weavers
3. B. It was invisible to anyone unfit for their office or very foolish
4. B. Worked with empty looms and did nothing at all
5. C. A little child
6. B. It blossomed only once every five years and bore just one flower
7. B. A nightingale that sang beautifully
8. B. They didn't want to seem foolish or unfit for their jobs
9. He was afraid people would think he was a simpleton or unfit for his office if he admitted he couldn't see the cloth, so he pretended to see it and praised it instead.
10. Accept reasonable answers, such as: people should tell the truth even if it's uncomfortable, and pride or fear of looking foolish can lead everyone to go along with a lie until someone honest (like a child) speaks up.
11. They were put into large silver caskets and sent to her.