Humorous Japanese pop-art illustration of a king in a royal robe and gold crown sitting on a tiny rock in the ocean, fishing with a small rod. Catchphrase:

King Edgar wears a big gold crown. He sits inside a huge stone castle. His royal flag flies high above. Edgar seems rich and very great. But his land is just one dry rock. His entire army is one small bird. The bird often flies away quickly. Edgar is poor as a church mouse. He often needs to find his food. The king walks to the nearby sea. He must catch fish for his dinner. He uses a stick and a thin rope. He wants to keep his secret safe. A tourist boat sails by slowly. The tourists wave at the king. Edgar waves back with great pride. He pretends to be busy working. He must look like a real leader. He never wants the world to know. The tired king just catches one fish.

📚 Story Vocabulary and Phrase

Review five key words and phrases from the story. Learn the meaning and the part of speech for each item.

  • castle (n.) : A very large and strong old building where a king or queen lives.
  • royal (adj.) : Relating to a king, queen, or their family; very grand or important.
  • entire (adj.) : All of something; the complete amount of a group.
  • walks to (v. phrase) : Moves to a place using the feet; travels a short distance on foot.
  • pretends (v.) : Acts as if something is true when it is not real.

📝 Story Exercise: True or False?

Read the story carefully and decide if the following statements are True or False.

  1. King Edgar’s castle is small and made of wood.
  2. His royal flag flies high to hide his secret.
  3. Edgar’s army is large, but they are all very tired.
  4. The King always catches his own fish for dinner.
  5. He wants the tourists to think he is a powerful leader.

Answers

  1. False. He sits inside a huge stone castle.
  2. False. The flag flies high above, but the secret is his lack of money.
  3. False. His entire army is one small bird.
  4. True. He must catch fish for his dinner.
  5. True. He pretends to be busy working and waves back.

🗣️ Let’s talk about it

Let’s discuss the story’s themes. Use the ” Answer Tip” to help you start your sentences.

  • Why does King Edgar pretend to be busy when the tourists wave?
    Simple Answer Tip: “He pretends because he does not want them to know.
  • What is the hardest job you would do if you had no money?
    Simple Answer Tip: “If I had no money, I would work as a street cleaner.
  • What is a funny title you would invent for your own job?
    Simple Answer Tip: “My new job title is Official Coffee Taster.”