Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

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The Pirate Princess

Penelope, the brave pirate princess, embarks on daring adventures, outsmarting sea monsters, cunning pirates, and even making a wish with a magical Golden Mermaid.

Try this story at a different level?

 

Once upon a time, there was a pirate princess named Penelope. She was born into a royal family but always wanted to go on adventures and be a pirate. So, she hopped onto her own ship called the Jolly Seahorse and went looking for treasure and exciting moments, ready to outsmart any other pirates she might meet along the way.

One day, while sailing, Penelope and her crew saw a huge sea monster. It scared all of her crew, but she wasn’t afraid. Penelope thought quickly and had an idea. She told her crew to toss seashells at the sea monster. Thinking the shells were rocks, the monster got scared and swam away. Everyone on the Jolly Seahorse cheered for their brave captain.

Penelope’s next adventure led her to an island full of caves with diamonds and gold. But the island was protected by a group of pirates known for being very sneaky. Penelope dressed up as someone who sold fruit and got close to their leader, Captain Jackal. She tricked him into thinking there was a bigger treasure on a different island. When the pirates left to find it, Penelope took all the treasures from the caves.

Feeling really confident, Penelope and her crew went after the biggest treasure ever, the Golden Mermaid. It was said to grant a wish to whoever found it. They braved dangerous waters, and right when they were about to get the mermaid, a huge storm hit. To save her crew from the storm, Penelope wished for their safety instead of asking for treasure.

Suddenly, the storm stopped, and a bright light shone on them. The Golden Mermaid turned into a guardian angel and led them back home. When they got back, they all realized that the best treasure was their friendship and loyalty to each other. Penelope kept being a pirate, but now she was also known for her courage and kindness.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1pirateSomeone who robs or attacks ships at sea
2royalBelonging to or connected with a king, queen, or their family
3adventuresExciting and often dangerous experiences
4outsmartTo be more clever than someone else
5seashellsHard parts from small sea creatures, often found on beaches
6cheeredShouted with happiness or approval
7sneakyActing in a secret and dishonest way
8disguisedChanged appearance to look like something else
9trickedDeceived someone to believe something that is not true
10confidentFeeling sure about your own abilities or situation
11bravedFaced something difficult or frightening with a lot of guts
12treasureValuable items such as gold, silver, or precious stones
13guardianSomeone who protects or watches over others
14loyaltyA strong feeling of support or allegiance
15courageThe ability to do something that frightens one

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Penelope do to scare away the sea monster?
3. How did Penelope trick Captain Jackal and his pirates?
4. What was the name of the ship that Penelope sailed on?
5. What did Penelope wish for when they were about to find the Golden Mermaid?
6. What happened when Penelope made her wish?
7. What did Penelope and her crew realize was the best treasure in the end?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Once upon a time, there was a pirate princess named Penelope. She was born into a (1)______ family but always wanted to go on adventures and be a pirate. So, she hopped onto her own ship called the (2)______ Seahorse and went looking for (3)______ and exciting moments, ready to outsmart any other pirates she might meet along the way.

One day, while sailing, Penelope and her crew saw a huge sea monster. It (4)______ all of her crew, but she wasn’t afraid. (5)______ thought quickly and had an idea. She told her crew to toss seashells at the sea monster. Thinking the shells were rocks, the monster got scared and swam away. Everyone on the Jolly Seahorse (6)______ for their brave captain.

Penelope’s next adventure led her to an island full of (7)______ with diamonds and gold. But the island was protected by a group of pirates known for being very (8)______. Penelope dressed up as someone who sold fruit and got close to their leader, Captain (9)______. She tricked him into thinking there was a bigger treasure on a (10)______ island. When the pirates left to find it, Penelope took all the treasures from the caves.

Feeling really confident, Penelope and her crew went after the biggest treasure ever, the Golden Mermaid. It was said to grant a wish to whoever found it. They braved (11)______ waters, and (12)______ when they were about to get the mermaid, a huge storm hit. To save her crew from the storm, Penelope wished for their safety instead of asking for treasure.

Suddenly, the storm (13)______, and a bright light shone on them. The Golden Mermaid turned into a (14)______ angel and led them back home. When they got back, they all realized that the best treasure was their friendship and (15)______ to each other. Penelope kept being a pirate, but now she was also (16)______ for her courage and kindness.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a pirate princess?
2. How would you feel if you were Penelope and wanted to be a pirate instead of a princess?
3. Do you like adventure? Why or why not?
4. What would you do if you saw a sea monster while sailing?
5. How do you think Penelope felt when her crew cheered for her after scaring away the sea monster?
6. Do you think it was smart of Penelope to dress up as a fruit seller to trick the sneaky pirates? Why or why not?
7. What would you wish for if you found the Golden Mermaid? Why?
8. How do you think Penelope felt when she chose to wish for her crew’s safety instead of treasure?
9. Do you think friendship and loyalty are important treasures? Why or why not?
10. If you were Penelope, would you keep being a pirate even after finding the Golden Mermaid? Why or why not?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. pirate
2. royal
3. adventures
4. outsmart
5. seashells
6. cheered
7. sneaky
8. disguised
9. tricked
10. confident
11. braved
12. treasure
13. guardian
14. loyalty
15. courage

Meanings:
(A) A strong feeling of support or allegiance
(B) Faced something difficult or frightening with a lot of guts
(C) The ability to do something that frightens one
(D) Deceived someone to believe something that is not true
(E) Changed appearance to look like something else
(F) Someone who protects or watches over others
(G) Exciting and often dangerous experiences
(H) Someone who robs or attacks ships at sea
(I) Acting in a secret and dishonest way
(J) Shouted with happiness or approval
(K) To be more clever than someone else
(L) Feeling sure about your own abilities or situation
(M) Belonging to or connected with a king, queen, or their family
(N) Hard parts from small sea creatures, often found on beaches
(O) Valuable items such as gold, silver, or precious stones
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the pirate princess in the story?
(a) Isabella
(b) Penelope
(c) Olivia
(d) Sophia

2. What was the name of the ship that Penelope sailed on?
(a) The Brave Dolphin
(b) The Fearless Shark
(c) The Adventurous Turtle
(d) The Jolly Seahorse

3. How did Penelope scare away the sea monster?
(a) By throwing seashells
(b) By shouting loudly
(c) By waving a flag
(d) By playing music

4. How did Penelope trick Captain Jackal and his pirates?
(a) By challenging them to a duel
(b) By disguising herself as a mermaid
(c) By stealing their ship
(d) By pretending to sell fruit

5. What was the name of the treasure that Penelope and her crew went after?
(a) The Golden Mermaid
(b) The Diamond Crown
(c) The Silver Sword
(d) The Emerald Necklace

6. What did Penelope wish for when they were about to get the Golden Mermaid?
(a) For unlimited treasure
(b) For the safety of her crew
(c) For the power to fly
(d) For the ability to breathe underwater

7. What did the Golden Mermaid turn into after the storm?
(a) A magical sword
(b) A talking parrot
(c) A guardian angel
(d) A treasure chest

8. What did Penelope and her crew realize was the best treasure?
(a) The diamonds and gold
(b) The adventures they had
(c) Their friendship and loyalty
(d) The fame and fortune

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Penelope was born into a peasant family but wanted to be a pirate instead.
2. Penelope and her crew embarked on a safe quest to find the Golden Mermaid.
3. Penelope and her crew encountered a scary sea monster while sailing.
4. She had her own ship called the Jolly Seahorse.
5. She tricked a group of sneaky pirates and stole their treasure.
6. The Golden Mermaid transformed into a guardian devil and escorted them back home, teaching them the importance of rivalry and betrayal.
7. In the face of a storm, Penelope selflessly wished for her crew’s safety instead of treasure.
8. Penelope foolishly scared away the sea monster by throwing seashells at it.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this story in two sentences. Here are some hints:
Who are the main characters?
What happens in the story?

Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
The main character in the story is Penelope, the pirate princess.

2. What did Penelope do to scare away the sea monster?
Penelope told her crew to toss seashells at the sea monster, making it think they were rocks and scaring it away.

3. How did Penelope trick Captain Jackal and his pirates?
Penelope dressed up as someone who sold fruit and tricked Captain Jackal into thinking there was a bigger treasure on a different island, leading the pirates away while she took all the treasures from the caves.

4. What was the name of the ship that Penelope sailed on?
The name of the ship that Penelope sailed on was the Jolly Seahorse.

5. What did Penelope wish for when they were about to find the Golden Mermaid?
When they were about to find the Golden Mermaid, Penelope wished for the safety of her crew.

6. What happened when Penelope made her wish?
When Penelope made her wish, a bright light shone on them and the Golden Mermaid turned into a guardian angel who led them back home.

7. What did Penelope and her crew realize was the best treasure in the end?
Penelope and her crew realized that their friendship and loyalty to each other was the best treasure in the end.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) royal
(2) Jolly
(3) treasure
(4) scared
(5) Penelope
(6) cheered
(7) caves
(8) sneaky
(9) Jackal
(10) different
(11) dangerous
(12) right
(13) stopped
(14) guardian
(15) loyalty
(16) known
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. pirate
Answer: (H) Someone who robs or attacks ships at sea

2. royal
Answer: (M) Belonging to or connected with a king, queen, or their family

3. adventures
Answer: (G) Exciting and often dangerous experiences

4. outsmart
Answer: (K) To be more clever than someone else

5. seashells
Answer: (N) Hard parts from small sea creatures, often found on beaches

6. cheered
Answer: (J) Shouted with happiness or approval

7. sneaky
Answer: (I) Acting in a secret and dishonest way

8. disguised
Answer: (E) Changed appearance to look like something else

9. tricked
Answer: (D) Deceived someone to believe something that is not true

10. confident
Answer: (L) Feeling sure about your own abilities or situation

11. braved
Answer: (B) Faced something difficult or frightening with a lot of guts

12. treasure
Answer: (O) Valuable items such as gold, silver, or precious stones

13. guardian
Answer: (F) Someone who protects or watches over others

14. loyalty
Answer: (A) A strong feeling of support or allegiance

15. courage
Answer: (C) The ability to do something that frightens one
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the pirate princess in the story?
Answer: (b) Penelope

2. What was the name of the ship that Penelope sailed on?
Answer: (d) The Jolly Seahorse

3. How did Penelope scare away the sea monster?
Answer: (a) By throwing seashells

4. How did Penelope trick Captain Jackal and his pirates?
Answer: (d) By pretending to sell fruit

5. What was the name of the treasure that Penelope and her crew went after?
Answer: (a) The Golden Mermaid

6. What did Penelope wish for when they were about to get the Golden Mermaid?
Answer: (b) For the safety of her crew

7. What did the Golden Mermaid turn into after the storm?
Answer: (c) A guardian angel

8. What did Penelope and her crew realize was the best treasure?
Answer: (c) Their friendship and loyalty
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Penelope was born into a peasant family but wanted to be a pirate instead. (Answer: False)
2. Penelope and her crew embarked on a safe quest to find the Golden Mermaid. (Answer: False)
3. Penelope and her crew encountered a scary sea monster while sailing. (Answer: True)
4. She had her own ship called the Jolly Seahorse. (Answer: True)
5. She tricked a group of sneaky pirates and stole their treasure. (Answer: True)
6. The Golden Mermaid transformed into a guardian devil and escorted them back home, teaching them the importance of rivalry and betrayal. (Answer: False)
7. In the face of a storm, Penelope selflessly wished for her crew’s safety instead of treasure. (Answer: True)
8. Penelope foolishly scared away the sea monster by throwing seashells at it. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 3 stories?

A little girl named Mia embarks on a magical adventure through the Candy Kingdom after awakening a Jelly Bean Tree.

The Jelly Bean Tree

Mia discovers a magical tree that turns into a creature and takes her on a sweet adventure to the Candy Kingdom.

A young girl named Emily discovers a tree that produces rainbow-colored raspberries, bringing joy to her village.

The Remarkable Raspberry Rain

Emily discovers a tree that rains colorful raspberries, but when they lose their color, she learns that children’s laughter can bring the magic back.

Daisy the dinosaur detective and her mischievous sidekick Benny solve mysteries and teach valuable life lessons.

The Dinosaur Detective

Daisy, a small and smart dinosaur, solves mysteries and makes friends with Benny, a young dinosaur who made a mistake.

Milo the mischievous monkey and Polly the Parrot become best friends, spreading laughter and joy throughout the jungle.

The Mischievous Monkey

Milo the monkey became the funny guy of the jungle, spreading laughter and happiness to all the animals, even the smart ones.

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