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The Nightingale is a famous story written by Hans Christian Andersen in the 19th century. It is one of his most well-known fairy tales and is loved by readers all over the world.
The story happens in ancient China. It tells about a powerful Emperor, a beautiful palace, and a small nightingale with a wonderful song. The events take place in a palace, a garden, and a quiet forest near the sea.
This story is about true beauty, kindness, and freedom. It shows the difference between real things and artificial things. It also teaches us to listen with our hearts, not only with our eyes.
This version of The Nightingale is an english story for learning, rewritten especially for Level 1 English learners. The language is simple and clear. The sentences are short, and the words are easy to understand.
This story is very useful for people who are learning English. It helps learners improve reading skills, learn new words, and enjoy English in a natural and interesting way. It is perfect for children and beginners who want to learn English through stories.
This story was rewritten by LearnEnglish-new.com for English learners. The story is in the public domain, so it is free from copyright. Enjoy reading and improve your English skills!
Contents
Chapter One: The Emperor and His Garden
Chapter Two: The Emperor Hears About the Nightingale
Chapter Three: The Search for the Bird
Chapter Four: The Nightingale at the Palace
Chapter Five: The Mechanical Nightingale
Chapter Six: The Emperor is Saved
Chapter One
The Emperor and His Garden
Long, long ago, in China, there lived a great Emperor. He was very rich and very powerful. All the people in his country listened to him.
The Emperor lived in a wonderful palace. The palace was made of white porcelain. It was very beautiful, but also very fragile. People were afraid to touch it.
Behind the palace, there was a very large garden. The garden had colorful flowers and tall green trees. Small silver bells hung on the flowers. When the wind blew, the bells made a soft sound.
The garden was so big that even the gardener did not know where it ended. After the garden, there was a forest. And after the forest, there was a deep blue sea.
In that forest lived a nightingale. She was a small grey bird. She did not look special. But when she sang, her voice was very beautiful.
At night, fishermen worked near the sea. When they heard the nightingale sing, they stopped. They listened quietly and smiled.
“Oh, how beautiful!” they said.
Chapter 1 – Vocabulary
1. Emperor – a king of a big country.
There lived a great Emperor.
3. Forest – a place with many trees.
After the garden, there was a forest.
5. Nightingale – a small bird that sings.
In that forest lived a nightingale.
7. Beautiful – very nice to see or hear.
Her voice was very beautiful.
2. Palace – a big house for a king.
The Emperor lived in a wonderful palace.
4. Fragile – easy to break.
It was very beautiful, but also very fragile.
6. Garden – a place with flowers and plants.
There was a very large garden.
Questions
1. Where does the Emperor live?
3. What is behind the palace?
5. Where does the nightingale live?
7. How do people feel when they hear the bird?
2. What is the palace made of?
4. Why are people afraid to touch the palace?
6. What do fishermen do at night?
Chapter 1 – Grammar Exercises
1. The Emperor _ in a palace.
A) live
B) lives
C) living
3. The nightingale _ in the forest.
A) live
B) lives
C) living
5. The bells _ a soft sound.
A) make
B) makes
C) making
7. People _ quietly.
A) listen
B) listens
C) listening
2. The garden _ very big.
A) is
B) are
C) be
4. Fishermen _ near the sea.
A) works
B) work
C) working
6. She _ very well.
A) sing
B) sings
C) singing
Please write your answers in the comments. The correct answers will be posted later.
Chapter Two
The Emperor Hears About the Nightingale
People from many countries came to visit China. They saw the palace and the garden. They liked them very much.
But when they heard the nightingale sing, they said,
“This bird is the most beautiful thing in China.”
When they went home, they wrote books about China. They wrote about the palace. They wrote about the garden. But most of all, they wrote about the nightingale.
One day, the Emperor read one of these books. He nodded his head and smiled.
Then he read one sentence again and again:
“The nightingale is the best of all.”
The Emperor was surprised.
“What is this nightingale?” he asked.
“How can such a bird live in my garden, and I do not know her?”
“I want to hear this bird,” said the Emperor.
“She must sing for me tonight.”
Chapter 2 – Vocabulary
1. Visit – go to see a place.
People came to visit China.
3. Country – a nation
People from many countries came.
5. Book – something to read.
They wrote books about China.
7. Sentence – a group of words.
He read one sentence again.
2. Surprised – feeling shocked.
The Emperor was surprised.
4. Hear – listen to something.
I want to hear this bird.
6. Tonight – this night.
She must sing for me tonight.
Questions
1. Who visits China?
3. What do they write about?
5. Why is the Emperor surprised?
7. When must the bird sing?
2. What do people like in China?
4. What does the Emperor read?
6. What does he want to hear?
Chapter 2 – Grammar Exercises
1. People _ to China.
A) come
B) comes
C) coming
3. The Emperor _ a book.
A) read
B) reads
C) reading
5. He _ a question.
A) ask
B) asks
C) asking
7. He _ to hear it.
A) want
B) wants
C) wanting
2. They _ books.
A) write
B) writes
C) writing
4. He _ surprised.
A) is
B) are
C) be
6. The bird _ in the garden.
A) live
B) lives
C) living
Please write your answers in the comments. The correct answers will be posted later.
Chapter Three
The Search for the Bird
The Emperor’s servants ran through the palace. They went up the stairs. They went down the stairs. They asked many people.
But no one knew the nightingale.
At last, they met a poor little kitchen girl. She was carrying food.
“Oh yes,” said the girl.
“I know the nightingale.
She sings near the sea every evening. Her song makes me feel happy and sad at the same time.”
The girl led them to the forest. They walked quietly.
Suddenly, a sweet song filled the air. It was soft and warm. It was full of love.
“There she is!” said the girl.
The nightingale sat on a branch and sang.
Chapter 3 – Vocabulary
1. Servant – a worker in a palace.
The Emperor’s servants ran through the palace.
3. Kitchen – place to cook
At last, they met a poor little kitchen girl.
5. Evening – time before night.
She sings near the sea every evening.
7. Branch – part of a tree.
The nightingale sat on a branch and sang.
2. Stairs – steps in a building.
They went up the stairs. They went down the stairs.
4. Poor – not rich.
At last, they met a poor little kitchen girl.
6. Song – music from a voice.
Suddenly, a sweet song filled the air.
Questions
1. What do the servants do?
3. Who knows the nightingale?
5. How does the song feel?
7. Where does the bird sit?
2. Do people know the bird?
4. Where does she sing?
6. Where do they go?
Chapter 3 – Grammar Exercises
1. The servants _ around.
A) run
B) runs
C) running
3. The girl _ the bird.
A) know
B) knows
C) knowing
5. The bird _ every evening.
A) sing
B) sings
C) singing
7. The song _ the air.
A) fill
B) fills
C) filling
2. They _ many people.
A) ask
B) asks
C) asking
4. She _ food.
A) carry
B) carries
C) carrying
6. They _ quietly.
A) walk
B) walks
C) walking
Please write your answers in the comments. The correct answers will be posted later.
Chapter Four
The Nightingale at the Palace
The Emperor invited the nightingale to his palace. That evening, the palace was full of light. Golden lamps shone everywhere.
The nightingale sat near the Emperor. He looked at her and smiled.
She began to sing.
Her song was so beautiful that the Emperor cried. Tears ran down his face. Everyone was quiet. Everyone listened.
“This song touches my heart,” said the Emperor. “You may stay in my palace.”
The nightingale stayed, but she missed the forest. She loved the green trees and the open sky.
Chapter 4 – Vocabulary
1. Invite – ask someone to come.
The Emperor invited the nightingale to his palace.
3. Smile – happy face.
He looked at her and smiled.
5. Tears – water from eyes.
Tears ran down his face.
7. Miss – feel sad without something.
She missed the forest.
2. Lamp – light.
Golden lamps shone everywhere.
4. Cry – tears come out.
The Emperor cried.
6. Heart – inside body, feelings.
This song touches my heart.
Questions
1. Where does the Emperor invite the bird?
3. Where does the bird sit?
5. Why does the Emperor cry?
7. What does the bird miss?
2. What is in the palace?
4. What does she do?
6. What does he say?
Chapter 4 – Grammar Exercises
1. The Emperor _ the bird.
A) invite
B) invites
C) inviting
3. She _ near him.
A) sit
B) sits
C) sitting
5. He _ tears.
A) have
B) has
C) having
7. She _ the forest.
A) miss
B) misses
C) missing
2. The palace _ bright.
A) is
B) are
C) be
4. She _ a song.
A) sing
B) sings
C) singing
6. Everyone _ quiet.
A) is
B) are
C) be
Please write your answers in the comments. The correct answers will be posted later.
Chapter Five
The Mechanical Nightingale
One day, the Emperor received a gift. It was a mechanical nightingale.
The bird was made of gold and jewels. It shone like the sun. When someone turned a key, it sang.
The Emperor loved the new bird. He listened to it again and again.
The real nightingale flew away. She returned to the forest.
After some time, the mechanical bird stopped. It was broken. It could not sing anymore.
Chapter 5 – Vocabulary
1. Gift – present
One day, the Emperor received a gift.
3. Gold – yellow metal
The bird was made of gold and jewels.
5. Key – used to open or start
When someone turned a key, it sang.
7. Broken – not working.
It was broken.
2. Mechanical – made by machine
It was a mechanical nightingale.
4. Jewels – shiny stones
The bird was made of gold and jewels.
6. Fly – move in air.
The real nightingale flew away.
Questions
1. What does the Emperor receive?
3. How does it sing?
5. What happens to the real bird?
7. What happens to the machine bird?
2. What is the bird made of?
4. Why does the Emperor like it?
6. Where does she go?
Chapter 5 – Grammar Exercises
1. The Emperor _ a gift.
A) receive
B) receives
C) receiving
3. It _ when turned.
A) sing
B) sings
C) singing
5. The bird _ away.
A) fly
B) flies
C) flying
7. It _ sing now.
A) not can
B) cannot
C) not
2. It _ of gold.
A) is
B) are
C) be
4. He _ it again.
A) listen
B) listens
C) listening
6. It _ broken.
A) is
B) are
C) be
Please write your answers in the comments. The correct answers will be posted later.
Chapter Six
The Emperor is Saved
Many years later, the Emperor became very sick. He lay in his bed, weak and pale. The mechanical bird was silent.
One night, a soft song came through the window. It was the real nightingale.
She sang with kindness and love. Her song gave the Emperor hope and peace.
The Emperor felt stronger. His heart became warm again.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
The nightingale said,
“I will come when you need me.”
She flew back into the night.
The Emperor slept peacefully.
The Emperor opened his eyes in the morning. The sun was shining into the room. He felt warm and strong again.
He looked around and smiled. “The nightingale saved my life,” he said softly.
The little bird sat near the window. She sang a gentle morning song.
“Stay with me forever,” said the Emperor.
“I will give you gold and a golden cage.”
The nightingale shook her head.
“I thank you, dear Emperor,” she said kindly.
“But I cannot live in a cage.”
“I sing best in the forest, among trees and flowers,” she said.
“I want to be free.”
The Emperor thought for a moment. Then he nodded.
“You are right,” he said.
“True beauty must be free.”
“Come and sing for me when you wish,” he said.
“That will be my greatest gift.”
The nightingale smiled.
She flew into the blue sky.
From that day on, the Emperor listened more. He listened to people. He listened to nature.
And sometimes, in the quiet evening, a sweet song came from the window.
The Emperor smiled, and his heart was at peace.
— THE END —
Chapter 6 – Vocabulary
1. Sick – not well.
The Emperor became very sick.
3. Hope – good feeling for future.
Her song gave the Emperor hope and peace.
5. Whisper – speak very quietly.
Thank you,” he whispered.
7. Sky – space above.
She flew into the blue sky.
2. Weak – not strong.
He lay in his bed, weak and pale.
4. Peace – calm feeling.
Her song gave the Emperor hope and peace.
6. Free – not in a cage.
I want to be free.
Questions
1. Is the Emperor sick?
3. What does the song give him?
5. What does the bird say?
7. What does the Emperor learn?
2. What bird comes back?
4. How does he feel after?
6. Why does she not stay?
Chapter 5 – Grammar Exercises
Choose the correct answer.
1. The Emperor _ sick.
A) is
B) are
C) be
3. She _ a song.
A) sing
B) sings
C) singing
5. She _ free.
A) want
B) wants
C) wanting
7. The bird _ away.
A) fly
B) flies
C) flying
2. The bird _ back.
A) come
B) comes
C) coming
4. He _ stronger.
A) feel
B) feels
C) feeling
6. He _ her.
A) thank
B) thanks
C) thanking
Please write your answers in the comments. The correct answers will be posted later.
Read the original story: americanliterature.com
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