Once upon a time, many years ago in Copenhagen, Denmark, a wealthy merchant had a son called Erik. Erik was a good-looking lad, intelligent, but very lazy. Instead of studying or doing some work, he liked to spend his days roaming about, amusing himself with his friends and squandering his father's money. When the merchant died, he left all his money to Erik, who spent it in a matter of months.
The only thing left was an empty magic trunk. The minute anyone stepped inside, the trunk rose into the air. One day, Erik, who had no intention of working for a living, decided to face the unknown and seek his fortune. So, he stepped into the trunk and, for days on end, flew across the seas and over woodlands and deserts. At last, he found himself above a city in the East and ordered the trunk to land on the terrace of a wonderful palace. Erik stepped out of the trunk and there in front of him stood a girl, staring at him in amazement.
"I'm Tamara, the Sultan's daughter," she said. "Who are you?"
Quick to turn the situation to his own advantage, Erik replied, "I'm the god of your people. I have come to ask for your hand in marriage."
Fascinated by the handsome stranger and certain that he really was a god, she happily said yes and called her family. The Sultan welcomed the youth with great honors and immediately started to make arrangements for the wedding.
The day before the ceremony, Erik stuffed the trunk full of jewels, golden candlesticks, and fine silks and flew away from the palace towards Copenhagen. However, weighed down by its valuable load, the trunk fell into the sea off the Danish coast. Erik managed to swim ashore and return to Copenhagen, where he sang sad songs at street corners for a living.
In the East, on the terrace of a magnificent palace, a young girl sadly glanced at the sky from time to time, hoping that the god who had suddenly disappeared would come back again.
5
Drag the tiles to the correct boxes to complete the pairs. Not all tiles will be used.
Which sentences from the passage best represent how Erik's character affects the story?
In the East, on the terrace of a
magnificent palace, a young girl
sadly glanced at the sky from time
to time, hoping that the god who
had suddenly disappeared would
come back again.
However, weighed down by its
valuable load, the trunk fell
into the sea off the Danish coast.
The Sultan welcomed the youth
with great honors and
immediately started to make
arrangements for the wedding.
Erik managed to swim ashore
and return to Copenhagen,
where he sang sad songs at
street corners for a living.
Fascinated by the handsome
1 answer
Based on Erik's character and the events of the story, the following sentences best represent how Erik's character affects the story:
"However, weighed down by its valuable load, the trunk fell into the sea off the Danish coast." - This sentence illustrates Erik's greed and carelessness, contributing to the story's conflict.
"Erik managed to swim ashore and return to Copenhagen, where he sang sad songs at street corners for a living." - This reflects the consequences of Erik's actions and his laziness, showing how his poor decisions lead him to a life of hardship.
While the other sentences speak to the surrounding events and characters that are influenced by Erik, these two specifically highlight his impact on the storyline and the outcomes he faces due to his character traits.
