The Cap-seller and the Monkeys
The Cap-seller and the Monkeys is a funny story about a clever cap-seller and some copycat monkeys. This page gives a simple summary, what we learn and a short quiz.
Learning objectives
- Enjoy and retell the story simply.
- Learn that monkeys copy actions.
- Understand how the cap-seller used his head.
- Answer simple questions.
Key concepts
The story
A man who sells caps carries them in a basket on his head. One day he feels tired and sleeps under a tree. While he is asleep, the monkeys in the tree come down and take all his caps, and each monkey puts a cap on its head. When the man wakes up and sees his basket empty, he is upset. He shakes his fists and scratches his head — and the monkeys, who love to copy, do exactly the same. Then the clever cap-seller has an idea: he throws his own cap on the ground. The monkeys copy him again and throw their caps down too. So the cap-seller happily picks up all his caps and goes away.
What we learn
The story teaches us to stay calm and think cleverly when there is a problem. The cap-seller did not fight the monkeys; he used his head and got back all his caps. We also learn that monkeys like to copy what they see.
The clever idea
Because monkeys copy actions, the cap-seller knew that if he threw his cap down, the monkeys would throw theirs down too. This simple, clever idea solved his problem.
Key definitions
- Cap-seller
- A person who sells caps.
- Basket
- A container, here used to carry caps on the head.
- Monkey
- An animal that likes to climb trees and copy actions.
- Copy
- To do the same thing that someone else does.
Solved examples
Q1. Where did the cap-seller sleep?
Solution: Under a tree.
Q2. Who took the caps?
Solution: The monkeys.
Q3. How did the cap-seller get his caps back?
Solution: He threw his cap down, and the copycat monkeys did the same.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking the cap-seller fought the monkeys (he was clever instead).
- Forgetting that monkeys copy actions.
- Mixing up the order of the story.
The Cap-seller and the Monkeys — MCQ Quiz
5 questions with instant feedback. Use number keys 1–4 to answer.
What did the man sell?
Practice questions
Short answer
What did the man sell?
Caps.
Who took his caps?
The monkeys.
How did he get them back?
He threw his cap down and the monkeys copied him.
Long answer
Tell the story of the cap-seller and the monkeys in your own words.
A man who sells caps was carrying them in a basket on his head. He felt tired and slept under a tree. While he slept, the monkeys in the tree came down and took all his caps, putting them on their own heads. When the man woke up and saw the empty basket, he was upset. He shook his fists and scratched his head, and the monkeys, who love to copy, did the same. Then the clever cap-seller threw his own cap on the ground. The monkeys copied him and threw their caps down too. So the man picked up all his caps and went away happily.
HOTS (Higher Order Thinking)
Why did throwing his own cap down help the cap-seller?
Because the monkeys copy what they see, so when he threw his cap down, they threw their caps down too, and he got them all back.
What would you have done in the cap-seller's place?
Children may suggest clever, calm ideas to get the caps back without fighting.
Quick revision
Revision notes
- A cap-seller slept under a tree; monkeys took his caps.
- Monkeys copy actions.
- He threw his cap down; the monkeys copied and threw theirs down; he got them back.
- Lesson: stay calm and think cleverly.
Key takeaways
- Monkeys love to copy.
- The cap-seller used a clever idea.
- Think calmly to solve a problem.
Frequently asked questions
Who took the caps?
The monkeys.
How did the man get his caps back?
He threw his cap down and the monkeys copied him.