The Strange House

Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. cheap                 a. not familiar or usual
2. cozy                   b. not expensive
3. gentle                 c. warm, comfortable, and pleasant
4. slowly                d. kind and soft in manner
5. strange               e. not quickly
6. heavy                 f. difficult to move
7. tired                   g. needing rest or sleep

Fill in the blanks with the words below:

cheap - quiet - strange - heavy - tired - cozy - gentle 

1. The traveler is looking for a ______ room.
2. The room feels warm and ______.
3. The woman's voice is ______ and sweet.
4. There are no people on the street, so it is very ______.
5. The tea tastes ______.
6. His hands feel ______.
7. The traveler is very ______.

Odd One Out

1. cold - dark - warm - windy
2. tea - biscuit - fire - bird
3. tired - sleepy - heavy - energetic
4. gentle - sweet - kind - angry
5. chair - table - fire - traveler
6. quiet - silent - peaceful - noisy
7. strange - unusual - unfamiliar - normal

Answer with True or False

1. The traveler walks through the town at night.
2. He is looking for an expensive room.
3. His feet hurt.
4. There are many people on the street.
5. He sees a bird in a cage.
6. The woman asks him about his age.
7. The traveler leaves the house at the end.

1. What is the traveler looking for?

a. A job
b. A cheap room
c. A restaurant
d. A friend

2. What does he see inside the house?

a. A swimming pool
b. A fire, soft chairs, and a small table
c. A large kitchen
d. A television

3. What animal does the traveler see?

a. A cat
b. A dog
c. A bird
d. A horse

4. What does the woman ask the traveler about?

a. His family
b. His age
c. His job
d. His hometown

5. What does the woman give him?

a. Coffee and cake
b. Hot tea and a biscuit
c. Soup and bread
d. Milk and fruit

6. What does the traveler see in the picture?

a. Two old women
b. Two young men
c. Two children
d. A family

7. What happens at the end?

a. The traveler leaves.
b. The woman leaves.
c. The traveler closes his eyes and never leaves.
d. The traveler calls for help.

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ The woman brings the traveler tea and a biscuit.
2. ___ The traveler walks through the cold town.
3. ___ He sees a small house with a warm light.
4. ___ The woman asks about his age.
5. ___ He sees two young men in a picture.
6. ___ His eyes and hands feel heavy.
7. ___ The traveler closes his eyes.

Find a phrase from the story that supports each statement.

1. The traveler is cold.
2. The traveler wants to sleep.
3. The street is empty.
4. The room is comfortable.
5. The woman is kind.
6. The tea tastes unusual.
7. The traveler never leaves.

Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Verb

1. The travelers ______ in a cold, dark town. (walk)
2. His feet ______. (hurt)
3. He ______ a small house. (see)
4. The woman ______ the door. (open)
5. She ______ him hot tea. (bring)
6. He ______ the tea slowly. (drink)
7. His hands ______ heavy. (feel)

Choose the Correct Preposition

1. The traveler walks (in / on / under) a cold town.
2. He is looking (for / at / from) a cheap room.
3. The light is (in / under / between) the window.
4. He looks (inside / under / between) the house.
5. He sits (by / from / between) the fire.
6. She asks (about / under / between) his age.
7. The picture is (on / from / between) the wall.

Choose A, AN, or THE

1. He is looking for ___ cheap room.
2. He sees ___ small house.
3. ___ house has a warm light.
4. She has ___ soft smile.
5. She brings him ___ hot tea and a biscuit.
6. He sees ___ bird in a cage.
7. He looks at ___ picture on the wall.

Change to the Past Tense

1. The traveler walks through the town.
2. He sees a small house.
3. The woman opens the door.
4. She brings him hot tea.
5. He drinks the tea slowly.
6. She asks about his age.
7. The light grows dark.

Make the Sentences Negative

1. The traveler feels energetic.
2. There are people on the street.
3. The room is cold.
4. The tea tastes normal.
5. The traveler remembers the names.
6. The woman ignores him.
7. The traveler leaves the house.

Turn the Sentences into Questions

1. The traveler is tired.
2. He sees a small house.
3. The woman opens the door.
4. She gives him hot tea.
5. She asks about his age.
6. He sees two young men.
7. His hands feel heavy.

Find the adjectives in each phrase.

1. cold town
2. dark town
3. cheap room
4. small house
5. warm light
6. kind old woman
7. soft smile

Find the adverb in each sentence.

1. He drinks the tea slowly.
2. She smiles more.
3. He walks closer.
4. He feels too tired to speak.
5. Slowly, the light grows dark.
6. He never leaves the house.
7. He wants to sleep soon.

Do you think the house is safe or dangerous?

What makes the house seem safe?

What makes the house seem dangerous?

What happened to the previous visitors?

Why does the traveler become sleepy after drinking the tea?

1. Would you enter the house?

2. Would you drink tea from a stranger in a strange house?

3. Would you ask the woman about the picture?

4. Would you stay after seeing the two young men?

1. How mysterious is the story?

1 = Not mysterious
5 = Extremely mysterious

2. How frightening is the story?

1 = Not frightening
5 = Extremely frightening

3. How suspicious is the elderly woman?

1 = Not suspicious
5 = Extremely suspicious

4. How dangerous does the house seem?

1 = Not dangerous
5 = Extremely dangerous

5. How interesting is the ending?

1 = Not interesting
5 = Extremely interesting

Write a new ending for the story. Keep the story the same until the traveler closes his eyes, but change what happens next.

Write a dialogue between the traveler and the old woman after he sees the picture of the two young men.