A weary traveler walks through a cold, dark town, looking for a cheap place to stay. He sees a small house with a warm light in the window. A kind old woman opens the door and smiles gently. "Come in, my dear," she says softly. He steps inside, and the house feels warm and peaceful. There is a cozy fire and a comfortable chair. She brings him hot tea and a biscuit, chatting pleasantly as he drinks. He notices an old picture on the wall — two other young men, smiling. Something about it feels strange, but he can't explain why. He starts to feel drowsy. Slowly, the light in the room dims, and the house grows silent. The traveler closes his eyes — and he never leaves again.
The Strange House
Story Audio
Story Reading
Vocabulary Exercises
Match
Match the Words with Their Meanings 1. weary a. moving or able to move quickly 2. traveler b. very tired 3. cheap c. a person who travels 4. cozy d. not expensive 5. gently e. warm, comfortable, and pleasant 6. pleasantly f. in a kind and soft way 7. strange g. in an enjoyable or friendly way 8. fast h. unusual 9. dims i. becomes less bright 10. silent j. making no sound
1. b |
2. c |
3. d |
4. e |
5. f |
6. g |
7. h |
8. a |
9. i |
10. j
Fill in the blanks
Fill in the blanks with the words below: weary - peaceful - biscuit - strange - drowsy - dims - silent - cheap - cozy - gently 1. The ______ traveler walks through the town. 2. He is looking for a ______ place to stay. 3. There is a ______ fire in the house. 4. The woman smiles ______. 5. The house feels warm and ______. 6. She gives him a tea and a ______. 7. The picture looks ______ to him. 8. The traveler begins to feel ______. 9. The light slowly ______. 10. The house becomes ______.
1. weary |
2. cheap |
3. cozy |
4. gently |
5. peaceful |
6. biscuit |
7. strange |
8. drowsy |
9. dims |
10. silent
Odd One Out
Odd One Out 1. weary - tired - exhausted - peaceful 2. tea - biscuit - fire - picture 3. drowsy - sleepy - tired - cheap 4. strange - unusual - mysterious - comfortable
1. peaceful |
2. picture |
3. cheap |
4. comfortable
Comprehension Exercises
True/False
Answer with True or False 1. The traveler walks through a warm town. 2. He is looking for a cheap place to stay. 3. He sees a small house with a warm light. 4. A young woman opens the door. 5. The woman smiles gently. 6. The house feels warm and peaceful. 7. The woman gives the traveler hot tea and a biscuit. 8. The traveler notices an old picture. 9. The picture shows two old women. 10. The traveler feels completely normal after seeing the picture. 11. The traveler starts to feel drowsy. 12. The traveler leaves the house at the end.
1. False |
2. True |
3. True |
4. False |
5. True |
6. True |
7. True |
8. True |
9. False |
10. False |
11. True |
12. False
Multiple Choice
1. What is the traveler looking for? a. A job b. A cheap place to stay c. A restaurant d. A friend 2. What does he see in the window? a. A candle b. A warm light c. A person d. A sign 3. Who opens the door? a. A young woman b. A child c. An old woman d. A man 4. How does the woman greet the traveler? a. Angrily b. Nervously c. Gently d. Sadly 5. What is inside the house? a. A cozy fire and a comfortable chair b. A large television c. A swimming pool d. A restaurant 6. What does the woman bring him? a. Coffee and bread b. Hot tea and a biscuit c. Soup and water d. Milk and cake 7. What does the traveler notice on the wall? a. A clock b. A map c. An old picture d. A mirror 8. Who is in the picture? a. Two old women b. Two young men c. Three children d. A family 9. How does the traveler feel after seeing the picture? a. Strange and confused b. Angry c. Excited d. Completely relaxed 10. 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.
1. b |
2. b |
3. c |
4. c |
5. a |
6. b |
7. c |
8. b |
9. a |
10. c
Ordering
Put the Events in Order 1. ___ The traveler notices an old picture. 2. ___ The woman brings him tea and a biscuit. 3. ___ The traveler walks through the cold town. 4. ___ The traveler sees the small house. 5. ___ The woman opens the door. 6. ___ The traveler starts to feel drowsy. 7. ___ The light begins to dim. 8. ___ The traveler closes his eyes.
1. 3 |
2. 4 |
3. 1 |
4. 2 |
5. 5 |
6. 6 |
7. 7 |
8. 8
Find the Evidence
Find the Evidence 1. Find a phrase that shows the traveler is tired. 2. Find a phrase that shows the place is inexpensive. 3. Find a phrase that shows the woman is friendly. 4. Find a phrase that shows the house is comfortable. 5. Find a phrase that shows the traveler sees something unusual. 6. Find a phrase that shows the traveler becomes sleepy. 7. Find a phrase that shows the room becomes darker. 8. Find a phrase that shows the traveler never leaves.
1. "weary traveler" |
2. "cheap place to stay" |
3. "smiles gently" |
4. "cozy fire and a comfortable chair" |
5. "Something about it feels strange" |
6. "He starts to feel drowsy" |
7. "the light in the room dims" |
8. "he never leaves again"
Grammar Exercises
Fill in the blanks
1. The travelers ______ through the cold town. (walk) 2. We ______ for a cheap place to stay. (look) 3. He ______ a small house. (see) 4. The woman ______ the door. (open) 5. She ______ gently. (smile) 6. She ______ him hot tea. (bring) 7. He ______ the tea slowly. (drink) 8. He ______ an old picture. (notice) 9. We ______ to feel drowsy. (start) 10. The light ______ slowly. (dim)
1. walk |
2. look |
3. sees |
4. opens |
5. smiles |
6. brings |
7. drinks |
8. notices |
9. start |
10. dims
Choose one
Choose the Correct Preposition 1. The traveler walks (through / between / under) the town. 2. He looks (for / at / from) a place to stay. 3. He sees a light (in / at / from) the window. 4. He steps (inside / between / under) the house. 5. He sits (by / from / between) the fire. 6. She brings tea (to / from / at) him. 7. He sees a picture (on / at / from) the wall. 8. The light dims (in / at / between) the room.
1. through |
2. for |
3. in |
4. inside |
5. by |
6. to |
7. on |
8. in
Transformation
Make the Sentences Negative 1. The traveler enters the house. 2. The woman opens the door. 3. She brings him tea. 4. He drinks the tea. 5. He notices the picture. 6. He feels drowsy.
1. The traveler does not enter the house. |
2. The woman does not open the door. |
3. She does not bring him tea. |
4. He does not drink the tea. |
5. He does not notice the picture. |
6. He does not feel drowsy.
Find the Evidence
Find the Adjectives 1. weary traveler 2. cold, dark town 3. cheap place 4. small house 5. warm light 6. kind old woman 7. nice smile 8. warm and peaceful house 9. cozy fire 10. comfortable chair 11. hot tea 12. old picture 13. young men
1. weary |
2. cold, dark |
3. cheap |
4. small |
5. warm |
6. kind, old |
7. nice |
8. warm, peaceful |
9. cozy |
10. comfortable |
11. hot |
12. old |
13. young
Speaking Activities
Discussion
Do you think the house is safe or dangerous?
Possible answer: The house seems dangerous.
What makes the house seem safe?
Possible answer: The warm light, friendly woman, fire, tea, and comfortable chair make it seem safe.
What makes the house seem dangerous?
Possible answer: The strange picture, the traveler's drowsiness, and the fact that he never leaves suggest danger.
Do you think the tea is safe?
Possible answer: No. The timing suggests that the tea may be dangerous.
Would you accept a drink from a stranger in a strange house?
Answers will vary.
Why does he never leave the house?
Possible answer: He may be unable to escape after falling asleep.
What Would You Do?
1. Would you enter the house? 2. Would you drink the tea? 3. Would you ask the woman about the picture? 4. Would you stay after noticing something strange?
Answers will vary.
Discussion
Do you think the house is safe or dangerous?
Possible answer: The house seems dangerous.
What makes the house seem safe?
Possible answer: The warm light, friendly woman, fire, tea, and comfortable chair make it seem safe.
What makes the house seem dangerous?
Possible answer: The strange picture, the traveler's drowsiness, and the fact that he never leaves suggest danger.
Do you think the tea is safe?
Possible answer: No. The timing suggests that the tea may be dangerous.
Would you accept a drink from a stranger in a strange house?
Answers will vary.
Why does he never leave the house?
Possible answer: He may be unable to escape after falling asleep.
What Would You Do?
1. Would you enter the house? 2. Would you drink the tea? 3. Would you ask the woman about the picture? 4. Would you stay after noticing something strange?
Answers will vary.
Writing Exercise
Change the Ending
Write a new ending for the story. Keep the main events the same, but change what happens after the traveler notices the picture.
The traveler looks carefully at the picture and suddenly recognizes the two young men. He remembers seeing them in the town earlier that evening. He becomes suspicious and stands up quickly. "Who are they?" he asks. The old woman stops smiling. "They were travelers, just like you," she says. The traveler puts down his cup and walks toward the door. The woman tries to stop him, but he opens it and runs into the cold night. He does not look back. When he reaches the main road, he realizes how close he came to becoming another missing traveler.
Dialogue
Write a dialogue between the traveler and the old woman after the traveler notices the picture.
Example Answer:
Traveler: Excuse me, who are the two men in that picture? |
Woman: They were guests here many years ago. |
Traveler: What happened to them? |
Woman: They stayed here for a while. |
Traveler: Did they leave? |
Woman: No, my dear. |
Traveler: What do you mean? |
Woman: They never left this house. |
Traveler: Why are you telling me this? |
Woman: Because you are becoming sleepy. |
Traveler: What was in the tea? |
Woman: You should close your eyes now. |
Traveler: No. I'm leaving. |
Woman: I'm afraid it is already too late.