The Strange House

Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. weary                                 a. making you want to do, try, taste, etc. something
2. ache                                   b. very tired
3. cozy                                   c. to look carefully 
4. curious                              d. to feel a continuous pain
5. peers                                  e. warm, comfortable, and pleasant
6. inviting                              f. wanting to know or learn something
7. gentle                                 g. very sleepy
8. pleasant                              h. kind or calm
9. drowsiness                         i. fun, attractive, or giving pleasure
10. fade                                  j. to become less bright

Fill in the blanks with the words below:

weary - ache - cozy - pleasant - drowsiness - fade - curious - peers - inviting - gentle 

1. The ______ traveler is looking for a place to rest.
2. His feet ______ after walking all night.
3. He sees a warm and ______ room.
4. He is ______ about the house.
5. He ______ inside through the window.
6. The house looks warm and ______.
7. The woman has a ______ voice.
8. She has a ______ conversation with him.
9. A heavy ______ comes over the traveler.
10. The light begins to ______.

Odd One Out

1. weary - tired - exhausted - energetic

2. cozy - comfortable - warm - uncomfortable

3. curious - interested - inquisitive - uninterested

4. gentle - kind - soft - aggressive

5. pleasant - friendly - enjoyable - unpleasant

6. drowsiness - sleepiness - tiredness - alertness

7. fade - dim - darken - brighten

8. ache - pain - soreness - comfort

Answer with True or False

1. The traveler walks through a warm town.

2. He is searching for a cheap place to stay.

3. His feet ache.

4. He wants a warm bed and some rest.

5. He sees a large hotel.

6. The house has a warm light in the window.

7. He looks inside the house.

8. He sees a cozy room with a fire.

9. The room has comfortable chairs and soft cushions.

10. The old woman is angry when she opens the door.

11. The woman welcomes the traveler inside.

12. The house feels warm and peaceful.

13. The woman gives him hot tea and a biscuit.

14. The tea tastes completely normal.

15. The traveler sees two young men in an old picture.

16. The faces seem familiar to him.

17. He becomes more energetic after drinking the tea.

18. The light slowly begins to fade.

19. The house becomes completely silent.

20. The traveler never leaves the house.

Multiple Choice

1. What is the traveler searching for?

a. A job
b. A cheap place to stay
c. A restaurant
d. A friend


2. What hurts?

a. His head
b. His hands
c. His feet
d. His back


3. What does he see in the window?

a. A dark room
b. A cozy room with a fire
c. A kitchen
d. A bedroom


4. What makes the room look inviting?

a. The large windows
b. The fire, comfortable chairs, and soft cushions
c. The expensive furniture
d. The paintings


5. Why does the traveler knock on the door?

a. He wants to ask for directions.
b. He wants to buy the house.
c. The room looks warm and inviting.
d. He knows the woman.


6. Who answers the door?

a. A young woman
b. An old man
c. A kind old woman
d. A young man


7. How does the woman speak?

a. Angrily
b. Gently and warmly
c. Loudly
d. Nervously


8. Where does the woman ask him to sit?

a. Near the window
b. At the table
c. In a chair by the fire
d. Outside


9. What does she bring him?

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


10. How does the tea taste?

a. Very sweet
b. Very cold
c. A little strange
d. Very salty


11. What does the traveler see on the wall?

a. A clock
b. A map
c. An old picture
d. A mirror


12. Who is in the picture?

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


13. How do the faces seem to the traveler?

a. Completely unknown
b. Familiar
c. Frightening
d. Funny


14. Why doesn't he ask about the young men?

a. He is angry.
b. He forgets about them.
c. He becomes very sleepy.
d. The woman tells him not to.


15. What happens to the light?

a. It becomes brighter.
b. It begins to fade.
c. It changes color.
d. It turns on again.


16. What happens at the end?

a. The traveler escapes.
b. The woman leaves.
c. The traveler never leaves the house.
d. The house becomes crowded.

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ The traveler sees two young men in a picture.

2. ___ The old woman welcomes him inside.

3. ___ The traveler walks through the cold town.

4. ___ He sees a small house with a warm light.

5. ___ He peers through the window.

6. ___ He decides to knock on the door.

7. ___ She leads him to a chair by the fire.

8. ___ She brings him tea and a biscuit.

9. ___ He notices that the tea tastes strange.

10. ___ He sees the picture on the wall.

11. ___ A heavy drowsiness washes over him.

12. ___ The light begins to fade.

13. ___ The house becomes completely silent.

14. ___ The traveler never leaves.

1. Find a phrase that shows the traveler is tired.

2. Find a phrase that shows his feet hurt.

3. Find a phrase that shows the room is comfortable.

4. Find a phrase that shows the woman is kind.

5. Find a phrase that shows the woman is welcoming.

6. Find a phrase that shows the tea is unusual.

7. Find a phrase that shows the young men are mysterious.

8. Find a phrase that shows the traveler is becoming sleepy.

9. Find a phrase that shows the house becomes silent.

10. Find a phrase that shows the traveler never leaves.

Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Verb

1. The travelers ______ through the town. (walk)

2. His feet ______. (ache)

3. He ______ for a warm bed. (long)

4. He ______ a small house. (notice)

5. We ______ closer. (step)

6. The woman ______ the door. (answer)

7. She ______ warmly. (smile)

8. She ______ him tea. (bring)

9. Their faces ______ familiar. (seem)

10. The light ______ to fade. (begin)

Choose the Correct Preposition

1. The traveler walks (through / under / between) the town.

2. He is searching (for / at / from) a cheap place.

3. He steps (toward / under / from) the house.

4. He peers (through / under / between) the window.

5. He steps (inside / above / from) the house.

6. She leads him (to / under / from) a chair.

7. He sits (by / from / between) the fire.

8. The picture is hanging (on / at / from) the wall.

9. He thinks (about / under / from) the young men.

10. The light begins to fade (in / at / from) the room.

Choose A, AN, or THE

1. He is looking for ___ cheap place.

2. He sees ___ small house.

3. ___ house has a warm light.

4. He sees ___ cozy room.

5. ___ kind old woman answers the door.

6. She has ___ gentle voice.

7. She brings him ___ biscuit.

8. He sees ___ old picture.

9. ___ picture shows two young men.

10. ___ traveler never leaves.

Change to the Past Tense

1. The traveler walks through the town.

2. He notices a small house.

3. He peers inside.

4. He decides to knock.

5. The woman answers the door.

6. She welcomes him inside.

7. She brings him hot tea.

8. He drinks the tea.

9. He notices an old picture.

10. The light begins to fade.

Make the Sentences Negative

1. The traveler feels cold.

2. He wants to rest.

3. The woman welcomes him.

4. She gives him tea.

5. He remembers the young men.

6. The traveler leaves the house.

Make Questions

1. The traveler is tired.

2. He sees a small house.

3. The woman opens the door.

4. She gives him tea.

5. He drinks the tea.

6. He sees two young men.

Find the Adjectives

1. weary traveler

2. cold town

3. dark town

4. cheap place

5. warm bed

6. small house

7. glowing light

8. cozy room

9. crackling fire

10. comfortable chairs

Find the Adverbs

1. He walks slowly through the town.

2. The woman smiles warmly.

3. She speaks gently.

4. She chats pleasantly as he drinks.

5. He drinks the tea slowly.

6. Slowly, the light begins to fade.

7. He never leaves the house.

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?

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

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 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 woman?

1 = Not suspicious
5 = Extremely suspicious

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 notices the picture.