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. peers                  c. to feel a continuous pain
4. cozy                   d. looks carefully
5. inviting              e. warm, comfortable, and pleasant
6. distracted           f. unable to give full attention to something
7. drowsiness         g. a strong feeling of sleepiness

Fill in the blanks with the words below:

weary -  distracted - drowsiness - silent - ache - cozy - inviting 

1. The ______ traveler wants a warm bed.
2. His feet ______ from the long journey.
3. He sees a ______ room with a fire.
4. The house looks peaceful and ______.
5. He is ______ by the woman's friendly chatter.
6. A heavy feeling of ______ washes over him.
7. The house becomes completely ______.

1. weary - tired - exhausted - energetic

2. cozy - warm - comfortable - freezing

3. strange - unusual - unfamiliar - normal

4. sleepy - drowsy - tired - energetic

5. quiet - silent - peaceful - noisy

6. tea - biscuit - fire - picture

7. gentle - welcoming - friendly - hostile

1. The traveler walks through the town during the day.

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

3. His feet ache from the long journey.

4. He sees a small house with a warm, glowing light.

5. The old woman welcomes him warmly.

6. The tea tastes a little strange.

7. The traveler never leaves the house.

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 through the window?

a. A dark room
b. A cozy room with a fire
c. An empty room
d. A large kitchen

3. How does the old woman greet him?

a. Angrily
b. Coldly
c. Warmly
d. Fearfully

4. What does the woman give him?

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

5. What does the traveler see on the wall?

a. A clock
b. A picture of two young men
c. A mirror
d. A painting of the woman

6. What happens to the traveler?

a. He escapes.
b. He becomes very sleepy.
c. He becomes angry.
d. He leaves the house.

7. What happens at the end?

a. The traveler leaves.
b. The woman leaves.
c. The house becomes noisy.
d. The traveler never leaves again.

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ The woman gives the traveler tea and a biscuit.

2. ___ The traveler walks through the cold town.

3. ___ He notices a small house with a warm light.

4. ___ The woman welcomes him inside.

5. ___ He notices a picture of two young men.

6. ___ He becomes very sleepy.

7. ___ The traveler never leaves the house.

Find a phrase from the story that supports each statement.

1. The traveler is tired.

2. His feet hurt.

3. The house looks comfortable.

4. The woman welcomes him warmly.

5. The tea tastes unusual.

6. The traveler becomes sleepy.

7. The traveler never leaves.

Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Verb

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

2. His feet ______ from the journey. (ache)

3. He ______ a small house. (notice)

4. He ______ through the window. (peer)

5. The woman ______ the door. (answer)

6. She ______ him hot tea. (bring)

7. 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 peers (through / under / between) the window.

4. He steps (inside / above / between) the house.

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

6. The picture hangs (on / at / from) the wall.

7. He wants to ask (about / under / between) the young men.

Choose A, AN, or THE

1. He is searching for ___ cheap place to stay.

2. He sees ___ small house.

3. ___ house has a warm light.

4. He sees ___ cozy room.

5. ___ old woman opens the door.

6. She gives him ___ biscuit.

7. He notices ___ old picture.

Change to the Past Tense

1. The traveler walks through the town.

2. His feet ache from the journey.

3. He notices a small house.

4. The woman answers the door.

5. She brings him tea.

6. He drinks the tea slowly.

7. The light begins to fade.

Make the Sentences Negative

1. The traveler feels energetic.

2. The streets are busy.

3. The house is noisy.

4. The tea tastes normal.

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 welcomes him.

4. She gives him tea.

5. He sees two young men.

6. The light begins to fade.

7. The traveler never leaves.

Find the adjectives.

1. weary traveler

2. cold town

3. cheap place

4. small house

5. warm light

6. cozy room

7. comfortable chairs

Find the adverb in each sentence.

1. The woman answers warmly.

2. He steps closer.

3. She chats pleasantly.

4. He drinks the tea slowly.

5. Slowly, the light begins to fade.

6. The traveler never leaves.

7. He doesn't think much of it.

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 becomes very sleepy, but change what happens next.

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