The Strange House

Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. weary                   a. known or recognized from before
2. uneasy                  b. feeling worried or uncomfortable
3. cozy                      c. immediately
4. instantly                d. warm, comfortable, and pleasant 
5. drowsiness            e. a strong feeling of sleepiness
6. familiar                 f. making you want to do, try, taste, etc. something 
 7. inviting                 g.very tired

Fill in the blanks with the words below:

weary - drowsiness - familiar - inviting - uneasy - cozy - instantly

1. The ______ traveler wants to find a warm bed.
2. He feels a little ______ while walking through the empty town.
3. The room looks warm and ______.
4. The door opens almost ______.
5. A heavy ______ washes over the traveler.
6. The two young men's faces seem ______.
7. The house looks peaceful and ______.

Odd One Out

1. weary - tired - exhausted - energetic
2. cozy - warm - comfortable - freezing
3. uneasy - worried - nervous - relaxed
4. instantly - immediately - quickly - slowly
5. drowsiness - sleepiness - tiredness - energy
6. familiar - known - recognized - unknown
7. inviting - welcoming - attractive - frightening

1. The traveler is looking for a cheap place to stay.
2. The streets are full of people.
3. The traveler feels slightly uneasy.
4. He sees a bird and a dog inside the house.
5. The door opens almost instantly.
6. The woman asks the traveler about his age.
7. The traveler never leaves the house.

1. Why is the traveler looking for a place to stay?

a. He is hungry.
b. He is tired and cold.
c. He wants to meet a friend.
d. He is looking for work.

2. What does the traveler see inside the house?

a. A bird and a dog
b. A cat and a horse
c. Two children
d. A large television

3. How does the old woman welcome him?

a. She ignores him.
b. She speaks angrily.
c. She welcomes him warmly.
d. She asks him to leave.

4. What does the woman give him?

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

5. How does the tea taste?

a. Sweet
b. Salty
c. Strange
d. Cold

6. What does the traveler see in the picture?

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

7. What happens to the traveler at the end?

a. He escapes.
b. He falls asleep and never leaves.
c. He leaves the house.
d. He calls for help.

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ The woman gives the traveler tea and a biscuit.
2. ___ The traveler walks through the cold town.
3. ___ The traveler sees a warm house.
4. ___ The woman welcomes him inside.
5. ___ The traveler notices the picture.
6. ___ His body becomes too heavy to move.
7. ___ The traveler closes his eyes.

Find a phrase from the story that supports each statement.

1. The traveler is very tired.
2. The town is empty.
3. The house looks comfortable.
4. The woman is welcoming.
5. The tea tastes unusual.
6. The traveler becomes unable to move.
7. The traveler never leaves.

Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Verb (past simple)

1. The traveler ______ through the town. (walk)
2. He ______ a small house. (notice)
3. The door ______ almost instantly. (open)
4. The woman ______ him inside. (welcome)
5. She ______ him hot tea and a biscuit. (bring)
6. He ______ the tea slowly. (drink)
7. His body ______ slow and distant. (feel)

Choose the Correct Preposition

1. The traveler walks (through / under / between) the town.
2. He is looking (for / at / from) a cheap place.
3. He peers (through / under / between) the window.
4. He sits (by / from / between) the fire.
5. She leads him (to / under / from) a comfortable chair.
6. He looks (at / from / under) a picture.
7. The dog sleeps (by / between / from) the fire.

Choose A, AN, or THE

1. He is looking for ___ cheap place to stay.
2. He notices ___ small house.
3. ___ house has a warm light.
4. She is ___ old woman.
5. She brings him ___ hot tea and a biscuit.
6. He notices ___ old picture.
7. ___ traveler closes his eyes.

Change to the Past Tense

1. The traveler walks through the town.
2. He notices a small house.
3. The door opens instantly.
4. The woman welcomes him.
5. She brings him tea.
6. He drinks the tea slowly.
7. His body feels slow and distant.

Make the Sentences Negative

1. The traveler feels energetic.
2. The streets are crowded.
3. The house looks frightening.
4. The woman ignores him.
5. The tea tastes normal.
6. He can move easily.
7. The traveler leaves the house.

Turn the Sentences into Questions

1. The traveler is tired.
2. He notices a small house.
3. The woman welcomes him.
4. She brings him tea.
5. The tea tastes strange.
6. He sees two young men.
7. He cannot move.

Find the adjectives in each phrase.

1. weary traveler
2. cold town
3. cheap place
4. small house
5. warm light
6. comfortable chairs
7. old picture

Find the adverb in each sentence.

1. He walks slowly.
2. The door opens almost instantly.
3. He looks inside.
4. She smiles warmly.
5. He drinks the tea slowly.
6. He tries once more.
7. Slowly, the light begins to fade.

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 unable to move, but change what happens next.

Write a dialogue between the traveler and the elderly woman after he notices the picture.