The Strange House

Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. weary                                  a. ​the feeling of being worried or unhappy about something
2. unfamiliar                           b. very tired
3. shelter                                 c. not known or recognized
4. biting                                  d. a place that protects you from bad weather
5. modest                                e. very cold and uncomfortable
6. peering                               f. ​ not very large, expensive, important, etc
7. pleasant                              g. looking carefully
8. distracted                            h.  fun, attractive, or giving pleasure
9. unease                                 i. unable to give full attention to something
10. drowsiness                         j. a strong feeling of sleepiness

Fill in the blanks with the words below:

weary - peering - pleasant - distracted - unease - drowsiness - unfamiliar - shelter - biting - modest 

1. The ______ traveler is tired from his long journey.
2. He is walking through an ______ town.
3. He wants to find ______ from the cold wind.
4. The ______ wind makes him want to get inside.
5. He notices a ______ house.
6. He is ______ through the window.
7. The woman has a ______ conversation with him.
8. He is ______ by the woman's cheerful conversation.
9. A feeling of ______ begins to grow inside him.
10. Heavy ______ settles over the traveler.

Odd One Out

1. weary - tired - exhausted - energetic

2. unfamiliar - unknown - strange - familiar

3. shelter - house - home - danger

4. modest - simple - humble - luxurious

5. pleasant - cheerful - friendly - unpleasant

6. unease - worry - discomfort - happiness

7. drowsiness - sleepiness - tiredness - alertness

8. peering - looking - watching - ignoring

True or False

1. The traveler arrives in the town on a warm summer afternoon.

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

3. His feet ache from the long journey.

4. The biting wind makes him want to find shelter.

5. He notices a large and luxurious house.

6. He sees a cozy room through the window.

7. The room has a bright fire.

8. The old woman is surprised to see the traveler.

9. The woman welcomes him inside.

10. She gives him hot tea and a biscuit.

11. The tea tastes a little odd.

12. The traveler immediately becomes suspicious of the tea.

13. He sees a picture of two young men.

14. Their names seem familiar to him.

15. The traveler feels completely comfortable and never feels uneasy.

16. The woman's kindness makes him feel more relaxed.

17. He becomes very sleepy after finishing his tea.

18. The light slowly becomes brighter.

19. The house becomes completely silent.

20. The traveler never leaves the house again.

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

a. He wants to meet a friend.
b. He is tired and needs shelter.
c. He wants to buy a house.
d. He is looking for work.


2. What makes the traveler eager to find shelter?

a. Heavy rain
b. The biting wind
c. Hot weather
d. Snow inside the town


3. What does he see through the window?

a. A dark bedroom
b. A cozy room with a bright fire
c. An empty kitchen
d. A crowded restaurant


4. How does the old woman welcome him?

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


5. Where does she lead the traveler?

a. To a bedroom
b. To a chair by the fire
c. To the kitchen
d. Outside the house


6. What does she give him?

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


7. How does the tea taste?

a. Very sweet
b. A little odd
c. Very salty
d. Completely tasteless


8. Why does the traveler not think much about the strange taste?

a. He is too hungry.
b. He is distracted by her cheerful conversation.
c. He does not notice it.
d. He does not like tea.


9. What does the traveler see on the wall?

a. A painting of the town
b. A clock
c. An old picture
d. A map


10. Who is in the picture?

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


11. How do the young men's names seem to the traveler?

a. Completely new
b. Strange but familiar
c. Funny
d. Easy to remember


12. What feeling begins to grow in the traveler?

a. Excitement
b. Anger
c. Unease
d. Happiness


13. What happens after he finishes his tea?

a. He becomes energetic.
b. He leaves the house.
c. Heavy drowsiness settles over him.
d. He starts talking loudly.


14. What happens to the light?

a. It becomes brighter.
b. It begins to fade.
c. It changes color.
d. It goes outside.


15. What happens at the end?

a. The traveler escapes.
b. The old woman leaves.
c. The traveler never leaves again.
d. The house catches fire.

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ The traveler notices an old picture on the wall.

2. ___ The traveler walks into the unfamiliar town.

3. ___ The woman brings him hot tea and a biscuit.

4. ___ He notices a modest house glowing warmly.

5. ___ He sees two young men in the picture.

6. ___ The woman welcomes him inside.

7. ___ He looks through the window.

8. ___ The traveler becomes very sleepy.

9. ___ He sits in a comfortable chair by the fire.

10. ___ The light begins to fade.

11. ___ The house becomes completely silent.

12. ___ The traveler never leaves again.

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

2. Find a phrase that shows the weather is unpleasant.

3. Find a phrase that shows the traveler needs protection from the weather.

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

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

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

7. Find a phrase that shows the traveler feels suspicious.

8. Find a phrase that shows the traveler becomes 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 ______ into the town. (wander)

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

3. The wind ______ him eager to find shelter. (make)

4. He ______ a modest house. (notice)

5. Something about it ______ him closer. (draw)

6. The woman ______ the door. (open)

7. They ______ him inside. (welcome)

8. She ______ him hot tea. (bring)

9. Their names ______ familiar. (seem)

10. The light ______ to fade. (begin)

Choose the Correct Preposition

1. The traveler wanders (into / under / between) the town.

2. He is looking (for / at / from) a cheap place to stay.

3. He notices a house glowing (against / under / between) the darkness.

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

5. The woman welcomes him (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 is distracted (by / from / under) her conversation.

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

Choose A, AN, or THE

1. He finds ___ cheap place to stay.

2. He notices ___ modest house.

3. ___ house is glowing warmly.

4. He sees ___ cozy room.

5. ___ friendly old woman opens the door.

6. She brings him ___ hot tea.

7. She gives him ___ biscuit.

8. He notices ___ old picture.

9. ___ picture shows two young men.

10. ___ traveler never leaves.

Change to the Past Tense

1. The traveler wanders into the town.

2. His feet ache from the journey.

3. He notices a modest house.

4. He looks through the window.

5. The woman opens the door.

6. She welcomes him inside.

7. She brings him hot tea.

8. He notices an old picture.

9. A faint unease stirs in him.

10. The light begins to fade.

Make the Sentences Negative

1. The traveler feels warm.

2. He knows the town.

3. The woman ignores 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 notices a house.

3. The woman welcomes him.

4. She gives him tea.

5. He notices a picture.

6. The light begins to fade.

Find the Adjectives

1. weary traveler

2. small town

3. unfamiliar town

4. cold evening

5. cheap place

6. biting wind

7. modest house

Find the Adverbs

1. The house is glowing warmly.

2. The woman welcomes him warmly.

3. She chats pleasantly as he settles in.

4. He doesn't think much about it.

5. The light slowly begins to fade.

6. The traveler never leaves again.

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