The Strange House

Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. weary                  a. making you want to do, try, taste, etc. something
2. unfamiliar           b. very tired
3. modest                c. not known or recognized
4. shelter                 d. a place that protects you from bad weather
5. inviting               e. not very large, expensive, important, etc.
6. distracted            f. unable to give full attention
7. drowsiness          g. a strong feeling of sleepiness

Fill in the blanks with the words below:

weary - inviting - distracted - drowsiness - unfamiliar - modest - shelter 

1. The ______ traveler is tired from his long journey.
2. He is walking through an ______ town.
3. He notices a ______ house.
4. He is looking for ______ from the cold.
5. The warm house looks very ______.
6. He becomes ______ by the woman's cheerful conversation.
7. A heavy feeling of ______ settles over him.

1. weary - tired - exhausted - energetic

2. unfamiliar - strange - unknown - familiar

3. modest - simple - humble - luxurious

4. inviting - welcoming - attractive - frightening

5. drowsiness - sleepiness - tiredness - alertness

6. quiet - silent - peaceful - noisy

7. tea - biscuit - fire - picture

Answer with True or False

1. The traveler arrives in the town during the afternoon.

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

3. His feet ache from the long journey.

4. The streets are empty and quiet.

5. He sees a modest house with a warm light.

6. The old woman welcomes him warmly.

7. The traveler leaves the house after drinking his tea.

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

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

2. What does the traveler see through the window?

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

3. What does the old woman bring him?

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

4. How does the tea taste?

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

5. What does the traveler see on the wall?

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

6. How does he feel when he looks at the picture?

a. Angry
b. Excited
c. Uneasy
d. Relaxed

7. What happens at the end?

a. The traveler leaves.
b. The woman leaves.
c. The traveler falls asleep and never leaves.
d. The traveler finds another house.

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ The traveler notices an old picture.

2. ___ The traveler walks through the cold town.

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

4. ___ He notices a warm house.

5. ___ The old woman welcomes him inside.

6. ___ He becomes very sleepy.

7. ___ The traveler never leaves.

Find a phrase from the story that supports each statement.

1. The traveler is tired.

2. The weather is cold.

3. The streets are empty.

4. The house looks comfortable.

5. The woman welcomes him warmly.

6. The tea is unusual.

7. The traveler becomes sleepy.

Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Verb

1. The travelers ______ into a small town. (wander)

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

3. He ______ a modest house. (notice)

4. The house ______ warmly against the darkness. (glow)

5. The woman ______ the door. (open)

6. She ______ him hot tea and a biscuit. (bring)

7. He ______ the tea slowly. (finish)

Choose the Correct Preposition

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

2. He is looking (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 is distracted (by / under / between) her conversation.

Choose A, AN, or THE

1. He walks into ___ unfamiliar town.

2. He notices ___ modest house.

3. ___ house is glowing warmly.

4. He sees ___ cozy room.

5. ___ old woman opens the door.

6. She brings him ___ biscuit.

7. He notices ___ old picture.

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 peers through the window.

5. The woman opens the door.

6. She brings him tea.

7. The light begins to fade.

Make the Sentences Negative

1. The streets are busy.

2. The house is cold.

3. The woman ignores the traveler.

4. The tea tastes normal.

5. He remembers the names.

6. The traveler leaves the house.

Make Questions

1. The traveler is tired.

2. He notices a warm house.

3. The woman welcomes him.

4. She brings him tea.

5. He sees an old picture.

6. The tea tastes odd.

7. The traveler never leaves.

Find the adjectives.

1. weary traveler

2. cold town

3. cheap place

4. modest house

5. warm light

6. cozy room

7. comfortable furniture

Find the adverb in each sentence.

1. The woman smiles 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. The house falls completely silent.

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.