The Strange House

Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. weary                                    a. the quality of being quiet and not moving
2. unfamiliar                             b. very tired
3. modest                                  c. not known or recognized
4. fire                              d. not very large, expensive, important, etc
5. glimpses                               e. the flames that are produced when something burns
6. dispels                                  f. sees something briefly
7. hesitation                             g. removes or makes something disappear
8. nagging                                h. a feeling of not being sure what to do
9. drowsiness                           i. continuing for a long time and difficult to cure or remove
10. stillness                              j. a strong feeling of sleepiness

Fill in the blanks with the words below:

glimpses - dispels - hesitation - nagging - drowsiness - stillness - weary - unfamiliar - modest - encroaching 
1. The ______ traveler is tired from his journey.
2. He is walking through an ______ town.
3. He sees a ______ house.
4. The ______ cold makes him want to find warmth.
5. He ______ a cozy room through the window.
6. The warm room ______ his hesitation.
7. He enters the house without much ______.
8. A ______ feeling of unease remains inside him.
9. A strong feeling of ______ overtakes him.
10. The house falls into complete ______.

Odd One Out

1. weary - tired - exhausted - energetic

2. unfamiliar - unknown - strange - familiar

3. modest - simple - humble - luxurious

4. hesitation - doubt - uncertainty - confidence

5. nagging - troubling - persistent - comforting

6. drowsiness - sleepiness - tiredness - alertness

7. stillness - silence - quietness - noise

8. glimpses - sees briefly - notices - ignores

True or False

1. The traveler is walking through a familiar town.

2. He is tired from his journey.

3. His feet ache.

4. The cold makes him want to find warmth.

5. He sees a luxurious hotel.

6. He sees a cozy room through the window.

7. The room has a crackling fire.

8. The old woman welcomes him coldly.

9. The woman says that he is "exactly right" for her home.

10. The traveler refuses the woman's hospitality.

11. The woman gives him tea and a biscuit.

12. The tea has a faintly bitter taste.

13. The traveler immediately leaves after drinking the tea.

14. He sees an old photograph on the wall.

15. There are two young men in the photograph.

16. Their names seem strangely familiar to him.

17. The traveler feels no unease at all.

18. A profound drowsiness overtakes him.

19. The light becomes brighter.

20. The traveler never leaves the house.

1. Where is the traveler walking?

a. Through a familiar village
b. Through an unfamiliar town
c. Through a forest
d. Through a large city


2. Why is he attracted to the house?

a. It looks expensive.
b. It has a warm, inviting glow.
c. He knows the woman.
d. He wants to buy it.


3. What does he see through the window?

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


4. What helps remove his hesitation?

a. The woman's name
b. The warm and comfortable room
c. The cold weather
d. The photograph


5. What does the elderly woman say to him?

a. "You are too late."
b. "You should leave."
c. "You are exactly right for my home."
d. "I don't have a room."


6. Where does the traveler sit?

a. At a table
b. On the floor
c. In a chair by the fire
d. Near the door


7. What does the woman give him?

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


8. What is unusual about the tea?

a. It is extremely cold.
b. It is very sweet.
c. It has a faintly bitter taste.
d. It has no taste.


9. What does the traveler see on the wall?

a. A painting
b. A clock
c. An old photograph
d. A mirror


10. Who is in the photograph?

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


11. What does the traveler feel when he looks at the photograph?

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


12. What happens as he finishes the tea?

a. He becomes energetic.
b. He leaves the house.
c. A profound drowsiness overtakes him.
d. He starts laughing.


13. What happens to the light?

a. It becomes brighter.
b. It begins to dim.
c. It changes color.
d. It turns red.


14. What happens to the house?

a. It becomes noisy.
b. It fills with people.
c. It becomes completely still.
d. It catches fire.


15. What happens to the traveler?

a. He escapes.
b. He falls outside.
c. He never leaves again.
d. He finds another hotel.

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ The traveler sees two young men in an old photograph.

2. ___ The traveler walks through an unfamiliar town.

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

4. ___ He notices a warm house.

5. ___ He sees a cozy room through the window.

6. ___ The woman opens the door.

7. ___ She says he is exactly right for her home.

8. ___ He sits by the fire.

9. ___ The traveler notices the strange photograph.

10. ___ He feels a profound drowsiness.

11. ___ The light begins to dim.

12. ___ The house becomes completely still.

13. ___ The traveler never leaves again.

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

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

3. Find a phrase that shows the house looks inviting.

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

5. Find a phrase that shows the woman welcomes him warmly.

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

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

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 ______ through the town. (wander)

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

3. The cold ______ him eager to find warmth. (make)

4. He ______ a modest house. (notice)

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

6. The woman ______ the door. (answer)

7. We ______ him warmly. (greet)

8. She ______ him tea. (bring)

9. Their names ______ familiar. (seem)

10. The light ______ to dim. (begin)

Choose the Correct Preposition

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

2. He is drawn (toward / under / from) the house.

3. He looks (through / under / from) the window.

4. The woman welcomes him (into / above / from) the house.

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

6. She brings him tea (with / under / from) a biscuit.

7. The photograph is (on / at / from) the wall.

8. He is charmed (by / under / from) her gentle manner.

9. He thinks (about / under / from) the names.

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

Choose A, AN, or THE

1. He walks through ___ unfamiliar town.

2. He sees ___ modest house.

3. ___ house is glowing warmly.

4. He sees ___ cozy room.

5. ___ elderly woman opens the door.

6. She brings him ___ tea and a biscuit.

7. He sees ___ old photograph.

8. ___ photograph shows two young men.

9. He feels ___ faint unease.

10. ___ traveler never leaves.

Change to the Past Tense

1. The traveler wanders through the town.

2. His feet ache from the journey.

3. He notices a modest house.

4. He peers through the window.

5. The woman answers the door.

6. She greets him warmly.

7. She brings him tea.

8. He sees an old photograph.

9. A feeling of unease stirs in him.

10. The light begins to dim.

Make the Sentences Negative

1. The traveler knows the town.

2. He feels comfortable.

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 sees a warm house.

3. The woman welcomes him.

4. She gives him tea.

5. He sees an old photograph.

6. The light begins to dim.

Find the Adjectives

1. weary traveler

2. unfamiliar town

3. cold night

4. modest house

5. encroaching cold

6. cozy room

7. crackling fire

Find the Adverbs

1. The house is glowing invitingly.

2. The woman greets him warmly.

3. He can't quite place the names.

4. She speaks gently.

5. The light begins to dim slowly.

6. The traveler unknowingly 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

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 photograph.