The Strange House

Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. weary                   a. very tired
2. unfamiliar            b. not very large, expensive, important, etc
3. modest                 c. not known or recognized
4. glimpses              d. sees something briefly
5. dispels                 e. removes or makes something disappear
6. disquiet                f. a strong feeling of sleepiness
7. drowsiness           g. a feeling of worry or unease

Fill in the blanks with the words below:

weary - dispels - disquiet - drowsiness - unfamiliar - modest - glimpses

1. The ______ traveler is tired from his journey.
2. He is walking through an ______ town.
3. He notices a ______ house.
4. He ______ a cozy room through the window.
5. The warm room ______ his hesitation.
6. A feeling of ______ makes him uncomfortable.
7. A strong feeling of ______ overtakes him.

Odd One Out

1. weary - tired - exhausted - energetic

2. unfamiliar - strange - unknown - familiar

3. modest - simple - humble - luxurious

4. cozy - warm - comfortable - freezing

5. drowsiness - sleepiness - tiredness - alertness

6. stillness - silence - quietness - noise

7. bitter - unpleasant - strange - sweet

Answer with True or False

1. The traveler walks through a familiar town.

2. He is tired from his journey.

3. The streets around him are empty.

4. He sees a cozy room through the window.

5. The elderly woman tells him to leave.

6. The tea has a faintly bitter taste.

7. The traveler never leaves the house.

1. What attracts the traveler to the house?

a. Its expensive furniture
b. Its warm glow
c. Its loud music
d. Its large garden

2. What does the traveler see through the window?

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

3. What does the woman say to the traveler?

a. "Go away."
b. "You are too late."
c. "You're exactly right for my home."
d. "Come back tomorrow."

4. What does the woman give him?

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

5. What is unusual about the tea?

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

6. What does the traveler see in the photograph?

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

7. What happens after he finishes his tea?

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

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ The traveler sees an old photograph.

2. ___ The traveler walks through an unfamiliar town.

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

4. ___ He notices a warm house.

5. ___ The woman welcomes him inside.

6. ___ He becomes very sleepy.

7. ___ The traveler never leaves again.

Find a phrase from the story that supports each statement.

1. The traveler is tired.

2. The streets are empty.

3. The house looks comfortable.

4. The woman welcomes him warmly.

5. The tea tastes unusual.

6. The photograph makes him uncomfortable.

7. The traveler never leaves.

Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Verb

1. The travelers ______ through the town. (drift)

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

3. He ______ a modest house. (notice)

4. He ______ a cozy room through the window. (glimpse)

5. The woman ______ the door. (answer)

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

7. The light ______ to dim. (begin)

Choose the Correct Preposition

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. He is charmed (by / under / between) her manner.

Choose A, AN, or THE

1. He walks through ___ unfamiliar town.

2. He notices ___ modest house.

3. ___ house is glowing warmly.

4. He sees ___ cozy room.

5. ___ elderly woman answers the door.

6. She brings him ___ tea and a biscuit.

7. He notices ___ old photograph.

Change to the Past Tense

1. The traveler drifts through the town.

2. His feet ache from the journey.

3. He notices a modest house.

4. He glimpses a cozy room.

5. The woman answers the door.

6. She brings him tea.

7. The light begins to dim.

Make the Sentences Negative

1. The traveler knows the town.

2. The streets are crowded.

3. The house is noisy.

4. The tea tastes sweet.

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 photograph.

6. The tea tastes bitter.

7. The traveler never leaves.

Find the adjectives.

1. weary traveler

2. unfamiliar town

3. modest house

4. warm glow

5. cozy room

6. elderly woman

7. comfortable chair

Find the adverbs.

1. The house glows invitingly.

2. The woman greets him warmly.

3. She speaks gently.

4. He drinks the tea quietly.

5. The light slowly begins to dim.

6. The traveler unknowingly never leaves.

7. The light fades entirely.

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 photograph.