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CATEGORY
Adventure Ambition Art Breakups Career Childhood Coming of Age Confidence Courage Crime Customer Service Determination Drama Emotional Empathy Everyday Life Family Fantasy Fate Fear Feel-Good First Job Food Freedom Friendship Gratitude Grief Healing Hope Horror Identity Independence Inspirational Job Hunting Justice Kindness Life Lessons Loss Love Marriage Mindfulness Miscommunication Mystery Nature New Beginnings Ocean life Parenthood Patience Personal Growth Relationships Responsibility Romance School Secrets Self-Discovery Siblings Social Issues Suspense Technology Tragedy Transformation Travel Wisdom Work comedy horror
LEVEL
A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
ABOUT
WRITE
A young traveler stands on a path facing a small countryside house with an open door

The Strange House

Mystery Crime Suspense Secrets Horror Fear Travel
B2
350 Words - 3 min 30 sec

Story Audio

Story Reading

A weary traveler, drifting through an unfamiliar town at nightfall, is drawn toward a modest house glowing invitingly against the encroaching cold. His feet ache from the journey, and the promise of warmth proves impossible to resist. The streets around him are eerily empty, and an odd stillness hangs in the air, though he's too tired to dwell on it for long. He walks slowly past rows of darkened houses.

Peering through the window, he glimpses a cozy room — a crackling fire, plush armchairs, soft cushions, and a small bird perched motionless in its cage, along with a dog curled up asleep by the hearth — that dispels any remaining hesitation. The door opens almost instantly, as though someone had been waiting just behind it. An elderly woman greets him with disarming warmth and insists, with peculiar certainty, that he's "exactly right" for her home. Despite a faint, nagging unease, he accepts her hospitality, stepping inside a house that feels almost too quiet for comfort.

She settles him into a comfortable chair by the fire and brings him tea and a biscuit, maintaining pleasant conversation as he drinks. The tea carries a faintly bitter undertone, though he dismisses it, charmed by her gentle manner. When she asks his age, her curiosity seems oddly intense, and her smile deepens at his answer in a way he can't quite place, as though she's committing his face to memory.

His gaze drifts to an old photograph on the wall — two young men, smiling, their names tugging at his memory in a way he can't quite explain. Something about the image unsettles him, but her warmth smooths over the feeling almost instantly, and he lets it go, too drowsy to press the thought further.

As he finishes the tea, a profound drowsiness overtakes him, spreading slowly through his limbs until they feel unbearably heavy. He tries to straighten in his chair, but his body feels sluggish and unfamiliar. He wants to speak, to ask about the photograph, but the words dissolve before reaching his lips.

The light begins to dim, flickering weakly before fading entirely. The house sinks into complete stillness — and the traveler, unknowingly, never leaves again.

Vocabulary Exercises

Match 

Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. weary                     a. not known or recognized
2. unfamiliar              b. very tired 
3. inviting                  c.  a feeling of worry or unease 
4. disquiet                  d.making you want to do, try, taste, etc. something
5. drowsiness             e. a strong feeling of sleepiness
6. sluggish                  f. moving, reacting or working more slowly than normal
1. b | 2. a | 3. c | 4. d | 5. e | 6. f

Fill in the blanks 

Fill in the blanks with the words below:

weary - drowsiness - sluggish - unfamiliar - inviting - disquiet - undertone 

1. The ______ traveler is tired from his journey.
2. He walks through an ______ town.
3. The warm house looks ______.
4. A feeling of ______ remains inside him.
5. The tea has a faintly bitter ______.
6. A profound ______ overtakes him.
7. His body feels slow and ______.
1. weary | 2. unfamiliar | 3. inviting | 4. disquiet | 5. undertone | 6. drowsiness | 7. sluggish

Odd One Out 

Odd One Out

1. weary - tired - exhausted - energetic

2. unfamiliar - strange - unknown - familiar

3. inviting - welcoming - attractive - frightening

4. disquiet - unease - worry - comfort

5. bitter - unpleasant - sharp - sweet

6. drowsiness - sleepiness - tiredness - alertness

7. sluggish - slow - inactive - energetic
1. energetic | 2. familiar | 3. frightening | 4. comfort | 5. sweet | 6. alertness | 7. energetic

Comprehension Exercises

True/False 

Answer with True or False

Answer with True or False

1. The traveler is walking through an unfamiliar town.

2. The streets are full of people.

3. A small bird is sitting motionless in a cage.

4. A dog is sleeping by the fire.

5. The door opens almost instantly.

6. The woman asks the traveler about his age.

7. The traveler is able to speak before the light fades.
1. True | 2. False | 3. True | 4. True | 5. True | 6. True | 7. False

Multiple Choice 

1. Why is the traveler attracted to the house?

a. It is expensive.
b. It looks warm and inviting.
c. He knows the woman.
d. It is crowded.

2. What animals does he see inside?

a. A cat and a bird
b. A bird and a dog
c. Two dogs
d. A cat and a dog

3. How does the door open?

a. Very slowly
b. After several knocks
c. Almost instantly
d. The traveler opens it himself

4. What does the woman give the traveler?

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

5. What does the woman ask the traveler?

a. His name
b. His age
c. His job
d. His hometown

6. What does the traveler see in the photograph?

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

7. What happens to the traveler after he finishes the tea?

a. He becomes energetic.
b. He leaves the house.
c. He becomes extremely drowsy.
d. He talks to the woman.
1. b | 2. b | 3. c | 4. b | 5. b | 6. b | 7. c

Ordering 

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ The traveler notices an old photograph.

2. ___ The traveler walks through the empty town.

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

4. ___ He sees a warm house.

5. ___ The woman welcomes him inside.

6. ___ His body becomes unbearably heavy.

7. ___ The light begins to fade.
2 - 4 - 5 - 3 - 1 - 6 - 7

Find the Evidence 

Find a phrase from the story that supports each statement.

1. The traveler is tired.

2. The streets are empty.

3. The room looks comfortable.

4. The door opens very quickly.

5. The woman is very interested in his age.

6. The traveler becomes unable to speak.

7. The traveler never leaves.
1. "His feet ache from the journey." | 2. "The streets around him are eerily empty." | 3. "He glimpses a cozy room — a crackling fire, plush armchairs, soft cushions..." | 4. "The door opens almost instantly." | 5. "Her curiosity seems oddly intense." | 6. "He wants to speak, to ask about the photograph, but the words dissolve before reaching his lips." | 7. "The traveler, unknowingly, never leaves again."

Grammar Exercises

Fill in the blanks 

Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Verb

1. The travelers ______ through an unfamiliar town. (drift)

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

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

4. The woman ______ him with warmth. (greet)

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

6. She ______ his age. (ask)

7. Drowsiness ______ him. (overtake)
1. drift | 2. ache | 3. glimpses | 4. greets | 5. brings | 6. asks | 7. overtakes

Choose one 

Choose the Correct Preposition

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

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

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

4. He steps (into / above / from) the house.

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

6. She asks (about / under / between) his age.

7. The photograph is (on / from / under) the wall.
1. through | 2. toward | 3. through | 4. into | 5. by | 6. about | 7. on | 
Choose A, AN, or THE

1. He walks through ___ unfamiliar town.

2. He sees ___ modest house.

3. ___ house looks warm and inviting.

4. He sees ___ old photograph.

5. She brings him ___ tea and a biscuit.

6. ___ traveler becomes very drowsy.

7. He sees ___ small bird in a cage.
1. an | 2. a | 3. the | 4. an | 5. — | 6. the | 7. a

Transformation 

Change to the Past Tense

1. The traveler walks through an unfamiliar town.

2. His feet ache from the journey.

3. He notices a warm house.

4. The woman greets him warmly.

5. She brings him tea and a biscuit.

6. He notices an old photograph.

7. The traveler becomes very drowsy.
1. The traveler walked through an unfamiliar town. | 2. His feet ached from the journey. | 3. He noticed a warm house. | 4. The woman greeted him warmly. | 5. She brought him tea and a biscuit. | 6. He noticed an old photograph. | 7. The traveler became very drowsy. 
Make the Sentences Negative

1. The traveler feels energetic.

2. The streets are crowded.

3. The woman ignores him.

4. The tea tastes sweet.

5. He remembers the names clearly.

6. He can speak.

7. The traveler leaves the house.
1. The traveler does not feel energetic. | 2. The streets are not crowded. | 3. The woman does not ignore him. | 4. The tea does not taste sweet. | 5. He does not remember the names clearly. | 6. He cannot speak. | 7. The traveler does not leave the house. 
Turn the Sentences into Questions

1. The traveler is tired.

2. He sees a warm house.

3. The woman welcomes him.

4. She brings him tea.

5. She asks his age.

6. He notices an old photograph.

7. The traveler becomes drowsy.
1. Is the traveler tired? | 2. Does he see a warm house? | 3. Does the woman welcome him? | 4. Does she bring him tea? | 5. Does she ask his age? | 6. Does he notice an old photograph? | 7. Does the traveler become drowsy?

Find the Adjectives 

Find the adjectives in each phrase.

1. weary traveler

2. unfamiliar town

3. modest house

4. warm glow

5. cozy room

6. small bird

7. old photograph
1. weary | 2. unfamiliar | 3. modest | 4. warm | 5. cozy | 6. small | 7. old

Find the Adverbs 

Find the adverb in each sentence.

1. He walks slowly.

2. The door opens almost instantly.

3. She greets him warmly.

4. He drinks the tea slowly.

5. He cannot quite explain the feeling.

6. The light begins to fade entirely.

7. The traveler unknowingly never leaves.
1. slowly | 2. almost instantly | 3. warmly | 4. slowly | 5. quite | 6. entirely | 7. unknowingly, never

Speaking Activities

Discussion 

Do you think the house is safe or dangerous?
Possible answer: The house seems dangerous. 
What makes the house seem safe?
Possible answer: The warm light, fire, soft chair, and kind woman make it seem safe. 
What makes the house seem dangerous?
Possible answer: The strange picture, the traveler's missing memories, his sleepiness, and the fact that he never leaves suggest danger. 
What happened to the previous visitors?
Possible answer: They may have disappeared and never left the house. 
Why does the traveler become sleepy after drinking the tea?
Possible answer: The tea may contain something that makes him sleepy.

What Would You Do? 

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?
Answers will vary.

Rate the Story 

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
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

Writing Exercise

Change the Ending 

Write a new ending for the story. Keep the story the same until the traveler realizes that he cannot speak, but change what happens next.
Example answer: The traveler suddenly understood that something was wrong. He forced himself to stand, but his legs were still too weak. Then he remembered the strange photograph. He looked toward the old woman and saw her smiling at him. With the last of his strength, he pushed the chair toward the door. The old woman rushed forward, but the traveler managed to escape into the cold night.

Dialogue 

Write a dialogue between the traveler and the elderly woman after he notices the photograph.
Example answer: Traveler: "Excuse me, may I ask you about that photograph?" | Woman: "Of course, my dear. What about it?" | Traveler: "Those two young men look familiar." | Woman: "Perhaps you have seen them before." | Traveler: "I feel as if I know their names, but I can't remember." | Woman: "You are probably just tired." | Traveler: "Maybe, but something about this picture feels strange." | Woman: "Don't worry about it. You are safe here." | Traveler: "I don't know. I suddenly feel very tired." | Woman: "Then finish your tea and rest."