The Strange House

Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. solitary                 a. a strong feeling of sleepiness
2. taxing                   b. alone
3. inexplicably         c. extremely tiring
4. beckons               d. to signal someone to come closer
5. hesitation            e. uncertainty about what to do
6. disquiet               f. a feeling of worry or unease
7. drowsiness          g. difficult to explain

Fill in the blanks with the words below:

solitary - disquiet - drowsiness - inexplicably - taxing - beckons - hesitation 

1. The ______ traveler is walking alone.

2. The journey was long and ______.

3. The warm light ______ him toward the house.

4. He enters without much ______.

5. A feeling of ______ remains inside him.

6. Heavy ______ overtakes him.

7. He is ______ drawn toward the house.

Odd One Out

1. solitary - alone - isolated - crowded

2. taxing - tiring - exhausting - relaxing

3. beckons - attracts - calls - repels

4. hesitation - doubt - uncertainty - confidence

5. disquiet - unease - worry - comfort

6. drowsiness - sleepiness - tiredness - energy

7. modest - simple - humble - luxurious

True or False

1. The traveler has had a long journey.

2. He is walking through a familiar town.

3. He is attracted to a warm house.

4. The woman welcomes him warmly.

5. The woman gives him tea and a biscuit.

6. The tea has a bitter undertone.

7. The traveler sees two young men in a photograph.

8. The traveler leaves the house at the end.

1. Why does the traveler want shelter?

a. He is tired and cold.
b. He wants to meet someone.
c. He wants to buy a house.
d. He is looking for work.

2. What does he see through the window?

a. An empty room
b. A cozy interior
c. A restaurant
d. A bedroom

3. What does the woman give him?

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

4. What does he see on the wall?

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

5. What happens after he finishes the tea?

a. He leaves.
b. He becomes very sleepy.
c. He becomes angry.
d. He calls for help.

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ The traveler notices a warm house.

2. ___ The woman gives him tea.

3. ___ He sees two young men in a photograph.

4. ___ The traveler walks through the town.

5. ___ The woman welcomes him inside.

6. ___ He becomes very sleepy.

7. ___ The light dies.

8. ___ The traveler never leaves.

Find a phrase from the story that supports each statement.

1. The traveler is very tired.

2. The weather is cold.

3. The house attracts the traveler.

4. The room looks comfortable.

5. The woman welcomes the traveler warmly.

6. The traveler becomes sleepy.

7. The traveler never leaves.

Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Verb

1. The traveler ______ himself drawn toward the house. (find)

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

3. The cold ______ shelter irresistible. (render)

4. He ______ a cozy interior. (glimpse)

5. The women ______ him warmly. (receive)

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

7. Drowsiness ______ him. (overtake)

Choose the Correct Preposition

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

2. He peers (through / under / beside) the window.

3. He settles (into / above / from) a comfortable chair.

4. She brings tea (with / under / between) a biscuit.

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

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

7. The names tug (at / from / under) his memory.

Choose A, AN, or THE

1. He finds ___ modest house.

2. He walks through ___ unfamiliar town.

3. He sees ___ cozy interior.

4. ___ elderly woman receives him.

5. She brings him ___ biscuit.

6. He notices ___ old photograph.

7. ___ traveler never departs again.

Change to the Past Tense

1. The traveler finds himself drawn toward the house.

2. His feet ache from the journey.

3. He glimpses a cozy interior.

4. The woman receives him warmly.

5. She brings him tea.

6. He notices an old photograph.

7. Drowsiness overtakes him.

Make the Sentences Negative

1. The traveler knows the town.

2. He feels completely comfortable.

3. The woman ignores him.

4. He remembers the two young men.

5. The tea tastes sweet.

6. The traveler leaves the house.

7. The house becomes noisy.

Turn the sentences into questions.

1. The traveler is weary.

2. He sees a modest house.

3. The woman welcomes him.

4. She brings him tea.

5. He notices an old photograph.

6. The tea tastes bitter.

7. The traveler becomes drowsy.

Find the adjectives in each phrase.

1. solitary traveler

2. taxing journey

3. modest house

4. unfamiliar town

5. cozy interior

6. elderly occupant

7. bitter undertone

Find the adverb in each sentence.

1. He is inexplicably drawn toward the house.

2. The woman welcomes him warmly.

3. The names tug distantly at his memory.

4. He dismisses this observation casually.

5. The light slowly dims.

6. The traveler unknowingly never departs.

7. The house finally becomes still.

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 drowsy, but change what happens next.

Write a dialogue between the traveler and the elderly woman after he notices the old photograph.