The Strange House

Match the Words with Their Meanings

1. solitary                                a. friendly in a way that is not sincere 
2. wayfarer                              b. alone, without other people
3. inexplicably                         c. a person who travels from place to place
4. compelled                            d. unable to explain why something happens
5. decaying                               e. forced or strongly driven to do something
6. proprietress                          f. slowly becoming damaged or rotten
7. unctuous                              g. a woman who owns a business or property
8. predatory                             h. using weaker people for their own benifits

Fill in the Blanks

solitary        inexplicably    decaying        proprietress    predatory       fixation        chronology      adulterated     heedless        irrevocable


1. The ______ traveler walks alone toward the house.
2. He is ______ drawn toward the mysterious house.
3. The house is old and ______.
4. The woman is the house's ______.
5. Her friendly behavior hides a ______ intention.
6. She has a strong ______ upon the traveler's youth.
7. The guest book contains a strange ______ of previous visitors.
8. The tea has been subtly ______.
9. The traveler is ______ of the warning signs.
10. The ending has an ______ finality.

Odd One Out

1. solitary - alone - isolated - predatory
2. vigor - strength - energy - chronology
3. portents - warnings - signs - hospitality
4. tea - fire - conversation - predecessors

Answer with True or False

1. The wayfarer travels with several companions.
2. He is mysteriously drawn toward an old house.
3. The house looks completely safe from the beginning.
4. The proprietress behaves in a very pleasant way.
5. Her kindness hides a dangerous intention.
6. She is interested in the traveler's youth.
7. The guest book contains information about previous visitors.
8. The traveler notices every warning sign and immediately leaves.
9. The tea has been changed in some way.
10. The light eventually goes out.
11. The traveler escapes before the tea affects him.
12. The ending suggests that his fate cannot be changed.

1. What draws the wayfarer toward the house?

a. A loud voice
b. Its warm glow
c. A large sign
d. A nearby restaurant


2. What is unusual about the house?

a. It is extremely modern.
b. Its warm appearance hides its true nature.
c. It is completely empty.
d. It is surrounded by other houses.


3. How does the proprietress behave toward the traveler?

a. Rudely
b. Nervously
c. With excessive politeness
d. With anger


4. What is the woman's hidden intention?

a. To help the traveler find work
b. To entertain the traveler
c. To prey upon the traveler
d. To sell the house


5. What interests the woman about the traveler?

a. His money
b. His youthful vigor
c. His family
d. His profession


6. What does the guest book reveal?

a. The house's building plans
b. A history of vanished visitors
c. The woman's recipes
d. A list of local businesses


7. How does the traveler respond to the warning signs?

a. He immediately leaves.
b. He becomes suspicious and calls for help.
c. He ignores them.
d. He destroys the guest book.


8. What happens to the tea?

a. It becomes cold.
b. It is subtly adulterated.
c. It disappears.
d. It spills onto the floor.


9. What happens to the light?

a. It becomes brighter.
b. It changes color.
c. It gutters and goes out.
d. It moves toward the door.


10. What does the ending suggest?

a. The traveler has escaped.
b. The traveler has fallen asleep safely.
c. The traveler has suffered an irreversible fate.
d. The woman has left the house.

Put the Events in Order

1. ___ The traveler notices the guest book.
2. ___ The tea begins to affect him.
3. ___ The wayfarer approaches the house.
4. ___ The woman welcomes him.
5. ___ The traveler accepts the woman's hospitality.
6. ___ The light gutters and goes out.
7. ___ The traveler notices signs of danger.
8. ___ The house claims him.

Fill in the Correct Verb

1. The wayfarer ______ toward the house. (walk)
2. The house ______ warmly. (glow)
3. The proprietress ______ him. (welcome)
4. She ______ her true intentions. (hide)
5. They ______ on his youth. (focus)
6. The guest book ______ a disturbing history. (contain)
7. He ______ the warning signs. (ignore)
8. The tea ______ effect. (take)
9. The light ______ and expires. (gutter)

Choose the Correct Preposition

1. The traveler is drawn (toward / between / under) the house.
2. The house glows (against / at / from) the darkness.
3. She has a fixation (upon / between / under) his youthful vigor.
4. The guest book is filled (with / at / by) information about previous visitors.
5. He sits (by / between / from) the fire.
6. He is heedless (of / at / to) the warnings.
7. The tea takes effect (on / at / from) him.
8. The silence closes (over / at / between) him.

Identify the Adjectives

1. solitary wayfarer
2. decaying house
3. warm glow
4. predatory intent
5. youthful vigor
6. damning chronology
7. vanished predecessors
8. mounting portents
9. insidious effect
10. quiet finality

Do you think the house is safe or dangerous?

What makes the house appear safe?

What signs suggest that the house is dangerous?

Why does the woman want the traveler to stay?

What do you think happened to the previous visitors?

Do you think the traveler is dead, asleep, or trapped?

1. Would you enter the house?

2. Would you accept the tea?

3. Would you sign the guest book?

4. Would you stay after noticing the guest book?

Choose three words.

kind - charming - suspicious - predatory - manipulative - mysterious - dangerous - welcoming

1. Which three words best describe the proprietress?

Write a different ending in which the traveler discovers the woman's plan and escapes.

Write a dialogue between the traveler and the proprietress before he drinks the tea.