Key Vocabulary
| Word | Definition | Usage (Sentence) |
|---|---|---|
| mysterious | Difficult or impossible to understand, explain, or identify. | He received a mysterious phone call in the middle of the night. |
| abandoned | Left empty or unused. | The old car was abandoned on the side of the road. |
| rumors | Stories or information that may not be true, passed from person to person. | There are rumors that the company is going to close. |
| curious | Eager to know or learn something. | I was curious to find out what would happen next. |
| investigate | To examine a situation to discover the truth. | The police will investigate the cause of the accident. |
| creaked | Made a long, high sound, like a door that needs oil. | The old wooden floor creaked as I walked across it. |
| hesitated | Paused before doing something, especially because you are nervous. | She hesitated before answering the difficult question. |
| furniture | Large movable equipment, such as tables and chairs. | They bought some new furniture for the living room. |
| silence | A complete lack of sound or noise. | A sudden silence fell over the room. |
| nervous | Feeling worried and anxious. | I always feel nervous before giving a presentation. |
| discovered | Found something unexpectedly. | The scientist discovered a new type of plant in the rainforest. |
| diary | A book in which you write down your personal experiences. | She wrote about the trip in her diary. |
| fascinating | Extremely interesting. | He told us some fascinating stories about his travels. |
| portrait | A painting, photograph, or drawing of a person. | There was a large portrait of the queen on the wall. |
| revealed | Made something known that was secret or previously unknown. | The investigation revealed that he was innocent. |
| opportunity | A time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. | This is a great opportunity to start a new career. |
| suddenly | Quickly and unexpectedly. | He suddenly felt very tired and went to bed. |
| sympathy | The feeling of being sorry for someone else’s problems. | I have a lot of sympathy for people who have lost their homes. |
| misunderstood | To have an incorrect idea or impression of someone or something. | I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say. |
| reputation | The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something. | The company has a reputation for excellent customer service. |
The Story
At the end of my road, there was a mysterious old house that everyone said was haunted. It had been abandoned for as long as anyone could remember, and there were many scary rumors about it. But I was always a curious child, so one sunny afternoon, I decided to investigate the truth for myself.
The rusty iron gate creaked loudly as I pushed it open. I hesitated for a moment before walking up the overgrown path to the front door. It was unlocked. Inside, the air was thick with dust, and all the furniture was covered in white sheets. The deep silence was unsettling, and I began to feel quite nervous.
In the living room, I discovered a small book on a dusty table. It was a girl’s diary from sixty years ago. The story inside was fascinating. I also found a beautiful portrait of a happy family hanging above the fireplace. The diary revealed details about their lives in the house, and none of them were scary at all.
The last entry in the diary explained everything. The girl’s father had been offered an amazing job opportunity in Australia. They had to leave very suddenly and planned to come back one day, but they never did. I felt a great deal of sympathy for this misunderstood family. The house’s bad reputation was completely wrong.
I left the house with a different feeling. It wasn’t a place of ghosts, but a place of forgotten memories. I knew I had to tell my friends the true story. I learned an important lesson that day: you should never judge something based only on rumors, because the truth is often much more interesting and much less scary.
Comprehension Quiz
Type the correct long-form answer (e.g., “Yes, it is” or “No, they are not”). You’ll get instant feedback!
Correct Answers Key
1. No, it was not.
2. No, they did not.
3. No, it was not.
4. No, they did not.
5. No, they did not.
6. No, it did not.
7. No, they did not.
8. Yes, they did.
9. No, it did not.
10. No, they did not.
