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Story 1

📘 Lesson Title: “The Unexpected Guest”

Level: Intermediate

VOCABULARY WORDS

  1. Intruder - (in-TROO-der) /ɪnˈtruː.dər/
    Type: Noun
    Meaning: A person who enters a place without permission.
    Synonyms: trespasser, invader, interloper
    Sample Sentence: The dog barked loudly at the intruder who climbed over the fence.

  2. Peculiar - (peh-KYOO-lee-er) /pɪˈkjuː.li.ər/
    Type: Adjective
    Meaning: Strange or unusual
    Synonyms: odd, weird, bizarre
    Sample Sentence: She noticed a peculiar smell coming from the basement.

  3. Assure - (uh-SHUR) /əˈʃɔːr/
    Type: Verb
    Meaning: To tell someone something confidently to remove doubt
    Synonyms: promise, convince, guarantee
    Sample Sentence: He assured me that everything was under control.

  4. Disrupt - (dis-RUHPT) /dɪsˈrʌpt/
    Type: Verb
    Meaning: To interrupt or stop something from continuing
    Synonyms: disturb, interfere, break
    Sample Sentence: The power outage disrupted our meeting.

  5. Reluctant - (ree-LUK-tuhnt) /rɪˈlʌk.tənt/
    Type: Adjective
    Meaning: Not willing or eager to do something
    Synonyms: hesitant, unwilling, unsure
    Sample Sentence: She was reluctant to leave the house after hearing the news.


STORY: The Unexpected Guest

It was a quiet evening in the countryside. Anna sat by the fireplace reading her favorite mystery novel. The wind howled outside, and the sky was dark and cloudy. Suddenly, she heard a loud bang from the kitchen.

Startled, she stood up and walked slowly toward the sound. Her heart raced. Was it an intruder? She grabbed a flashlight and crept down the hallway.

To her surprise, a raccoon was sitting on her kitchen table eating a loaf of bread. It was a peculiar sight. The raccoon looked up and stared at her, as if it belonged there.

Anna laughed nervously. “It’s okay,” she said to herself. “Just a hungry animal.” She opened the back door to let it out. The raccoon seemed reluctant to leave. After a few moments, it finally walked out into the night.

She called her neighbor to assure them that everything was fine, and that it was not a real break-in. The raccoon had probably come through the window she forgot to close.

Although the situation had briefly disrupted her peaceful night, Anna felt relieved. It was an unexpected guest—but at least it wasn’t a thief.


KNOWLEDGE CHECK

  1. Where was Anna when she first heard the noise?

  2. What was the weather like outside?

  3. What did Anna find in her kitchen?

  4. How did the raccoon behave when it saw Anna?

  5. Why was the raccoon able to enter the house?

  6. What action did Anna take to resolve the situation?

  7. What did she tell her neighbor?


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Have you ever had an unexpected guest at home?

  2. How would you feel if you found an animal in your house?

  3. What would you do in Anna’s situation?

  4. Do you think Anna handled the situation well? Why or why not?

  5. Do you live in an area where wild animals are common?

  6. What are some precautions people should take to avoid animals entering their homes?

  7. What would you do if you heard a noise at night?

  8. Have you ever had a false alarm where you thought there was a break-in?

  9. Why is it important to stay calm in unexpected situations?

  10. What’s the most peculiar thing that’s happened to you at night?

  11. Would you call the police if you found an animal inside? Why or why not?

  12. Have you ever been reluctant to do something? What was it?

  13. How do you usually assure your friends or family when they’re worried?

  14. What’s more disruptive: an animal in your house or a power outage?

  15. What can we learn from Anna’s reaction to the situation?


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