Story 1

The Unexpected Guest

Intermediate Level

VOCABULARY

1. Intruder – (in-TROO-der) /ɪnˈtruː.dər/
(noun) – a person who enters a place without permission
Synonyms: trespasser, invader, interloper
Sample sentence: The dog barked loudly at the intruder.

2. Peculiar – (peh-KYOO-lee-er) /pɪˈkjuː.li.ər/
(adjective) – strange or unusual
Synonyms: odd, weird, bizarre
Sample sentence: She noticed a peculiar smell.

3. Assure – (uh-SHUR) /əˈʃɔːr/
(verb) – to tell someone something confidently to remove doubt
Synonyms: promise, convince, guarantee
Sample sentence: He assured me everything was fine.

4. Disrupt – (dis-RUHPT) /dɪsˈrʌpt/
(verb) – to interrupt something
Synonyms: disturb, interfere, break
Sample sentence: The storm disrupted the meeting.

5. Reluctant – (ree-LUK-tuhnt) /rɪˈlʌk.tənt/
(adjective) – not willing or eager
Synonyms: hesitant, unwilling, unsure
Sample sentence: She was reluctant to leave.

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 stared at her calmly, as if it belonged there. Anna laughed nervously and told herself it was just a hungry animal. She opened the back door to let it out, but the raccoon was reluctant to leave. After a few moments, it finally walked into the night. Anna called her neighbor to assure them everything was fine. Although the situation disrupted her peaceful evening, she felt relieved. It was an unexpected guest — but not 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 the kitchen?

4. How did the raccoon behave?

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

6. What action did Anna take?

7. What did she tell her neighbor?

DISCUSSION

1. Have you ever had an unexpected guest?

2. How would you feel if an animal entered your home?

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

4. Did Anna handle the situation well? Why or why not?

5. Why is it important to stay calm?

6. What is the most peculiar thing that has happened to you at night?

7. What can we learn from Anna’s reaction?