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Reading Skills

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Level 5 The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

Before readinG

1 Have you ever visited an old castle or manor? Write words you associate with castles or manors.

2 Look at this picture and read the information. Think of a question each of the family members (father, mother, oldest son, teenage daughter, 8-year-old twin boys) at the bottom of the steps will ask about the house.

3 Would you like to spend a night in a haunted house? Tell a partner.

WHiLe readinG

4 read the first section of the story (pages 11-17) then answer the following questions.

a WhydoesLordCantervilledecidetosellthehouse?

.....................................................................................................................................................................................

BWhencantheghostusuallybeseen?

………………… ..............................................................................................................................................................

CWhatarethereactionsofthefollowingtotheblood-staininthelibrary?

MrsOtis …………………………… .............................................................................................................................

MrsUmney………………................................................................................... ………………………………………..

WashingtonOtis……………………… ........................................................................ ………………………………..

d WhydoesMrsUmneyfaint?

……………………………………………… .................................................................................................... ……………….

FOR SALECanterville Chase

Authentic 16th Century Tudor Manor Magnificent stained glass windows

and wooden floorsOriginal Library and Tapestry Chamber

Servants’ quarters and dungeons downstairsNear Ascot

(Includes ghost)

American Familyget rid of

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5 read the second section of the story (pages 17-21). Choose two adjectives from the box that best describe these characters’ reactions.

a MrOtis ……………...............…… ……………...............……

B Thetwins ……………...............…… ……………...............……

C Theghost ……………...............…… ……………...............……

6 read the third and fourth sections (pages 22-36). imagine you are the ghost. explain in your own words what happened and how you feel.

7 on page 38 the ghost accuses Virginia’s family of being “horrid, rude, vulgar and dishonest” and Virginia accuses the ghost of being the same. find examples of where both the family and the ghost can be described as such.

The family The Canterville Ghost

afTer readinG

8 imagine the events of the story happened today. Write a newspaper article to match the heading below.

9 imagine you are Mr otis. Write a letter to your friend in america explaining what happened.

10 in pairs invent a dialogue between the ghost and one of the people he killed or frightened before he met the otis family.

PHOTOCOPIABLE WORKSHEET

angry cheeky confused disrespectful distantfriendly frightened insulted kind proud