READING & TRAINING.WEB Stories for the Curious / 3 ee CoyAbout the Author M gue Rhos James was bom in Kent in the South-East of [gland in 1842. M. R James (sometimes called Monty also lived in Suffolk His father was. minister! here. The beaches and villages of thisare are in many of is stores. He was interested in chutes and stony fom the ine he was a chk He went to ton, a woll-knows private school in England Then he ‘went to Cambridge and stad the Classics (Greek and Latin) He stayed at Cambridge to teach and sty. His subject was Medical tudes and he wr books on Medieval history, lierature and theology In 18, he bscame the Director of the University museum, the FRtzwiliam Museum. In 1908 Montague Rhodes James became the roost of Kings College at Cambridge University. He wa also the Vice Chanclloe”of Cambridge Usversity fom 19181815. Later he was the Provost t Eton unl ded in 196, Montague Rhodes James rote his ist ghost stores in magazines He used the name M.R James. The sores were very popular and he wrote four books of shoe tories inthe next twenty years: Ghost Store ofan Antiguary C908 AThin Ghost Stores of en Antinary 191); ost and Ces (191); A Werning othe Caron aa OtherBefore you read © Find tne words Looks the photographs and tik (/ the words in the box youcan se Theslookat the pitres on pegs? and9 Which other wor cmos oontnets| bost fisherman sand beach rocks ruins castle. golfecurse olfch seu sone anchor @ rajocrwves ‘Complete the sentences below (1-5 with an adjective (A 1 curious © tous ty 8 mieligent B dy wel cress 1] shedoeare me aking to people he is 2) Heknows ala of things He sey 3.) She kes nice clothes shes ava 4+) Heahuays pts everthingin the right place. Hes ‘She interested and atk atof questions, she ls Heisalwaye hovtng. thine is oo © Vocebutary Read the ttl the story on page. What do youthink the word tat A] bey oryoung man 8 agioryoung woman The Chureh was almos year forthe Ha studentsof St James College, Professor Parkins was sitting vistmas and the end of t inthe staff room’ with a young lecturer in Archaeology, called Mr Dlaney. Mir Disney was a curious young man. He teligent sor Parkins wa always asked alot of questions. Prof and shy. He was well-dressed and tidy. He preferred his book the company af ather people. ‘are you going anywhere for the holidays?” the young man asked the Professor ‘rm going to play gol the professor replied‘Where are you going” asked Me Disney "There are some very ice places to play golfon the coast butts quite" cold at this time ofyear! i mgoing to Burnstow, said the profesor. 'k'sonthe East coaet” ‘You should vist the rune ofthe old church of the Knights ‘Templar’ began Me Disney. "the runs atest the noth end ofthe beach, ear the Globe Inn At certain times of day the covers the beach so you can't always cee the church, it's a round church’ Me Disney explained thatthe Knights Templar often but round churches, “There are alt of stories about the Knights Templar he sald ‘of course, ntallof them are true!'The profesor smiled He knew Me Disney beevedin ts of strange stories. ‘vllwetetoyou esa." youl see anything interesting. fm staying atthe Globe Inn.” Not many gusst houses are open ‘during the winter, but the Globe Inn aways stays open. have & twin room. don't need two beds, but asked for large room $1 can take my books if youhave another bed, then maybe ican come. was thinking of going wit te place mse sae hs rend “that's very kin sald the profesor. "but prefer to go alone. Ihave ot of work do. 1 understand, professor. Ofcourse, you must do your work, ‘ut remember — there are alot of stories about ghosts in that partof the coast adit ean be very lonely at this time of year He laughed. The professor didnot think this was funny ‘Tam ascents he ssid. don'tbelieve in ghosts’? 4 gh tg tripe up np Boe 8) “The next day professor Parkins arrived at the inn. He was very pleased with his room. 1 had a large dese and there was enough space forall hisbooks. had a window with three sides. There were enuf views® trom the windove. The sea was oniya fewhundred ‘metres from his rom, The long beach continue for miles in both ‘estons. He could see anchors, nets and the colourful boats of the Fishermen. Every few metres there were low walls made of ‘wood ta stop the sea from reaching” the houses. In the distance, ‘ext to some small hil of grass, he coud see the golf course. “There were not many guests inthe Globe na, but the professor s00n found another person interested inhi favourite hobby. He ‘as an oli colonel witha big moustache and red cheeks. He knew lot about some subjects and very litle about others. He aways spoke inthe same loud Vole. The colonel ald that he wes staying lone and that he was happy to play golf with the professor. Prafeser Plans pte to oe oy wah the Eola Hawes -2ofixed on their same of polfthtie as oon ate inthe afternoen, ‘They stopped fora ret “should return to the hotel aid the colonel. ‘Are you coming, professor’ Dinners at i ‘keto take a walk along the beach first! professor Parkins replied see you tian ‘There was no-one else onthe beach, The professor enjoyed the sllonce. cold wind blew from the North. 1 was cific o wale against the wind. Suddenly, the professor's foot hit a stone and he fall over between the sand and the tll grace. He stood up and looked around: In font of him he could see some old ruins 1 cet nc tanFirst he walked around the runs. Then he took a few st back, The stones were inthe form ofa circle. He remembered Mr Disney's story about the Knights Templar and the round churches. none corner, there wae a large, high stone, it looked lke the altar" of church. nthe centre ofthe altar he saw a stone cabinet filed with earth." He took a small knife from his pocket and started to remove tho each nid it. eas late now and the sun was low in the sky The professor wanted to ste inside the cabinet soe ita match, He was unhappy ind the cabinet was empty. Helitanother match. Fors momen rmething, Then the wind blew out the mateh He put hi ie the cabinet and he found a small object. It was long metal. He ook t and put tin is pocket, "Vlok at itlater; he thought, andhe started walking eh nce er twice he looked back toward the ruins. Inthe distance, he save atl black Figure In the pale, walking along thebeach inthe same direction, every time he locke back the man was behind him. At frst the figure was ar fom i sed to come cloeer. It seemed ike he was trying to ofessor. Dd he know him? He thought for a moment of waiting for hi but he decided this was nota geod id. was ‘The professor was alone and the man was a stranger * "Hee must be going the same way’ he sld to himsel, He walke Aquiely towards thehoteThen he started to runThe text and beyond, For each question chose the correct answer ~ ‘Comprehonsion chock ‘Where was the profesor ging ttay? 8 [] Atal course on the west const B [Ata innin the countryside ‘© [| Inaseatde wwncaled Bumstow, ‘hat id i oieney say the prfeser should see? ‘AE The church ofthe Rights templaz 2B [The galcourse nearthe vine CF] the view fom the bedrooms in the Globe tn, Whar type oraam did the professor have? $1 Asn mon, © |) Adoutie room. Wat the profearr find afters pane of golf? AD] The ins acanein he send 3 [2] Another ga course Ey The runs ot ano church What i he profesor nin the cabinet? Dy Along metal object. 8 Dy Acmallente, Dy Anata fe with earth Why did the professor begin tru? ‘AL Mesawaman from the hotel he dk, 8 [1] Hewarlatetomest the olnefordnner Cy Maybehe was stsredof the stranger, © vocabulary —Roome: 18 Complete the sentences 4 witha word fom the word ox. wardrobe washbasin armchair forks 1 bath, tle en 2 bed, shee, blanket See amen 4 table chars kv 1 Inwhichroom (Dean you find te objets in each srour? AL thinaroom 8 betreom 6 alining oom ET bathroom © Descring 8 room Lethe example to desenbesroomyeu know ample: nthe ton ight corer her ar some bookshelf the Conte ofthe oom tere tobe describes 3 rom 28 B draws the room, ‘looks at the picture of 8 Does ok ike the rom A described? 1"m going to play got We une going to verbo talk about amethine we plants doin the future: This something we ow wl happen or har we wl do. for example'ram paying gl withthe colonel omerrou!Use gag to 9 oF gong to «plato make sentences using the words ‘Ad Youcanuse he she, wor hey. xampl: am going flay tenn 2B reckelinbing F oyelng © Footbal 6 snowboarding loeeing H nipty ‘Answer the questions below about your hobbies and the sports you 3 When do you do your hobbies? When da you ply por? Before you read 1 Find the done ot. 2 sound noe, wind sone 3 ey, guitar, 5 [llweather [I] music © [sport LUsten to the sounds. umber them in the order you her them wing J eutar Dear (se E]wniste Onin PART TWO A Sleepless' Night rofessor Parking changed hie clothes and went ¢2 PAD dinner, The colonel asked hi about his walk. The staff atthe hotel were worried about you. It iets dark ery early at this time of year he added “The professor decided not to say anything about the man on the beach, He was tired after is lng walk and he decided to goto ted early, On the way this room one af the waiters stopped him. he ald The mai ‘Something ell ut of your coat pocket,PART TWO “Thank you aid professor Parkins, Me returned quickly to his bedroom. He picked up the abject onthe desk and looked ati carefully There was. lot of send init. The profesor Paper and threw it out ofthe window. He stopped for a moment and looked out. Inthe aistanes he sawa man on the beach, 6a cold night to be outside he sad to himself. He shut the window and returned to the object. ¢ had some small holes in looked like & whistle, n fact, It was a whistle. There was some writing oni in Latin: “Quls estate qu vent, He knew a ite Whe is coming?” ‘An interesting question. What does t mean? “Whe ie cming? he repeated. have the whistle. Maybe I should ute the whistle snd then Mee He blew the whistle once, He was surprised at the sound The Sound continued fora long time. It was soft note ke music Sometimes it was high and sometimes it was low, For a moment in front of his eyes, he saw a gerson It looked like the man on the beac, but he could not se his face, Suddenly, the wind began t2 blow hard, The windows, blew open. The ai went quickly through the windows and blew out the candle onthe desk. He ried close the windows but the wind was to strong! He thought the glass was going to break He pushed hs against the windows. For a moment, he imagined the wind the windows continued to shake, “We incredible how th wind ean change so quickly! he thoughtPant Two * ashelistened tothe win, The weatheriea very interesting hing things ona ight like this’ For many hours the wind continued its lonely ery | work with Faets ot Fiton, But a man could ma and he couldn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he saw the same thing. The was what he sw "was a winter's evening nd the clouds inthe sky were grey. ‘There was aman inblackclotheson thebeach.Theman weswesk! tnd tired. He looked very frightened. He was trying to exeape from someone or something. The man climbed over the sea wale Sometimes he looked behind hi, then he saw a figuee. At frst ' loked like a bird, Then i looked hk & man ina white cloak. ‘The figurein the white cloak moved quiely towards the man, the ‘mar hid behind one ofthe walls. The figure came closer. held 'Rearms open. its long cloak was ike wings. t moved towards the ‘man agsin.Thistime, the professor opened his eyes Ie was like a fll, but he did not want tose the end He sat up in bed and read one of his books. He heard the eound ‘of something movingnear the second bed, Rats he thought. Rats like ld bulge ce tle? He fll asleep some hours later, The canle was till burning. ‘The following morning, there wat aknock*at the door. was the maid ve comme to make the hed sir she sad. Can come in?” The professor saw it was late in the morning. He put on his dressing gone. 5 do ypeatent ithe rs esa bh 1 tack anme ay stg omhing ‘ASeepiess Wight ‘Would youlike another blanket?" wes, please he said, twas qute cold lastnight. The wind was bade well? “Maybe comeone was whistling she ai ‘What strange ide! sald professor Parkins. Why do you say that? ‘oh i's something people say inthe vilage “The wind comes winensomeanes whistling”. Ws en old legend. don'tknow where Iecames from: ‘Really? he sad, rying not te sound toa interested. ‘Now — the Dane. take It if you want ‘No, srs no trouble. Where do you want me to putt? “on my bed, he sad, atl surpricedby the question. “Which one, sie’ she asked.‘ looks like there was someone in both beds “done know what you mean’ the professor replied He looked a thestcond bed. One of the sheets wa.on the floor snd the other sheet was very ereazed. The mid writ. looked ike two people were staying inthe room, "Perhaps the sheet ellon the flaorin the night e sal, Maybe Iwas the wind. tm sorry to ge you more work’ ‘The maid started to make the other bed. The professr left the room site redin the ace “Very strange," he aid to himself. Very strange.”The text and beyond © Fring the missing words Rend the questions 1-8). Complte tho missing words in the answers (GeP. Te first eter i already there 1 ina ft out the professor's pocket? [A obectne found st thee eae 2 what happened when the professor lew the whist? Thew——eortedtob hard. {who the pofesorase when he asd is eyes? ‘man followed by another manna — 4 what de thik ade the noise under the other be? Ne thought here were. 15 Why dil the mad come tothe roan? 1 Why the maid tk we people were stayingin the room? onboth beds were Thee: @ Puzo ‘Complete the pul withthe missing words rom exerls to stethe ‘wordin red Words an go across or down. © Fact or totion? "The professor is «slots, He beeves in fact nt ction. Can you ‘Bust lfthe sentences are Facto Fiction? ‘one county separates Fnand an North Kore 13 Theroon's made of cheese. “4 Dragons onc lived inparte of Wales. some cous are th same weight a sever Bue vie Amankey was once sett the centre ofthe earth, IBS © Lstoning - Housckeeping {inten to someone aking oa maid Tick the bs youhear. 1 [5] Palean towels the bathroom. 2 [1] checkthelamp ie workna, 2 ©) openthe window. 4) utshower gente shower. 5 [Mahesh bed 6 1] Putflowers inthe room, © conversations Complete the conversations and practice them. Youcan use your oun words) 1 These shects are ceased Can have new nes? Ofc Hare tt 2 Helo have reservation whats your i 3 What would you ike for diner? Ho somesBefore you 1 Find the word ‘superstition’ in @ detionary. Then match the eseriptios AF toa pete (4) wekingunder aes a foarleated clover (atypeofplan) it fingerscromed i Fray he thteenth a mn (i The Empty Bed he two men were plying ther second game of got The weather was mich better and the light wind was pleasant. “The maid to have some sly’ idea about someone 1 Dothetingsin exercise 1 bring good er bade 2 Ae there anysuperstitins in your county? te forte ina heptenernd © Reading pictures wwe don't” {Lookat the plete on page 29 and answer the questions i dont believe in these old stores’ sald the professor. ‘As an 1 wheres the prof ‘example found a whisteon the beach le nigh. tried to white {veep ‘rth tA few moments later, the wind blew very ard, It shook the Fiano tones ‘windows. Aperson could say that brought the wind. But know that” parr tHnee * the wind doest come because you whistle for it.The winds part ofthe changesin the weather. Ite sclanes,not some strange event! “The colonel was suddenly intrested, He put down his golf che. “This whistle...'said the colonel, Where di you find ie” "sound it at the old church of the Knights Templar, Why? asked the professor. “You found it atthe ruins!” He shook his head,‘ dont chink you should trust It's nota good ides to take something from a Feligios place. You must know the legends, Have you never heard the stories about the Knights Templar? For mary year, was in ‘the amy in indi. he began, Professor Parkins knew the colonel was going to tell along story, 20 he picked up his golf clubs again. On their way around the golf course the cole! tld him of his adventures, He alked of the superstitions ofthe villages and how one night he saw a ghost hime. ‘The professor was going to tell him his ideas about ghosts, but the was interrupted” by a young boy who came running towards the two men. e was crying, ‘what the matter by?" asked the colonel. ‘are you lost?” “There's a man at the window! he eed ‘Which window asked the colonel “That window! There itwas! he sid. Me pointed tothehoteland tothe window with thee sides. was Professor Parkins’ room, “1 asked the professor. You sid you saw a man’ ‘tewas lke a man...but wasn't a man, id ike the face “Theboy started to ery a “te was probably a sly joke, said the colonel ‘Dent ery. Here, ‘Tho Empty Bod take some money. There's a café that sll ice-cream near the hotel You soon feel better? Professor Parkins turned to the colonel "ik to go Bac to ‘the hotel’ he sai, We can finish our game tomorrow” Professor Parkins went this room, The door was locked, Everything nse the room was the same. But there was one srall difference ~ the empty bed was not made. “fu saw the maid making the be this morning!” He chook his bead and went to find the maid. ‘Does anyone have the key ro my room?” e asked. ‘The manager keeps all the keys | gave the key to him this ‘mornin she sald. Professor Parkins went tosee the manager. He about the chi "was anything misting? che manager asked. He wanted to tell him about the bed but then he dnt want the rmaigtobe in trouble. No, everythings fe. Perhaps it was the child imagining tinge cexmaybe it wasa different rom. Heleft quickly He was angry with {ld hi the st imslt. There must he sraatan® but he dd’ nar the sneer. tater that night, the professor studled the whistle again, He thought ofthe eolones words" don trust it! You should throw tin de sea! He put i back on the dese He went to the dor and closed i with the key. Then he went tothe windows, They were closed, too He sa for the Fist time that there were no eurtaing Inhisroom. The light of the full moon shone though the window and Into the room. The professor did't want ancther sleepless righ, 9 he took the blanket from the second bed and made curtain. He fll sleep quickly. fy eee ere re ete eavePARTTHREE few hourslatet he woke up when the curtain fell tothe ground and made noise. Then he heardanther loud noise. The noise was ing frm the empty bed. The bed was shaking. Ther, sitting in the other bed, was a whe figure. The figure slowly got cut of bed and moved towards the professor. The figure’ face was ull of line ke the creased sheets e had no evas but it had large open mouth Professor Parkins jumped up. He tiled to ga to the door, but he couldn't reach the key. The igure now stood between the bed and the door. The professor moved gully towards the windew. ‘The figure continued to follow him with its long arms held out Is Fingers almost touched his face. The prafestor put one eg out ofthe window. Me lacked down, Could he jump? The figure ame closer. At that moment he felt aco face push against his neck. He cried outin error. The colonel arrived at that moment, Professor Parkins