Section 1: Short Non-Fiction News Story

Title: The Enigma of the Abandoned House

In the heart of a small town, nestled between towering oak trees, stands an abandoned house that has captivated
the imagination of locals for decades. The once grand mansion, with its faded white paint and cracked windows,
holds an air of mystery that refuses to be ignored.

Legend has it that the house was built in the early 1900s by a wealthy family who mysteriously disappeared one
stormy night. Since then, the house has remained untouched, frozen in time, a relic of the past. Locals whisper
tales of ghostly apparitions and strange occurrences that surround the property.

The overgrown garden, once meticulously maintained, now resembles a wild jungle, with weeds and vines
creeping up the decaying walls. The front porch, once a gathering place for lively conversations, now creaks
under the weight of years of neglect.

Inside, the house is frozen in time. Furniture covered in dusty white sheets sits untouched, as if waiting for its
owners to return. The air is heavy with the scent of decay and the sound of silence echoes through the empty
halls.

Local historians have tried to unravel the secrets of the abandoned house, but their efforts have been in vain.
Records of the family who once lived there have mysteriously disappeared, leaving no trace of their existence.
The house stands as a silent witness to a forgotten past.

Despite its eerie reputation, the abandoned house has become a magnet for curious souls. Urban explorers and
thrill-seekers venture inside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the supernatural. Some claim to have heard whispers
in the wind, while others swear they have seen shadowy figures lurking in the darkness.

The abandoned house has become a symbol of the town's history and its enigmatic past. It serves as a reminder
that even in the modern world, there are still mysteries that defy explanation.

Section 2: Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the condition of the abandoned house?

a) Dilapidated and neglected
b) Renovated and well-maintained
c) Modern and luxurious
d) Unchanged and preserved

Correct answer: a) Dilapidated and neglected. The text mentions the faded white paint, cracked windows, and
overgrown garden, indicating the poor condition of the house.

2. How long has the house been abandoned?

a) A few years
b) Decades
c) Centuries
d) Forever

Correct answer: b) Decades. The text states that the house has captivated the imagination of locals for decades.

3. What happened to the family who lived in the house?

a) They moved away
b) They were murdered
c) They disappeared
d) They sold the house

Correct answer: c) They disappeared. The text mentions that the wealthy family who built the house
mysteriously disappeared one stormy night.

4. What can be found inside the abandoned house?

a) Meticulously maintained furniture
b) Dusty white sheets
c) Vibrant decorations
d) Modern appliances

Correct answer: b) Dusty white sheets. The text describes the furniture inside the house as covered in dusty
white sheets.

5. What is the atmosphere inside the house?

a) Bright and cheerful
b) Eerie and mysterious
c) Warm and inviting
d) Cold and empty

Correct answer: b) Eerie and mysterious. The text mentions the heavy scent of decay and the sound of silence
echoing through the empty halls.

6. What do locals whisper about the abandoned house?

a) Stories of ghostly apparitions
b) Accounts of UFO sightings
c) Tales of buried treasure
d) Rumors of secret passageways

Correct answer: a) Stories of ghostly apparitions. The text states that locals whisper tales of ghostly apparitions
and strange occurrences surrounding the property.

7. What have local historians been unable to do?

a) Unravel the secrets of the abandoned house
b) Renovate the house
c) Sell the house
d) Demolish the house

Correct answer: a) Unravel the secrets of the abandoned house. The text mentions that local historians have tried
to unravel the secrets of the house, but their efforts have been in vain.

8. What do urban explorers and thrill-seekers hope to find in the abandoned house?
a) Hidden treasure
b) Supernatural encounters
c) Valuable artifacts
d) Historical documents

Correct answer: b) Supernatural encounters. The text mentions that some urban explorers claim to have heard
whispers in the wind and seen shadowy figures in the darkness.

9. What does the abandoned house symbolize for the town?

a) Progress and development
b) Wealth and luxury
c) History and mystery
d) Decay and neglect

Correct answer: c) History and mystery. The text states that the abandoned house has become a symbol of the
town's history and its enigmatic past.

10. What does the abandoned house serve as a reminder of?

a) The power of nature
b) The importance of preservation
c) The limits of human knowledge
d) The need for security measures
Correct answer: c) The limits of human knowledge. The text suggests that the abandoned house serves as a
reminder that there are still mysteries that defy explanation.

Section 3: Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. The abandoned house holds an air of ________ that refuses to be ignored.

Correct word: mystery
Explanation: The text mentions that the abandoned house holds an air of mystery.

2. Legend has it that the house was built in the early ________.
Correct word: 1900s
Explanation: The text mentions that the house was built in the early 1900s.

3. The overgrown garden now resembles a wild ________.

Correct word: jungle
Explanation: The text describes the overgrown garden as resembling a wild jungle.

4. Inside, the house is frozen in ________.

Correct word: time
Explanation: The text states that inside, the house is frozen in time.

5. Local historians have tried to unravel the secrets of the abandoned house, but their efforts have been in
________.
Correct word: vain
Explanation: The text mentions that local historians have tried to unravel the secrets of the abandoned house, but
their efforts have been in vain.

Section 4: Open Ended Questions

1. Why do you think the abandoned house has captivated the imagination of locals for decades?
2. What do you think might have happened to the family who lived in the house?
3. How does the description of the abandoned house create a sense of mystery and intrigue?
4. Do you believe in ghostly apparitions and supernatural occurrences? Why or why not?
5. Why do you think the abandoned house has become a symbol of the town's history?

Section 5: Conclusion

The abandoned house stands as a haunting reminder of a forgotten past, its enigmatic presence capturing the
imagination of locals for decades. With its dilapidated facade and frozen interiors, the house holds the secrets of
a vanished family, shrouded in mystery and whispers of ghostly apparitions. Local historians have been unable
to unravel the enigma, leaving the house as a silent witness to the limits of human knowledge. Despite its eerie
reputation, the abandoned house continues to draw the curious, who seek to uncover the supernatural and unlock
the secrets of the past. It stands as a symbol of the town's history, a testament to the enduring power of mystery.

Section 6: Works Cited

1. "The Enigma of the Abandoned House" - www.examplenewswebsite.com/article1

2. "Unraveling the Secrets of the Abandoned House" - www.examplehistoricaljournal.com/article2
3. "Ghostly Encounters in the Abandoned House" - www.examplesupernaturalblog.com/article3
4. "Exploring the Mystery of the Abandoned House" - www.exampleurbexwebsite.com/article4
5. "The Symbolism of the Abandoned House in Local History" - www.examplelocalhistoryjournal.com/article5