3 The Thing on the Doorstep BEFORE READING Story 1 Answer the following questions. Tick as appropriate. a. What is the thing on the doorstep in your opinion? A parcel. An animal. A human being. Other. b. What can exaggerated parental attention cause in children? They become ................................................................................................................................ . imaginative and secretive violent very precocious physically and psychologically weak c. What code signal do you use when you call your friends? A whistle. Three bell-rings and two more after a pause. Personal cell music. A pre-arranged message. d. What does a hypnotist do? S/He ..................................................................... . makes patients fall sleep changes a patient s personality makes patients remember the past makes patients forget dramatic events. e. What is a sanitarium in the U.S.A.? A place for ....................................... . old people psychologically unstable people wounded animals ill people 2 Match each word below to its synonym. a. shy b. apathy c. magician d. cremate e. putrefy 1. distant f. complexion 2. occult g. tale 3. visitor h. caller 4. skin colour i. far-off 5. burn to ashes j. esoteric 6. decompose 7. indolence 8. wizard 9. timid 10. story 3 Complete the following sentences with one of the words given below: silent marks psychological boy trembling months legends powerful a. He still looked like a ................................ . b. He received high ................................ in many subjects. c. He suffered from some strange ................................ disease. d. The fishing port was full of dark and horrible ................................ . e. He was able to drive his ................................ car like an expert. f. He was inclined to be ................................ after his fury. g. He was ................................ uncontrollably. h. She died three .................................. ago. 38