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Vocabulary:
- Invisible = cannot be seen
- Rumor = information that may not be true
- Terrified = very afraid
Story:
It is winter. Nights are long and cold. In one house, two young cousins begin to act in frightening ways. Nine-year-old Betty Parris and eleven-year-old Abigail Williams scream, shake, and cry. They say invisible shapes are hurting them.
Their family is terrified. They pray and hope the behavior will stop, but nothing helps. Rumors spread quickly in a small village. People wonder if evil forces are attacking the children.
These strange events will soon affect the entire community.
Comprehension Questions:
3. How do the girls behave?
- A. They sleepwalk and steal food at night
- B. They calmly write letters to the minister
- C. They scream, shake, cry, and say invisible shapes hurt them
- D. They run away to a nearby town
4. How do people react?
- A. They ignore the girls and continue daily work
- B. They hold a festival to lift spirits
- C. They are terrified, pray, and rumors spread quickly
- D. They send the girls to study in Boston