Chapter 1: The Old Map
Elara carefully unrolled the ancient, brittle map across her desk. Its edges were frayed, and the parchment was discoloured with age, marked by creases that spoke of countless journeys. Her grandfather, a man of few words but many adventures, had left it to her with a cryptic note: “For curious minds only. Seek the whisper.”
The map wasn’t of any known town or region. Instead, it depicted a rugged, unnamed coastline, a dense, swirling forest, and a jagged mountain range labelled “The Dragon’s Teeth.” Most intriguing was a small, hand-drawn symbol – a coiled snake beside a swirling creek – marked simply as “Whisperwind Gully.”
Elara’s finger traced the winding path through the forest towards the gully. Her grandfather had always encouraged her love for exploration, often telling her that the greatest discoveries were found not in books, but in the wild, untamed places. The map hummed with a silent promise, stirring a familiar thrill of anticipation within her. She knew, with a certainty that settled deep in her bones, that her next adventure was about to begin.
Chapter 1 Exercise: Vocabulary and Context
Instructions: Choose the best meaning for the word written in bold as it is used in the sentence.
- Elara carefully unrolled the ancient, brittle map across her desk. a) brand new b) very old c) strong d) tiny
- Her grandfather had left it to her with a cryptic note. a) clear and easy to understand b) boring c) mysterious or puzzling d) long and detailed
- The map hummed with a silent promise, stirring a familiar thrill of anticipation within her. a) fear b) sadness c) excitement for something to happen d) boredom