Passage: “The Mysterious Lighthouse”
The lighthouse at Clearwater Point had stood tall for over a hundred years, guiding ships safely to shore. It was no ordinary lighthouse, though—locals whispered stories of strange lights that appeared even on days when the fog was nowhere to be seen. Some said it was haunted, while others believed it was just the old wiring flickering from time to time.
Twelve-year-old Liam didn’t believe in ghosts or flickering lights. He was fascinated by how the lighthouse worked. One stormy afternoon, he decided to explore the building himself. His best friend, Mia, begged him not to go, but Liam couldn’t resist the adventure. He grabbed his flashlight and set off for the lighthouse.
The door creaked loudly as Liam pushed it open, and a gust of cold wind blew through the narrow hallway. “Just the wind,” Liam whispered to himself, clutching his flashlight tighter. He climbed the spiral staircase, which seemed to go on forever, until he reached the top.
There, to his surprise, he saw an old notebook lying on a wooden table. The pages were yellowed and covered with neat handwriting. As Liam flipped through the pages, he realized that the lighthouse keeper had kept a journal of mysterious events—lights flickering with no power, strange sounds in the night, and ships appearing out of nowhere on the horizon.
Just as Liam was about to read more, he heard a soft hum behind him. He turned around, his heart pounding, but saw nothing. Suddenly, the light in the lighthouse flickered three times and went out completely. For a moment, everything was silent, except for Liam’s heavy breathing. Then, without warning, the light flickered back on. Liam looked out the window and saw a distant ship, its sails glowing in the night, slowly disappearing into the fog.
Liam stood still for a moment, stunned. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to the old lighthouse than he had ever imagined.
Comprehension Questions
1. Multiple Choice
What is the main reason Liam went to the lighthouse?
A. To look for ghosts
B. To help a lost ship
C. To learn more about the lighthouse
D. To fix the broken light
2. True or False
Mia was excited for Liam to explore the lighthouse.
3. Short Answer
What mysterious things did Liam discover in the lighthouse keeper’s journal?
4. Multiple Choice
What happened right after the light flickered three times?
A. The door to the lighthouse shut.
B. Liam found another journal.
C. A ship with glowing sails appeared in the fog.
D. Mia arrived to find Liam.
5. Short Answer
How does the author create suspense in the story? Provide two examples from the text.
