B2 English Reading – Short Story & Grammar Quiz
For decades, the abandoned Blackwood Manor has stood silently on the hill, dominating the entire landscape. It was believed to be haunted by the spirit of its former owner, an elderly man who had vanished years ago. Locals rarely dared to approach, due to the countless spooky tales.
Freya, a young historian with an interest in local folklore, had just arrived in the village. She had been to many old, deserted properties before, but this one felt different. Her goal was to record the manor’s history, hoping to uncover some truth behind the extraordinary legends. She had read about the manor extensively in old village archives.
One afternoon, while exploring a dusty room, she noticed a loose floorboard. Beneath it, a small, leather-bound book was hidden. It was clearly a personal journal. As she began to read, a dramatic story of a family’s financial failure and a hidden treasure started to emerge. The owner, it turned out, had not disappeared at all; he had deliberately gone elsewhere to escape his debts. He owed people so much money! The journal revealed his desperate plan. Freya realized she was holding the key to a century-old mystery.