🌿 The Secret Garden – Chapter 5: The Door Opens

Mary woke up early the next morning. The key was under her pillow. She touched it and smiled. Today felt different.

The wind had stopped. Sunlight came through the window. It was a perfect day.

After breakfast, she quietly walked outside. She didn’t tell Martha or anyone else. She didn’t want them to stop her.

She followed the path to the old wall. The robin flew above her and landed on the same tree as before.

“I’m here,” she whispered. “Is it time?”

The bird chirped and flew toward the ivy.

Mary pulled back the vines with shaking hands. There was the little door. Her heart was beating fast.

She took out the key, held her breath, and placed it into the keyhole.

It turned.

Click.

The door opened with a soft sound.

Mary stepped inside.

It was quiet. Wild roses and long grass covered everything. Trees bent over the walls. Ivy climbed up every corner. The garden had been locked for ten years, and nature had grown freely.

But it wasn’t dead. No—it was alive.

Mary looked around with wide eyes. She had never seen anything so magical.

There were signs of life everywhere—small green shoots on the ground, buds on the trees, birds singing in the branches.

“It’s not dead,” she whispered. “It’s waiting.”

She walked carefully through the garden. She touched the branches gently. She smelled the sweet air. She felt peaceful for the first time in her life.

A small fox appeared in the distance and ran off. The robin flew from tree to tree, as if showing her around.

“I’m going to take care of this place,” she said. “I’ll clean it. I’ll help it grow again.”

She didn’t know how to garden, but she was full of energy. She picked up sticks and cleared dry leaves. Her hands got dirty, but she didn’t care.

Suddenly, she heard a noise.

She froze. Was someone watching?

But it was only the wind in the trees—and the robin, singing happily.

After an hour, she closed the door gently and covered it with ivy again.

No one had seen her.

The garden was her secret now.

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📖 Glossary

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Pillow	A soft cushion for your head when sleeping
Vines	Long, climbing plants
Keyhole	The place where you put a key
Shoots	New baby plants growing from the ground
Buds	Small parts on a plant that will become flowers
Magical	Full of wonder or beauty; like in a fairy tale
Cleared	Removed something to make a space clean or open

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. Where did Mary hide the key the night before?

2. What was the weather like in the morning?

3. What did she find behind the ivy?

4. What did the garden look like after being locked for ten years?

5. How did Mary feel inside the garden?

6. What did she decide to do in the garden?

7. Why was it important that no one saw her?

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✅ Answers

1. Under her pillow.

2. Sunny and calm.

3. A small door, and it opened with her key.

4. Wild but full of life—plants growing, birds singing.

5. Peaceful and happy, like she belonged there.

6. She wanted to clean it and help it grow again.

7. Because it was her secret—the garden was hidden.

 

🌿 The Secret Garden – Chapter 4: The Robin Who Showed the Way

Mary began to spend more time outdoors.

Every morning after breakfast, she put on her cloak and went into the gardens. The cold wind no longer bothered her. She liked walking through the paths, looking at trees, walls, and hidden corners.

One day, as she wandered behind a rose-covered wall, she saw a flash of red. A bird landed on a branch near her.

It was a robin.

Mary stopped. The bird looked at her with bright, curious eyes. He didn’t seem afraid.

“Hello,” she said softly.

The robin chirped and hopped closer. He moved from one branch to another, always staying near her.

Martha had told her about robins. “They’re friendly birds,” she’d said. “If you talk to one, it might answer you back.”

Mary watched the robin closely. For the first time in a long while, she felt something like joy.

“You’re not afraid of me,” she whispered. “I like that.”

Each day, the robin returned. He seemed to wait for her in the same part of the garden. Mary began to talk to him. She told him about the locked garden. About the crying she heard. About how alone she felt.

The robin chirped as if he understood.

Then something amazing happened.

One day, as the robin flew over a wall, Mary followed. Behind a curtain of ivy, she saw something she hadn’t noticed before.

A tiny door.

It was hidden in the wall, covered by thick vines. Mary’s heart raced. She pushed the ivy aside and touched the door. There was no handle, only a keyhole.

“A door!” she said aloud. “This must be it!”

But there was no key.

Still, her heart beat with excitement. The robin sang from a nearby branch, as if proud of what he had shown her.

She ran back to the house and asked Martha, “Have you ever seen a key in the garden?”

Martha looked surprised. “A key? No. Not for that garden. They say it was buried when Mr. Craven locked the door.”

Mary’s eyes sparkled. “Then I will find it.”

She returned to the garden the next morning. She searched near the door, under leaves and grass. The robin watched her closely.

Then, something shiny caught her eye.

A small, old key lay hidden under the soil.

Mary picked it up carefully. Her hands were shaking.

“I found the key,” she whispered. “Now I just need the right time to use it.”

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📖 Glossary

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Wandered	Walked without a fixed direction
Chirped	Made a short, high sound (like a bird)
Ivy	A climbing green plant
Keyhole	The small hole where a key fits
Sparkled	Shone brightly with excitement or light
Soil	The dirt or ground

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. What does Mary do every morning?

2. What kind of bird does she meet?

3. How does Mary feel when the robin comes close?

4. What does she discover behind the ivy?

5. Why is the door important?

6. What does Mary find under the soil?

7. What does she plan to do next?

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✅ Answers

1. She walks in the gardens.

2. A robin.

3. She feels happy and not alone.

4. A hidden door in the garden wall.

5. It’s the entrance to the secret garden.

6. A small, old key.

7. She plans to open the door when the time is right.

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Travel & Holidays – IELTS-Friendly Phrases

1. "A once-in-a-lifetime experience"
   e.g., Visiting the Northern Lights was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

2. "Get away from it all"
   e.g., Many people choose beach holidays to get away from it all and unwind.

3. "Off the beaten track"
   e.g., I prefer destinations that are off the beaten track, away from the typical tourist spots.

4. "Broaden one's horizons"
   e.g., Travelling to different countries helps me broaden my horizons and understand new cultures.

5. "Travel on a shoestring budget"
   e.g., As a student, I often travel on a shoestring budget using hostels and public transport.

6. "A cultural eye-opener"
   e.g., Visiting India was a cultural eye-opener — the traditions and food were unlike anything I’d experienced.

7. "A well-deserved break"
   e.g., After months of exams, I took a well-deserved break to relax in the countryside.

8. "To immerse oneself in local culture"
   e.g., I always try to immerse myself in local culture by staying with local families and eating traditional food.

9. "To be bitten by the travel bug"
   e.g., I was bitten by the travel bug after my first solo trip to Europe.

10. "Jet lag and culture shock"
    e.g., Long-haul flights can cause jet lag, and arriving in a very different country may lead to culture shock.

✦ IELTS Speaking Practice Test – Holidays & Travel

✦ Sample Answers Using Key Phrases

Part 1 Sample Answers

1. Do you like travelling?
Yes, absolutely. I was bitten by the travel bug a few years ago, and since then, I’ve tried to visit a new place at least once a year.

2. What kind of holidays do you prefer?
I prefer holidays that are a bit off the beaten track. I enjoy exploring places that aren’t flooded with tourists, where I can get a real sense of the local culture.

3. Do you prefer to travel alone or with others?
It depends, but I often enjoy solo travel because it helps me broaden my horizons. However, travelling with friends can also be fun and more affordable.

4. What do you usually do on holidays?
I try to immerse myself in local culture, whether that’s through food, language, or customs. I also take time to relax and get away from it all.

5. Do you think it's important to take regular holidays?
Yes, definitely. A well-deserved break is essential for both mental and physical health, especially for people with stressful jobs.

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Part 2 Sample Answer

One of the most memorable holidays I’ve ever had was a trip to Iceland last year. I went there with my two best friends during the winter holidays.

We flew into Reykjavik and rented a car to explore the country. One of the highlights was seeing the Northern Lights — it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We also visited natural hot springs and hiked through snowy landscapes, which was completely new for me.

We tried to travel on a shoestring budget, staying in hostels and cooking our own meals, but that didn’t take away from the experience. What made the trip unforgettable was how much we learned about the Icelandic way of life. It was a real cultural eye-opener, especially the way people embrace nature and sustainability.

Overall, the holiday helped me relax, broaden my horizons, and make unforgettable memories with my friends. I’d love to go back one day, perhaps in summer to see the Midnight Sun!

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Here is a comprehension test based on the 10 holiday and travel-related phrases we discussed earlier. The test includes 10 questions, each based on one phrase, followed by the answer key.

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✦ Comprehension Test: Holidays & Travel Phrases

Instructions:

Read each sentence carefully. Then answer the question that follows it.

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1. "Visiting the Northern Lights was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Q1. What does "once-in-a-lifetime experience" suggest about the trip?

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2. "Many people choose beach holidays to get away from it all and unwind."
Q2. What is the main reason people take beach holidays in this sentence?

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3. "I prefer destinations that are off the beaten track, away from the typical tourist spots."
Q3. What kind of places does the speaker like to visit?

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4. "Travelling to different countries helps me broaden my horizons and understand new cultures."
Q4. What does "broaden my horizons" mean in this context?

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5. "As a student, I often travel on a shoestring budget using hostels and public transport."
Q5. What does "on a shoestring budget" imply about the speaker's travel style?

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6. "Visiting India was a cultural eye-opener — the traditions and food were unlike anything I’d experienced."
Q6. What does "cultural eye-opener" suggest about the speaker’s experience?

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7. "After months of exams, I took a well-deserved break to relax in the countryside."
Q7. Why does the speaker describe the break as "well-deserved"?

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8. "I always try to immerse myself in local culture by staying with local families and eating traditional food."
Q8. What does "immerse myself in local culture" mean?

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9. "I was bitten by the travel bug after my first solo trip to Europe."
Q9. What does "bitten by the travel bug" mean in this sentence?

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10. "Long-haul flights can cause jet lag, and arriving in a very different country may lead to culture shock."
Q10. What problems are described in this sentence?

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✦ Answer Key

A1. It was a unique and very special event that may not happen again.
A2. To relax and escape from daily stress.
A3. Quiet, less touristy locations.
A4. To expand knowledge and gain new perspectives.
A5. The speaker travels with very little money.
A6. It was surprising and taught the speaker something new about another culture.
A7. Because the speaker worked hard before the break and earned the rest.
A8. To deeply experience the local lifestyle and traditions.
A9. The speaker became very interested in or addicted to travelling.
A10. Tiredness from flying and confusion or difficulty adjusting to a new culture.