🧛‍♂️ Dracula – Chapter 9 (Adapted)

Title: Lucy’s Burial

After Lucy’s strange and sudden death, everyone was in shock. Arthur, heartbroken, arranged the funeral. Mina returned to help support him and Lucy’s family. Van Helsing, though quiet, remained deeply concerned.

“She is gone,” said Arthur sadly.
“No,” Van Helsing whispered to himself. “Not yet.”

Van Helsing insisted that Lucy be buried with garlic and a crucifix, but during the funeral, these were removed without his knowledge. He was furious, but said nothing—only that he would visit her grave later.

That night, children began disappearing from their homes near the cemetery. Some returned, frightened and confused, with small wounds on their necks. Locals called it “The Bloofer Lady” who walked at night.

Van Helsing immediately connected this with Lucy.

He went to Dr. Seward and said:

“We must go to Lucy’s tomb and see if she is truly dead.”

Dr. Seward was shocked, but agreed. That night, they went together to the cemetery. They found Lucy’s tomb open—and her coffin empty.

“Do you understand now?” Van Helsing said. “Lucy is undead.”

Dr. Seward was horrified.

“But how can this be?”

“She is now a vampire,” Van Helsing said. “And she feeds on children.”

They waited outside the tomb. Near midnight, a white figure appeared—Lucy, beautiful and pale, with sharp teeth. In her arms, she held a child.

Dr. Seward gasped.

“It’s true…”

Lucy saw them and hissed. Van Helsing held out a crucifix. She dropped the child and ran into the darkness.

They brought the child to safety, then went back to the tomb. Van Helsing said they must end Lucy’s suffering.

“It is the only way to free her soul,” he said.

The next night, Arthur joined them. When Van Helsing explained the truth, Arthur was filled with sorrow—but also courage.

He agreed to help.

Van Helsing opened the coffin, revealing Lucy sleeping inside, her face strangely peaceful. Arthur drove a wooden stake through her heart while Van Helsing prayed.

Lucy’s body changed. Her face looked calm and pure again—just like before.

“Now she is at peace,” said Van Helsing.

But the work was not over.

“The vampire who turned Lucy still lives,” Van Helsing said. “We must find and destroy him.”

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📘 Glossary

Word	Meaning
Funeral	A ceremony after someone dies
Burial	Placing a body in the ground or tomb
Tomb	A stone place where the dead are buried
Undead	Neither fully alive nor dead; often used for vampires
Horrified	Extremely shocked or scared
Stake	A sharp wooden stick used to kill vampires
Sorrow	Deep sadness
Crucifix	A Christian cross with Jesus on it

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. Why did Van Helsing want to put garlic and a crucifix in Lucy’s tomb?

2. What strange things began happening near the cemetery?

3. What did Van Helsing and Dr. Seward discover when they visited Lucy’s tomb?

4. What did Lucy look like when she appeared at night?

5. What did Arthur do to help Lucy’s soul rest?

6. What was Van Helsing’s next goal?

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✅ Answers

1. To protect Lucy’s body from becoming a vampire.

2. Children went missing and returned with strange neck wounds.

3. Lucy’s coffin was empty—she was no longer dead.

4. She looked beautiful but pale, with sharp teeth and glowing eyes.

5. He drove a wooden stake through her heart.

6. To find and destroy the vampire who turned Lucy.

 

✦ IELTS Topic: Books & Literature – 10 Useful Phrases

1. Page-turner
   e.g., That mystery novel was a real page-turner — I couldn’t put it down.

2. Hard to follow
   e.g., The plot was a bit hard to follow with so many characters.

3. Well-developed characters
   e.g., I enjoy stories with well-developed characters that feel realistic.

4. A gripping story
   e.g., It was such a gripping story, full of suspense and emotion.

5. Classical literature
   e.g., I studied classical literature like Shakespeare and Homer in school.

6. Light reading
   e.g., On holiday, I prefer light reading like romance or travel books.

7. Non-fiction book
   e.g., I just finished a non-fiction book about climate change.

8. Borrow a book from the library
   e.g., I usually borrow books from the library instead of buying them.

9. Fictional world
   e.g., Fantasy novels let readers escape into a fictional world.

10. Literary prize
    e.g., That novel won a major literary prize last year.

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✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Books & Literature

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

1. Do you enjoy reading?

2. What kind of books do you like?

3. How often do you read?

4. Do you prefer paper books or e-books?

5. Have you ever read a book more than once?

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Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a book you have read recently.
You should say:

• what the book is

• what it is about

• when you read it
  and explain why you liked or disliked it.

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✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I read almost every day — mostly fiction.
2. I love novels with well-developed characters and a gripping story.
3. I try to read for at least 30 minutes a day.
4. I prefer real books, but e-books are great for light reading while travelling.
5. Yes, I’ve read a few page-turners multiple times.

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Part 2 Sample Answer

A few weeks ago, I read Educated by Tara Westover, which is a non-fiction book about her life growing up without formal education.

I borrowed it from the library and finished it in just a few days. It was a real page-turner — very emotional and powerful.

What made it interesting was how honest and personal it was. Although it wasn’t a fictional world, the story felt just as dramatic.

It even won a literary prize, which I think it truly deserved. I’d definitely recommend it.

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✦ Comprehension Test: Books & Literature

1. "That mystery novel was a real page-turner — I couldn’t put it down."
Q: What kind of book was it?

2. "The plot was a bit hard to follow with so many characters."
Q: What was difficult about the story?

3. "I enjoy stories with well-developed characters that feel realistic."
Q: What does the speaker value in a story?

4. "It was such a gripping story, full of suspense and emotion."
Q: How did the speaker feel about the story?

5. "I studied classical literature like Shakespeare and Homer in school."
Q: What type of books did they study?

6. "On holiday, I prefer light reading like romance or travel books."
Q: What kind of books does the speaker read on holiday?

7. "I just finished a non-fiction book about climate change."
Q: What kind of book was it?

8. "I usually borrow books from the library instead of buying them."
Q: Where does the speaker get books?

9. "Fantasy novels let readers escape into a fictional world."
Q: What do fantasy novels offer?

10. "That novel won a major literary prize last year."
Q: What recognition did the book receive?

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✦ Answer Key

1. Exciting and hard to stop reading.

2. It was confusing due to many characters.

3. Believable and strong characters.

4. It was very exciting and emotional.

5. Classic or historical literature.

6. Easy, enjoyable books.

7. A factual, real-life topic.

8. From the library.

9. An imaginary setting or escape.

10. A writing award.

 

🧛‍♂️ Dracula – Chapter 8 (Adapted)

Title: The Bite of the Night

Lucy’s condition grew worse every day. Though Van Helsing tried everything to save her—garlic, medicines, even more blood transfusions—nothing worked for long. At night, she would become pale, weak, and breathless again.

Mina stayed by her side, but soon she had to leave. Jonathan had returned with her from Budapest, and they were now staying in London. She promised to write often.

Van Helsing stayed behind, watching Lucy carefully. He believed she was under the influence of something unnatural—something evil. He did not speak of vampires yet, but his fear showed in his face.

One night, Lucy’s mother was watching over her when she opened the window to let in fresh air. The room suddenly filled with a cold wind. A great bat flew in and circled above Lucy’s bed. Mrs. Westenra screamed and fainted.

When Van Helsing arrived the next morning, Lucy was barely alive. He shouted for help and gave her another blood transfusion. He then placed a wreath of garlic around her neck and closed all the windows.

But Lucy’s health continued to weaken. Van Helsing begged Arthur to come again. Arthur was heartbroken to see the woman he loved so pale and still. But he gave more blood, without hesitation.

Van Helsing began to suspect that the thing attacking Lucy came at night and drank her blood. Each morning, she looked weaker, and the red marks on her neck were deeper.

Then, something terrible happened.

During another night, a wolf escaped from the local zoo. It broke into Lucy’s house, smashing the window and frightening everyone. When the servants rushed to help, they found Lucy unconscious, her mother lying dead on the floor.

The shock had caused Mrs. Westenra to have a heart attack. Lucy, once again, had lost a lot of blood. Her body was cold and still, and Van Helsing feared she would die.

He stayed with her all night. For a moment, Lucy opened her eyes and smiled sweetly at him. Her voice was soft.

“I am so glad you are here,” she whispered.

But then her breathing stopped. Van Helsing held her hand and prayed. She seemed dead.

Suddenly, Lucy opened her eyes again. But something was different—her face was no longer sweet. Her teeth looked sharper. She laughed strangely.

Then she closed her eyes and was still again.

Van Helsing was shocked. He placed a crucifix (a cross) in her mouth and called the others.

“She is not gone,” he said. “Not completely.”

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📘 Glossary

Word	Meaning
Breathless	Having difficulty breathing
Influence	Power or control over someone
Transfusion	Giving blood from one person to another
Fainted	Lost consciousness for a short time
Unconscious	Not awake or aware
Wreath	A ring of flowers or leaves
Suspect	To think something is true without proof
Crucifix	A Christian cross with Jesus on it

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. Why did Van Helsing stay behind when Mina left?

2. What happened when Lucy’s mother opened the window?

3. What was Van Helsing’s theory about what was happening to Lucy?

4. What happened the night the wolf broke in?

5. How did Lucy act before she finally “died”?

6. Why did Van Helsing put a crucifix in Lucy’s mouth?

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✅ Answers

1. To protect and care for Lucy, who was getting worse.

2. A bat flew into the room, and her mother fainted.

3. He believed something was attacking her at night and drinking her blood.

4. The wolf scared the family, Mrs. Westenra died, and Lucy lost more blood.

5. She smiled sweetly, then changed—her teeth looked sharp and her laugh was strange.

6. Because he believed she was becoming something evil and needed protection.