🧛‍♂️ Dracula – Chapter 10 (Adapted)

Title: A New Target

Now that Lucy had been laid to rest, Van Helsing and his friends knew that Count Dracula was still alive—and dangerous. He had already taken one victim, and they feared he would take more.

Van Helsing spoke to Jonathan and Mina.

“We must be brave. Dracula is in London. He hides by day and walks by night. We must find him and stop him.”

Jonathan remembered the castle in Transylvania. His face went pale as he said:

“I know him. I was his prisoner. I saw him crawl down the castle wall like a lizard.”

Mina hugged him. She was proud of how strong he had become. But Van Helsing noticed something else—Mina looked tired. Her skin was pale, and her eyes had dark circles beneath them.

He looked at Jonathan.

“Has Mina been sleeping well?”
“Not really,” he replied. “She wakes up with bad dreams.”

Van Helsing began to worry. Lucy had also started with strange dreams before she became ill. He asked Mina to write everything in her journal—her dreams, thoughts, and feelings. Mina agreed.

Meanwhile, Van Helsing and the others searched London for Dracula. They visited graveyards, dark alleys, and even the docks, looking for signs of him.

Then, something terrible happened.

One night, Mina was alone in her room. A mist entered through the window. She couldn’t move or speak. She saw a tall, pale figure in black leaning over her. It was Dracula.

Mina later wrote:

“I felt cold, as if my blood was turning to ice. He pressed his lips to my neck. I could not stop him. I could not scream.”

Jonathan, sleeping in the next room, did not hear anything. When he found Mina the next morning, she was weak and pale.

Van Helsing arrived and examined her. He found two small wounds on her neck—the same as Lucy had.

“He has started with her,” Van Helsing said sadly. “We must act quickly.”

They gave Mina garlic and hung a crucifix above her bed. Van Helsing also placed mirrors and sacred objects around the room to protect her.

Then they planned their next move.

Van Helsing believed that Dracula had brought boxes of earth from Transylvania—boxes filled with his native soil. These were his hiding places during the day.

“If we find and destroy his boxes, he will have no place to rest. Then we can destroy him,” he said.

The group split up. Jonathan and Dr. Seward searched the docks. Arthur and Quincey Morris went to investigate old houses Dracula might be using.

Mina stayed behind, growing weaker each night. But she still helped, typing notes and keeping their records in order.

Van Helsing looked at her with admiration.

“You are brave, Miss Mina. Stronger than many men.”

But he knew they were running out of time.

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📘 Glossary

Word	Meaning
Laid to rest	Buried after death
Brave	Showing courage
Pale	Having little color in the face
Mist	Light fog or steam
Sacred	Related to religion or protection
Crucifix	A Christian cross with Jesus on it
Soil	Earth or dirt
Admiration	Respect and approval

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. Why did Van Helsing believe Dracula was still in London?

2. What symptoms did Mina begin to show?

3. What happened to Mina one night while she was alone?

4. How did Van Helsing try to protect Mina afterward?

5. What did Van Helsing say about the boxes of soil?

6. How did Mina continue to help the group?

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✅ Answers

1. Because strange things were happening and people were still in danger.

2. She became pale, weak, and had strange dreams.

3. Dracula visited her, drank her blood, and she couldn’t move or scream.

4. He used garlic, a crucifix, mirrors, and sacred objects.

5. Dracula used them as places to hide during the day; destroying them would leave him vulnerable.

6. She typed notes, organized journals, and stayed involved despite being weak.

 

✦ IELTS Topic: Art – 10 Useful Phrases

1. Work of art
   e.g., That sculpture is a real work of art — so detailed and expressive.

2. Art gallery
   e.g., I visited an art gallery last weekend and saw an exhibition of local artists.

3. Portrait painting
   e.g., She commissioned a portrait painting for her parents’ anniversary.

4. Modern art
   e.g., Some people find modern art confusing, but I think it’s creative.

5. Artistic expression
   e.g., Graffiti can be a form of artistic expression when done well.

6. Famous masterpiece
   e.g., The Mona Lisa is probably the most famous masterpiece in the world.

7. Sculpture exhibit
   e.g., The museum is holding a sculpture exhibit next month.

8. Creative process
   e.g., I’m interested in learning about the artist’s creative process.

9. Abstract style
   e.g., Her paintings use an abstract style with bright, bold colours.

10. Cultural value
    e.g., Art has great cultural value and reflects the society it comes from.

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✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Art

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

1. Do you like art?

2. Have you ever visited an art gallery?

3. What type of art do you enjoy?

4. Did you learn about art at school?

5. Would you like to learn to paint or draw?

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Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a piece of art you like.
You should say:

• what it is

• where you saw it

• what it looks like
  and explain why you like it.

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✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I enjoy looking at different works of art, especially paintings.
2. I went to an art gallery last month — they had a brilliant sculpture exhibit.
3. I really enjoy modern art and paintings with an abstract style.
4. Yes, we studied famous masterpieces in school.
5. I would love to take a class to explore my own artistic expression.

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Part 2 Sample Answer

One of my favourite pieces of art is a portrait painting I saw in a small gallery in Italy. It was painted in an abstract style, but you could still recognise the emotion in the face.

I learned more about the artist’s creative process from a guide at the art gallery. It made me realise how much thought goes into every brushstroke.

The painting had both emotional impact and cultural value, and it’s a work of art I’ll never forget.

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✦ Comprehension Test: Art Vocabulary

1. "That sculpture is a real work of art — so detailed and expressive."
Q: What does the speaker think about the sculpture?

2. "I visited an art gallery last weekend and saw an exhibition of local artists."
Q: Where did the speaker go?

3. "She commissioned a portrait painting for her parents’ anniversary."
Q: What kind of artwork did she request?

4. "Some people find modern art confusing, but I think it’s creative."
Q: What is the speaker's opinion of modern art?

5. "Graffiti can be a form of artistic expression when done well."
Q: What can graffiti be considered?

6. "The Mona Lisa is probably the most famous masterpiece in the world."
Q: What does the speaker say about the Mona Lisa?

7. "The museum is holding a sculpture exhibit next month."
Q: What event is happening?

8. "I’m interested in learning about the artist’s creative process."
Q: What aspect of the artist’s work interests the speaker?

9. "Her paintings use an abstract style with bright, bold colours."
Q: How are her paintings described?

10. "Art has great cultural value and reflects the society it comes from."
Q: What role does art play in culture?

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✦ Answer Key

1. It’s impressive and well-made.

2. An art gallery.

3. A personalised painting of someone.

4. It’s creative, even if confusing.

5. A way to express creativity.

6. It’s extremely well-known.

7. A sculpture exhibit is planned.

8. How they come up with and make their work.

9. They’re abstract and colourful.

10. It shows what a society values or feels.

 

🧛‍♂️ 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.