📖 Tom Sawyer – Chapter 5 (Adapted)

Title: A Distraction in Church

The next Sunday, Tom was again dressed in his stiff, uncomfortable “Sunday clothes” and marched off to church with Aunt Polly, Sid, and Mary. The summer sun was hot, and Tom already felt bored before the service even began.

Tom had no interest in the sermon. He shifted in his seat, looked around, and wished for something—anything—to happen.

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The Pinch-Bug

In his pocket, Tom carried a little wooden box. Inside was a shiny black-and-yellow bug called a pinch-bug, which could give a sharp bite with its jaws. He quietly opened the box and placed the bug on the floor between the pews.

At first, the bug just sat there. Tom watched it with interest. Then a small dog wandered into the church. It noticed the bug, sniffed it, and gave it a gentle push with its nose.

The bug responded with a bite! The dog jumped and barked, spinning in circles. People in the pews began to notice. The dog tried to bite the bug, then yelped and pawed at its mouth.

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Trouble in the Aisle

The congregation struggled to keep quiet, but soon there was laughter. The minister tried to keep speaking, but the dog was now rolling on the floor, whining and barking. Finally, it grabbed the bug in its mouth, ran down the aisle, and disappeared out the door.

Tom sat back in his seat, trying to look innocent. Aunt Polly gave him a sharp glance but said nothing.

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The rest of the service went smoothly, but for Tom, the pinch-bug had made it far more entertaining than the sermon.

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📘 Glossary

Word	Meaning
Sermon	A religious talk given in church
Pew	Long bench where people sit in church
Pinch-bug	An insect that can bite or pinch
Congregation	The group of people attending church
Aisle	Space for walking between seats
Innocent	Not guilty of doing something wrong

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. Who went to church with Tom that Sunday?

2. What was inside Tom’s wooden box?

3. What did the dog do when it found the bug?

4. How did the congregation react?

5. What made the service more interesting for Tom?

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✅ Answers

1. Aunt Polly, Sid, and Mary.

2. A pinch-bug.

3. Sniffed it, pushed it, got bitten, and rolled around barking.

4. They struggled to keep quiet but then laughed.

5. Watching the dog and the pinch-bug.

 

✦ IELTS Topic: Linking Words for Addition – 10 Useful Phrases

1. In addition
   e.g., In addition to good grades, you also need strong communication skills.

2. Furthermore
   e.g., Furthermore, the study revealed a connection between diet and memory.

3. Moreover
   e.g., Moreover, these measures will benefit the environment.

4. As well as
   e.g., She enjoys painting as well as photography.

5. Along with
   e.g., Along with the report, you must submit a presentation.

6. Also
   e.g., He is also applying for a scholarship.

7. Plus
   e.g., It’s affordable, plus it comes with a warranty.

8. Not only… but also
   e.g., The hotel was not only comfortable but also very affordable.

9. Coupled with
   e.g., Coupled with high interest rates, inflation is making life expensive.

10. What’s more
    e.g., The location is perfect, and what’s more, the rent is reasonable.

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✦ Why These Words Are Important in IELTS

In both IELTS Writing and Speaking, linking words help you:

• Make your ideas flow logically.

• Connect sentences smoothly.

• Add extra points without sounding repetitive.

• Show a range of vocabulary and coherence (important for your Coherence & Cohesion score).

Without linking words, your ideas may sound disconnected, and your score could drop.

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✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Linking Words for Addition

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

1. Do you like reading books? (Add another reason why)

2. Do you enjoy cooking? (Add more information)

3. What kind of music do you like? (Add another style)

4. Do you think technology makes life better? (Add a second benefit)

5. Do you like travelling? (Add an extra place you want to visit)

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Part 2: Cue Card

Describe something you enjoy doing in your free time.
You should say:

• what it is

• how often you do it

• why you enjoy it
  and add more information using at least three linking words for addition.

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✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I love reading novels. In addition, I read travel blogs to learn about new cultures.
2. Yes, I enjoy cooking, plus it helps me save money.
3. I listen to pop music, as well as jazz.
4. Yes, technology saves time. Moreover, it helps people connect easily.
5. Yes, I love travelling. What’s more, I’m planning to visit Italy next year.

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Part 2 Sample Answer

One thing I enjoy in my free time is photography. I usually go out on weekends to capture nature. In addition, I like experimenting with editing software to improve my pictures. Furthermore, I share my photos on social media, which allows me to connect with other photography enthusiasts. Along with taking pictures, I also enjoy writing short descriptions to tell a story about each photo. This hobby is relaxing, and what’s more, it helps me see the world from a different perspective.

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✦ Comprehension Test: Linking Words for Addition

1. "In addition to good grades, you also need strong communication skills."
Q: What else is needed besides good grades?

2. "Furthermore, the study revealed a connection between diet and memory."
Q: What did the study reveal?

3. "Moreover, these measures will benefit the environment."
Q: What is an extra advantage of the measures?

4. "She enjoys painting as well as photography."
Q: What two hobbies does she enjoy?

5. "Along with the report, you must submit a presentation."
Q: What must be submitted in addition to the report?

6. "He is also applying for a scholarship."
Q: What is he applying for besides something else he has done?

7. "It’s affordable, plus it comes with a warranty."
Q: What extra feature does it have?

8. "The hotel was not only comfortable but also very affordable."
Q: What two positive qualities did the hotel have?

9. "Coupled with high interest rates, inflation is making life expensive."
Q: What is making life expensive along with high interest rates?

10. "The location is perfect, and what’s more, the rent is reasonable."
Q: What extra advantage does the place have?

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✦ Answer Key

1. Strong communication skills.

2. A connection between diet and memory.

3. Environmental benefits.

4. Painting and photography.

5. A presentation.

6. A scholarship.

7. A warranty.

8. Comfort and affordability.

9. Inflation.

10. Reasonable rent.

 

📖 Tom Sawyer – Chapter 4 (Adapted)

Title: Sunday Trouble

Sunday morning came, and Aunt Polly was busy getting Tom ready for church. She brushed his hair, cleaned his face, and gave him his “Sunday clothes”—stiff and uncomfortable.

Sid was already dressed neatly, looking like the perfect boy. Tom felt hot and itchy in his clothes. He also had to take his Bible to church. Aunt Polly had promised a Bible as a prize to any child who could learn two thousand Bible verses. Tom had no interest in learning them, but he was very interested in the prize.

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The Ticket Game

In Sunday school, children earned coloured tickets for learning Bible verses—red for two verses, blue for five, yellow for ten. When they had enough tickets, they could trade them for a Bible.

Tom had discovered a clever way to get tickets—by trading. He swapped marbles, fishing hooks, and other treasures for tickets from other boys who didn’t care about prizes.

That morning, Tom proudly walked into Sunday school with a mountain of tickets—enough to get a Bible. The teacher, Mr. Walters, was surprised but pleased.

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The Important Visitor

Just then, an important visitor arrived—Judge Thatcher, the most respected man in town, along with his daughter. Tom’s heart jumped—it was the same girl in the blue dress from yesterday! Now he had to impress her.

When the time came to present the prize, Mr. Walters called Tom forward.

“For learning two thousand verses—Thomas Sawyer!”

Everyone was amazed. Aunt Polly smiled proudly.

The Judge shook Tom’s hand.

“You must love the Bible, my boy. Tell me—who were the first two disciples of Jesus?”

Tom froze. He had no idea. He searched his mind desperately.

“David… and Goliath?” he guessed.

The room went silent. A few boys laughed. Aunt Polly’s face turned red with embarrassment. Tom wished the ground would swallow him.

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That afternoon, Tom decided that impressing the girl was going to take more than Bible tickets.

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📘 Glossary

Word	Meaning
Stiff	Hard and not comfortable
Verses	Sentences from the Bible
Trade	To exchange something for something else
Prize	Something you win
Respected	Admired by many people
Embarrassment	Feeling ashamed or awkward

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. What did Aunt Polly give Tom to wear for Sunday?

2. How could children earn tickets in Sunday school?

3. How did Tom get enough tickets for a Bible?

4. Who was the important visitor at Sunday school?

5. What mistake did Tom make in front of everyone?

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✅ Answers

1. His uncomfortable “Sunday clothes.”

2. By learning Bible verses.

3. He traded toys and treasures for them.

4. Judge Thatcher and his daughter.

5. He guessed that the first two disciples were “David and Goliath.”