🧛‍♂️ 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.

 

✦ IELTS Topic: Travel by Bus & Coach – 10 Useful Phrases

1. Catch a bus
   e.g., I usually catch a bus to school every morning.

2. Miss the bus
   e.g., I missed the bus and had to wait 30 minutes for the next one.

3. Bus stop
   e.g., There’s a bus stop right outside my house.

4. Coach station
   e.g., We arrived at the coach station just before departure.

5. Long-distance coach
   e.g., I booked a seat on a long-distance coach to visit my family.

6. Overcrowded bus
   e.g., During rush hour, the buses are often overcrowded.

7. Bus fare
   e.g., The bus fare is cheaper if you buy a monthly pass.

8. Timetable delay
   e.g., The timetable said 3 p.m., but the coach was delayed by 20 minutes.

9. Comfortable seats
   e.g., The coach had surprisingly comfortable seats and free Wi-Fi.

10. Get off at the wrong stop
    e.g., I wasn’t paying attention and got off at the wrong stop.

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✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Travel by Bus & Coach

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

1. Do you often travel by bus or coach?

2. What do you like or dislike about buses?

3. Are coaches popular in your country?

4. When was the last time you took a coach trip?

5. Have you ever missed a bus?

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Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a time you travelled by bus or coach.
You should say:

• where you went

• what the journey was like

• who you were with
  and explain how you felt about the experience.

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✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I catch a bus to work almost every weekday.
2. I dislike overcrowded buses, but they’re convenient.
3. Yes, long-distance coaches are common and quite affordable.
4. Last month, I went to the coast on a coach — it had really comfortable seats!
5. I once missed the bus after a late class and had to walk home.

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Part 2 Sample Answer

A few months ago, I travelled by long-distance coach from my city to the countryside to visit a friend. I arrived at the coach station early and found my seat.

The journey was smooth, and the coach had comfortable seats and even Wi-Fi. I sat by the window and listened to music for most of the trip.

Unfortunately, there was a timetable delay, so we arrived about half an hour late. Still, it was a nice break from driving myself, and I’d definitely do it again.

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✦ Comprehension Test: Bus & Coach Travel

1. "I usually catch a bus to school every morning."
Q: What does the speaker do regularly?

2. "I missed the bus and had to wait 30 minutes for the next one."
Q: What happened to the speaker?

3. "There’s a bus stop right outside my house."
Q: What’s near the speaker’s home?

4. "We arrived at the coach station just before departure."
Q: Where did they arrive?

5. "I booked a seat on a long-distance coach to visit my family."
Q: What kind of transport did they choose?

6. "During rush hour, the buses are often overcrowded."
Q: What’s a problem at busy times?

7. "The bus fare is cheaper if you buy a monthly pass."
Q: How can someone save money?

8. "The timetable said 3 p.m., but the coach was delayed by 20 minutes."
Q: What was wrong with the timing?

9. "The coach had surprisingly comfortable seats and free Wi-Fi."
Q: What made the ride pleasant?

10. "I wasn’t paying attention and got off at the wrong stop."
Q: What mistake did the speaker make?

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✦ Answer Key

1. Takes a bus every day.

2. Missed the bus and had to wait.

3. A bus stop.

4. At the coach terminal.

5. A coach for a long trip.

6. Too many people on the bus.

7. Buying a pass.

8. The coach was late.

9. Seats and amenities.

10. Got off at the wrong place.

 

🧛 Dracula – Chapter 7 (Adapted, ~600 words)

Title: Lucy’s Strange Illness

Lucy was getting worse. Mina was very worried. Although Lucy didn’t remember her sleepwalking, she now looked pale and weak. She often held her hand to her throat, where the small red marks were still visible.

Mina wrote in her journal:

“Lucy’s health is failing. She walks and talks like she’s in a dream. Her mother thinks it’s the sea air, but I know something is wrong.”

One morning, Lucy could not get out of bed. Her skin was very cold, and her lips looked blue. Mina quickly sent a telegram to Arthur Holmwood, Lucy’s fiancé.

Arthur came at once. Shocked by Lucy’s condition, he called his friend, Dr. John Seward, who worked at a mental hospital nearby.

Dr. Seward examined Lucy but didn’t know what was wrong.

“She is losing blood,” he said. “But there is no bleeding. I need help.”

He sent a message to his old teacher, Professor Abraham Van Helsing, a wise man from Amsterdam who knew about rare and strange diseases.

Van Helsing arrived the next day. He was kind but serious. After looking at Lucy, he turned to the others.

“We must act fast. She needs a blood transfusion. Who will give their blood?”

Arthur stepped forward without hesitation. They gave Lucy a transfusion, and at once her face turned pink, and she began to breathe better.

Everyone felt relieved, but Van Helsing seemed worried. He gave Mina a piece of garlic and told her to put it around Lucy’s neck and in her room.

“Garlic?” Mina asked, surprised.

“Yes,” Van Helsing said. “It will protect her. Do not remove it.”

Mina promised to follow his instructions exactly.

The next day, Van Helsing returned to find the garlic gone—and Lucy weaker than before.

“What happened to the garlic?” he asked.

Lucy’s mother explained she had removed it because it smelled bad. Van Helsing did not scold her, but his face showed fear.

They tried another blood transfusion, this time using Dr. Seward’s blood. Lucy got better again.

But at night, her condition worsened. Each time she seemed to improve, she would suddenly grow weak again, always with new marks on her neck.

Van Helsing began to stay at the house every night. He said nothing of his theories, but Mina could tell he was afraid—afraid of something not natural.

She continued to write in her journal:

“Something evil is hurting Lucy. I feel it. I don’t know what it is—but it comes at night.”

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📘 Glossary

Word	Meaning
Pale	Having little color in the face
Telegram	A message sent quickly by wire (used before phones)
Fiancé	A man engaged to be married
Mental hospital	A hospital for people with mental illness
Blood transfusion	Giving blood from one person to another
Garlic	A plant used in cooking, also believed to protect from evil in legends
Protect	To keep safe from harm
Worsen(ed)	To get worse
Remove(d)	Taken away
Evil	Very bad or harmful; connected with dark or bad powers

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. What was happening to Lucy’s health?

2. Who did Mina call to help Lucy?

3. Why did Van Helsing use garlic?

4. What happened when Lucy’s mother removed the garlic?

5. How did Lucy keep getting better and then worse?

6. Why did Van Helsing stay overnight at the house?

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✅ Answers

1. Lucy was growing weak, pale, and cold, with red marks on her neck.

2. Mina first called Arthur, who brought Dr. Seward, who then called Professor Van Helsing.

3. Garlic was used to protect Lucy from harm (possibly supernatural).

4. Lucy became weaker again, and new marks appeared on her neck.

5. After a transfusion, she improved, but at night she grew worse with new symptoms.

6. Van Helsing believed something unnatural was attacking Lucy at night and wanted to protect her.