4000 Essential English Words 4 » Unit 24: The Traveler and the Innkeeper

Word List
  • cherish [ˈtʃeriʃ] v.
    To cherish something means to hold it as very important.
    → I cherish this trophy I won.
  • compassion [kəmˈpæʃən] n.
    Compassion is a feeling of understanding for someone who is hurt or suffering.
    → The veterinarian had compassion for the sick little puppy.
  • consent [kənˈsent] n.
    Consent is permission to do something.
    → Their mother gave the children consent to go outside and play.
  • core [kɔːr] n.
    The core is the center of something.
    → The rings of a tree start forming at its core.
  • cunning [ˈkʌniŋ] adj.
    If someone is cunning, they are good at tricking people.
    → The cunning child fooled his parents into thinking that he was kind.
  • dizzy [ˈdizi] adj.
    If someone is dizzy, then they feel off balance as if they will fall down.
    → The pregnant woman was dizzy after standing up too quickly.
  • equilibrium [iːkwəˈlibriəm] n.
    Equilibrium is the balance between different forces.
    → The sudden drop in prices upset the equilibrium of the economy.
  • foster [ˈfɔ(:)stər] v.
    To foster a feeling or a skill means to help it develop.
    → She helped foster a sense of calm in the little boy.
  • grind [graind] v.
    To grind something means to break it into very small pieces or powder.
    → She wanted to grind the beans, so she could brew some coffee.
  • growl [graul] v.
    To growl means to make a deep, angry sound.
    →  The dog started to growl at the man walking by.
  • moderation [ˌmɒdəˈreɪʃən] n.
    Moderation is a state of being just enough but not too much.
    → It is important to eat in moderation so that you can have a healthy body.
  • predator [ˈpredətər] n.
    A predator is an animal that kills and eats other animals.
    → The peregrine falcon is a predator that eats fish.
  • sane [sein] adj.
    If someone is sane, they can think in a normal way.
    → Oliver does not act like a sane person when he is angry.
  • saucer [ˈsɔːsər] n.
    A saucer is a small round dish that you set a cup on.
    → He placed the spoon on the saucer.
  • snatch [snætʃ] v.
    To snatch something means to take it away with a quick motion.
    → He was so hungry that he snatched an apple from a tree.
  • stagger [ˈstægər] v.
    To stagger means to move in an unsteady way and almost fall over.
    → He staggered around after having too much to drink.
  • stumble [ˈstʌmbəl] v.
    To stumble means to put your foot down wrong so that you almost fall.
    → He stumbled as he ran through the puddle.
  • tense [tens] adj.
    If someone is tense, they are worried something bad might happen.
    → After the phone call, Monica was very tense.
  • tumble [ˈtʌmbəl] v.
    To tumble means to fall, often in a rolling way.
    → He lost his balance while snowboarding and tumbled to the ground.
  • withhold [wiθˈhould] v.
    To withhold something is to not give it to someone.
    → They withheld all information until she paid her fine.
Exercise 1

Part A: Choose the answer that best fits the question.

  1. Which of the following means to make a noise?
    • a. Grasp
    • b. Plush
    • c. Growl
    • d. Stagger
  2. Which of the following eats other animals?
    • a. Core
    • b. Predator
    • c. Cunning
    • d. Saucer
  3. What is a balance between two things?
    • a. Equilibrium
    • b. Foster
    • c. Compassion
    • d. Sane
  4. Which of the following means not too much?
    • a. Dizzy
    • b. Withhold
    • c. Tense
    • d. Moderation
  5. What word means the same as agreement?
    • a. Cherish
    • b. Stumble
    • c. Snatch
    • d. Consent

Part B: Choose the right definition for the given word.

  1. withhold
    • a. to think normally
    • b. to be together
    • c. to not give
    • d. to express happiness
  2. snatch
    • a. to leave
    • b. to throw
    • c. to give
    • d. to take
  3. cherish
    • a. to break into pieces
    • b. to love something important
    • c. to agree with
    • d. to give something away
  4. stagger
    • a. to turn off
    • b. to run into someone
    • c. to take something away
    • d. to trip and almost fall
  5. saucer
    • a. a small dish
    • b. to stop being angry
    • c. helping someone
    • d. to go against
Exercise 2

Choose the word that is the better fit for each blank.

  1. cherish / moderation
    • I ____________going to the movies, but in ____________because it can be expensive.
  2. growl / predator
    • The lion began to ____________, and the deer knew there was a ____________ to be afraid of.
  3. compassion / sane
    • The man was ____________, so he felt ____________ for the starving child in need.
  4. saucer / snatch
    • The boy moved to ____________ the cup from his sister and knocked over the ____________ .
  5. core / foster
    • Deep in the ____________ of the tree, there are minerals that ____________ new growth.
  6. cunning / grind
    • The ____________ criminal started to ____________ up the gemstone so no one would know it was the same stone.
  7. dizzy / tumbled
    • After he ____________ down the hill, he felt ____________ .
  8. consent / withhold
    • The woman decided to ____________ her permission and did not give ____________ to her daughter’s request.
  9. stumble / tense
    • The man felt ____________ after his horse started to ____________ because he thought that the horse might fall.
  10. equilibrium / stagger
    • I felt like I had no ____________ . As a result, I started to ____________ as I walked.
Answer Key
Exercise 1
Part A
  1. c
  2. b
  3. a
  4. d
  5. d
Part B
  1. c
  2. d
  3. b
  4. d
  5. a
Exercise 2
  1. cherish / moderation
  2. growl / predator
  3. sane / compassion
  4. snatch / saucer
  5. core / foster
  6. cunning / grind
  7. tumbled / dizzy
  8. withhold / consent
  9. tense / stumble
  10. equilibrium / stagger
Answer Key
The Traveler and the Innkeeper

A traveler stopped at an inn. He sat and watched people closely, like a predator. He heard the old innkeeper talking to a young man in the core of the inn.

“I just need to borrow some money. I swear that I’ll spend it in moderation, and my friend will pay you back tomorrow,” the man said. The innkeeper gave his consent and pulled out some money.

The traveler knew that this was a trick. The man was going to leave with the poor innkeeper’s money and never return. He felt compassion for the nice innkeeper and did not want him to be tricked. The cunning traveler decided to teach the innkeeper a lesson.

The traveler walked over to the innkeeper and sat down. The innkeeper had started to grind coffee beans to make coffee. He made the coffee and handed the traveler a saucer and a cup. The two started talking. After a while the traveler yawned and then growled like a wolf.

“Are you not sane? I thought I just heard you growl,” said the innkeeper.

“I did. I am cursed. Every time I yawn three times in a row, I turn into a wolf and attack people.”

The innkeeper became tense. Then the traveler yawned again. As the traveler started to yawn a third time, the innkeeper turned to run outside. As he ran, the traveler snatched his coat. The scared innkeeper staggered outside and tumbled into the street.

The traveler followed him out because he did not want to withhold the truth any longer. He just wanted to foster happiness and restore the innkeeper’s emotional equilibrium. The innkeeper was dizzy, and he stumbled. The traveler helped him stand up.

“That was a trick,” the traveler said as he returned the coat.

“Oh, good. I cherish this coat,” responded the innkeeper.

“Well, hopefully this will teach you that you shouldn’t believe every story that you hear.”

Reading Comprehension

Part A: Mark each statement T for true or F for false. Rewrite the false statements to make them true.

  1. _____ The thief promised to spend money in moderation.
    • _____________________________________________________
  2. _____ The traveler staggered outside.
    • _____________________________________________________
  3. _____ The innkeeper became tense after the traveler told him why he growled.
    • _____________________________________________________
  4. _____ The traveler felt compassion for the innkeeper.
    • _____________________________________________________
  5. _____ The traveler wanted to withhold the truth and foster anger.
    • _____________________________________________________
  6. _____ The innkeeper said that he cherished his coat.
    • _____________________________________________________

Part B: Answer the questions.

  1. What did the traveler want to foster inside the innkeeper?
    • a. health
    • b. strength
    • c. despair
    • d. happiness
  2. The traveler snatched the coat ______.
    • a. to make the innkeeper sane
    • b. to teach the innkeeper a lesson
    • c. to be a predator
    • d. to sell it and make money
  3. Why did the innkeeper consent to give the young man money?
    • a. The young man was scary.
    • b. The young man was cunning.
    • c. The young man was dizzy.
    • d. The young man’s friend would repay him.
  4. Why did the innkeeper hand the traveler a saucer and a cup?
    • a. So he could drink coffee
    • b. So he could restore equilibrium
    • c. So he could grind coffee beans
    • d. So he could steal his coat
Answer Key
Answer Key
Reading Comprehension
Part A
  1. T
  2. F / The innkeeper staggered outside.
  3. T
  4. T
  5. F / He did not want to withhold the truth any longer. He just wanted to foster happiness.
  6. T
Part B
  1. d
  2. b
  3. d
  4. a
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