Listen in English - The Monkey's Paw

Directions

WATCH/READ the video.
ANSWER the questions.
CHECK your answers. (Show Answers)
REVIEW the vocabulary.

Questions

Who earns money in the White family?
the mother
the father
the son
Who is playing chess?
the mother and son
the father and son
the mother and father
Who won the game?
Mr. White
Mrs. White
Herbert
Who is Sergeant-Major Morris?
a family friend
the house owner
Herbert's coworker
What does he tell stories about?
war
traveling
work
What is special about the monkey's paw?
It grants wishes.
It smells bad.
It was very expensive.
How many people have already used the paw?
none
two
more than ten
Why does the sergeant-major throw the paw into the fire?
He is cold.
The paw has caused him many problems.
The paw is alive.
Who pulls the paw out of the fire?
Herbert
Mr. White
the sergeant-major
Who suggests wishing for money?
Herbert
Mr. White
Mrs. White
How much money does Mr. White wish for?
200 pounds
200 dollars
200 euros
What happens when Mr. White makes the wish?
Money appears in his hand.
The paw moves in his hand.
A snake jumps into his hand.
Who comes to visit them the next day?
a man from Herbert's factory
the sergeant major
Herbert
Why does he come to the door?
To take the monkey's paw
To tell them about Herbert's death.
To give them money.
How much money does the man give the White family?
200 pounds
200 dollars
200 euros
What does Mrs. White want Mr. White to wish for (the second time)?
For a better house
For more money
For Herbert to be alive
Why does Mr. White not want to make the wish?
He thinks it is unnatural.
He doesn't think it will work.
He knows that Herbert's body has been badly damaged.
After Mr. White makes the wish, what do they hear?
singing
the wind
the clock
a mouse
Why does Mrs. White think Herbert has come home?
She hears a knock on the door.
She hears Herbert's voice.
She sees Herbert through the window.
Why does she think that they had to wait for his return?
Because it is so cold outside.
Because he had to walk from the graveyard.
Because he is badly injured.
What is Mr. White's last wish?
For the knocking to stop.
For his son to be dead.
For more money.

Vocabulary

Directions: Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the underlined word.

Mr. White complains about the terrible weather.
(talks negatively about)
He takes a small mummified paw out of his pocket.
(preserved)
He takes a small mummified paw out of his pocket.
(animal hand)
Mr. White takes hold of the paw.
(grabs)
Herbert was caught in the machinery.
(fell into a machine and died )
He tells them that the company will not take responsibility for the death.
(accept the blame)
Mr. White faints.
(falls asleep from shock)
The next day, the Whites bury Herbert.
(put in the ground)
They can only identify his body by looking at his clothes.
(recognize)
The candle goes out.
( stops burning)
He had to walk from the graveyard to their house.
(a place for dead bodies)

Script

On a dark and stormy night, the three members of the White family relax inside their small house. Herbert is twenty five years old and works at a factory. His parents are too old to work. Herbert White and his father are playing a game of chess while Mrs. White reads a book near the fire. After his son wins, Mr. White complains about the terrible weather.

A family friend, Sergeant-Major Morris, arrives for a visit. While drinking whisky, he tells stories of his trips around the world. Then he takes a small, mummified paw out of his pocket. He explains that the paw is magic. He says that three men can make wishes with the paw three times each. The sergeant-major has already made his three wishes, which caused him many problems. Another man also made three wishes. His last wish was for death. Then the sergeant-major throws the paw into the fire. Mr. White quickly pulls it out of the fire. The sergeant-major warns him not to use the paw, but Mr. White will not listen. Eventually the sergeant-major explains how to make a wish on the paw. Soon after, he leaves for his own home.

The White family discusses what to wish for. Herbert says that they could pay for their house if they had two hundred pounds. Mr. White takes hold of the paw and wishes aloud for two hundred pounds. He suddenly cries out and says that the paw moved like a snake in his hand. Soon after, they all go to bed.

The next morning is a sunny winter day. They make jokes about the monkey’s paw. Then Herbert goes to work. Later that day, a stranger outside dressed in nice clothes knocks on the door. He nervously says that he is a representative of the factory where Herbert works. Mrs. White asks whether Herbert is all right. The representative says that Herbert is dead. He explains that Herbert was “caught in the machinery.” He tells them that the company will not take any responsibility for the death but will give the White Family two hundred pounds. Mrs. White screams, and Mr. White faints.

The next day, the Whites bury Herbert. A week after the burial, Mr. White wakes up and hears his wife crying. She tells him to go downstairs and wish Herbert back to life with the monkey’s paw. Mr. White resists. He tells her that Herbert’s body was so damaged by the accident that they could only identify his body by looking at his clothes. Mrs. White doesn’t listen, however, and continues to insist on wishing Herbert back to life with the monkey’s paw.

Mr. White gets the paw and makes the wish. As they wait, the candle goes out. They hear the clock. They hear the wind. They hear a mouse run across the floor. At last Mr. White goes downstairs. He tries to light a candle, but he can’t light a match. Then he hears a knock at the door. Mr. White runs upstairs and holds his wife. Mrs. White hears another knock and says it’s Herbert. She realizes he hadn’t returned right after the wish because he had to walk from the graveyard to their house. Mr. White begs her not to open the door, but she breaks free and runs downstairs. The knocking continues. As she tries to unlock the door, Mr. White searches for the paw. As Mrs. White unlocks the door, Mr. White finds the paw and makes one more wish. The knocking stops, and Mrs. White begins to cry. Mr. White runs downstairs and looks out through the door. He sees only the empty street.