B1 · Intermediate · Unexpected Events · 185 words · ~2 min read

🗝️ The Antique Key

Language focus: Describing unexpected events · past narrative

The Backpack & The Antique Key

That night, in a cheap but surprisingly cosy hostel, the two friends carefully unwrapped the mysterious object. It was an antique brass key, beautifully engraved and clearly very old. “Where on earth did this come from?” Sam breathed. The whole situation had appeared completely out of the blue.

Leo searched the rucksack for any clue to its owner. He came across a small leather diary, a museum ticket, and a business card for an art gallery in the old town. “I know we probably shouldn’t pry,” he admitted, “but I’m afraid curiosity got the better of me.”

“We can’t just hold onto someone else’s things,” Sam said firmly. “We have to hand it back — and get mine in return.” The diary mentioned a favourite café near the cathedral, so they agreed to begin their search there first thing in the morning.

Leo turned the heavy key over and over in his hand. What on earth did it open, and why would anyone carry something so precious in an ordinary backpack? For the first time, their relaxing holiday had quietly turned into a genuine adventure.

Key vocabulary (6 words)

antiqueadjective
Old and valuable because of its age.
engravedadjective
Cut or carved with words or a design.
rucksacknoun
A bag carried on your back; a backpack.
diarynoun
A book in which you write what happens each day.
preciousadjective
Very valuable or important.
genuineadjective
Real and not false.

Phrasal verbs in this episode

  • come across — To come across something means to find it by chance.
  • hand back — To hand back means to return something to its owner.
  • hold onto — To hold onto something means to keep it and not give it away.

Comprehension quiz

  1. What is the mysterious object?

    • An antique brass key
    • A gold ring
    • A silver coin
    Show answer

    An antique brass key

  2. What does Leo find in the rucksack?

    • A diary and a gallery card
    • A phone
    • A football
    Show answer

    A diary and a gallery card

  3. “Out of the blue” means…

    • painted blue
    • suddenly and unexpectedly
    • very sad
    Show answer

    suddenly and unexpectedly

  4. What do the friends decide to do?

    • Hand the key back to its owner
    • Sell the key
    • Throw it away
    Show answer

    Hand the key back to its owner

  5. “Curiosity got the better of me” means…

    • I became bored
    • I was too curious to stop
    • I felt unwell
    Show answer

    I was too curious to stop

  6. “Hold onto” something means to…

    • keep it
    • drop it
    • sell it
    Show answer

    keep it

All 20 B1 episodes

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