The Golden Windows by Laura E Richards (Pre-Intermediate)

Pre-Intermediate

story

Once upon a time, in a small village surrounded by vast fields and blue skies, there lived a young boy named Charlie. Charlie had a curious heart and a bright mind. Every evening, as the sun began to set, he would look out from the window of his modest wooden house towards a distant hill where, glittering like stars, were windows that shone with a golden light.

One evening, while watching the sunset paint the sky in shades of orange and pink, Charlie's father staring intently towards the hill. He asked, "What captures your gaze every evening, my dear?"

Charlie turned to his father and replied with wide eyes, "Oh, Father, look at those golden windows on the hill. Surely, they must belong to a great treasure house. How wonderful it must be to live there!"

Smiling gently, his father said, "Why don’t you go and find out? Maybe there’s a treasure waiting for you too."

Brimming with excitement, Charlie decided that he would embark on an adventure the very next morning. He packed a small bag with an apple, a piece of bread, and a bottle of water, and set off towards the hill.

As he walked, the sun climbed higher, and the journey grew long and tiring. By midday, Charlie reached the hill and hurried to the house with the golden windows. To his surprise, he found nothing but plain glass windows when he arrived. Disappointed, Charlie knocked on the door, and an young girl answered.

"Why, hello there! What brings you to my simple home?" the girl asked kindly.

Charlie, trying not to show his disappointment, replied, "Hello! I came to see the golden windows, but I suppose I was mistaken."

The girl showed Charlie around the hill and farm and shared some apples. As they sat, she explained, "Ah, you saw the reflection of the sunset on my windows. They turn gold only when the sun kisses them goodbye at dusk."

Charlie listened intently, and then it was time for him to head home. As he walked back, the sun began to set again. Looking back, he saw no golden windows at the house he had just left. However, when he looked towards his own home from afar, his eyes widened in wonder. The windows of his house were glowing, bathed in a golden light from the setting sun.

Rushing home, Charlie burst through the door, exclaiming, "Mother! You won't believe this! Our windows—they turn to gold!"

His mother smiled knowingly and hugged him. "Yes, my dear. Sometimes, the greatest treasures are not where we think they are, but right where we are."

Charlie learned something valuable that day. Happiness and beauty are not found in distant places or things; they are right in our homes, glowing from the love and warmth within.

And from that day on, Charlie never looked at sunsets or windows the same way again.

 

Words and Idioms

Study it with Flashcard

https://quizlet.com/kr/915941479/the-golden-windows-by-laura-e-richards-flash-cards/?i=3en6ue&x=1jqt

 

Curious (adj) - eager to know or learn something

Modest (adj) - not large, expensive, or impressive

Adventure (noun) - an unusual and exciting or daring experience

Journey (noun) - the act of traveling from one place to another

Disappointed (adj) - sad or displeased because someone or something has failed to fulfill one’s hopes or expectations

Surprise (noun) - an unexpected or astonishing event, fact, etc.

Reflect (verb) - (of a surface or body) throw back (heat, light, or sound) without absorbing it

Glow (verb) - give out steady light without flame

Embark (verb) - begin (a course of action)

Brimming (verb) - fill or be full to the point of overflowing

Kisses (verb) - touch lightly or gently

Widened (verb) - make or become wider

Bathed (verb) - immerse completely in a quality or condition

Burst through the door (phrase) - to enter suddenly and energetically

Turns to gold (idiom) - becomes beautiful or valuable, often in a surprising or magical way

Kisses them goodbye (idiom) - poetic way of describing the sun setting and no longer shining on something

 

Questions

1. What was Charlie's initial perception of the house with the golden windows?

 

A. It was a magical house.

B. It was a treasure house.

C. It was a poor old woman’s house.

D. It was an ordinary house from the start.

 

2. Why did Charlie decide to visit the house on the hill?

 

A. He was invited by the old lady.

B. He thought it contained great treasures.

C. He wanted to move there.

D. He was playing a game.

 

3. What did Charlie find out when he reached the house with the golden windows?

 

A. The windows were made of real gold.

B. The windows looked ordinary in daylight.

C. The house was abandoned.

D. The windows were stolen.

 

4. How did Charlie's perception change by the end of the story?

 

A. He felt more disappointed with his own home.

B. He realized the treasure was in his own home.

C. He wanted to sell his house.

D. He no longer cared about golden windows.

 

5. What do the 'golden windows' symbolize in the story?

 

A. The setting sun’s light.

B. Wealth and prosperity.

C. The beauty and value found in one’s own place.

D. A trick played by the old lady.

 

6. What theme is primarily conveyed through Charlie's journey and discovery?

 

A. Adventure and exploration are always rewarding.

B. True happiness and beauty are found in familiar surroundings.

C. Wealth is more important than happiness.

D. Traveling is essential for learning.

 

Short Writing Topics

1. Describe a moment in your life where something ordinary turned into something extraordinary, similar to how Charlie saw the golden windows.

 

 

 

 

2. Write about a time when you discovered that something you had longed for wasn’t as great as you expected, and how you dealt with that realization.

 

 

 

 

3. Discuss the importance of perspective in determining happiness, using Charlie’s experience as a reference point.

 

 

Answer Keys

1. B. It was a treasure house.

2. B. He thought it contained great treasures.

3. B. The windows looked ordinary in daylight.

4. B. He realized the treasure was in his own home.

5. C. The beauty and value found in one’s own place.

6. B. True happiness and beauty are found in familiar surroundings

Sample Writing Answers

1. Ordinary to Extraordinary Moment:
One winter evening, my family decided to decorate our old tree in the backyard with leftover Christmas lights. Initially, it seemed like a simple, mundane activity to pass time. However, as the sun set and we switched on the lights, the tree transformed. It wasn't just a tree anymore; it became a radiant beacon in the dark, cold night. This ordinary tree, which I barely noticed daily, turned into a magical spot that brought warmth and light to our family gatherings. It reminded me that with a little creativity, even the most common things in our surroundings can become sources of joy and beauty.

 

2. Dealing with Disappointment:
I longed for a smartphone for my birthday, imagining all the games and apps I could enjoy. When I finally received it, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment as I realized the phone was an older model that could not run most modern apps. At first, I felt let down and unhappy. Over time, I learned to appreciate the phone's basic functions, which perfectly suited my actual needs for calling, texting, and taking pictures. This experience taught me that sometimes, what we think we want isn't necessarily what we need, and learning to appreciate what we have can lead to unexpected satisfaction.

 

3. Importance of Perspective in Happiness:
Charlie’s experience in "The Golden Windows" beautifully illustrates how our perspective can dramatically influence our happiness. Initially, Charlie believed that the distant, golden-lit windows represented a better life somewhere else. It was only upon returning home that he recognized the same golden light in his own windows, shifting his perspective to see the beauty and value that was always there. This story mirrors how we often overlook the good in our own lives, chasing distant dreams. By changing our viewpoint, we can find profound happiness and contentment in familiar places and simple moments.

 

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