What’s in Today’s Episode?
In today’s episode, you will learn ten new words in the context of The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. The words are protruded, bedeck, enchanted, invariably, brawny, physique, disguise, amorous, ransack, and accomplished.
Audio Episode
The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow
In the peaceful valley of Sleepy Hollow lived a tall, thin schoolteacher named Ichabod Crane. His skinny arms protruded from tattered sleeves, and his tiny head was bedecked with two huge ears and a large, narrow nose. Some said Ichabod Crane actually looked like a crane. Yet Ichabod was a good teacher. He rarely whipped the children, and sometimes he even walked them home. This is how he met the lovely Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter of a farmer. She was not only pretty, she was rich. Ichabod was soon enchanted by her charms. Day and night, Ichabod’s mind invariably drifted to Katrina’s beauty and her father’s rich farm.
However, there was another man in the village who was also in love with Katrina. His name was Brom Van Brunt, but everyone called him Brom Bones. Unlike Ichabod, Brom was strong and muscular. The villagers often marveled over his brawny physique. Ichabod feared Brom Bones, so to disguise his amorous purposes, Ichabod pretended to give Katrina singing lessons.
Brom was not fooled, but whenever he challenged Ichabod to a fight, Ichabod refused. Brom, therefore, began playing tricks on Ichabod. He stopped up Ichabod’s chimney and ransacked his house, upsetting his furniture and leaving a mess. Then one day Ichabod got an invitation to a party at Katrina’s house. Brom Bones was also invited. Ichabod was an accomplished dancer and danced every dance with Katrina while Brom Bones stared at him with rage in his eyes. When the dancing ended, the men began telling ghost stories about a headless ghost who rode about the valley. Ichabod believed the stories, so as he nervously rode home that dark, lonely night, he jumped at the slightest sound and hid from every shadow. In the darkest part of the woods, he heard the sound of a horse and rider behind him. Shaking wildly, Ichabod finally peeked over his high collar. What he saw sent a shiver through his body. It was a headless horseman, carrying his head under his arm. Ichabod spurred his horse into a gallop, but it was too late. The headless rider lifted his head and threw it at Ichabod.
The next morning the schoolteacher was not at school. He had disappeared. In the woods the townspeople found only Ichabod’s hat and a broken pumpkin. Not long after this Brom Bones married Katrina. When asked about the pumpkin and what happened in the woods that night, Brom Bones would just laugh.
Word list
protrude
If something protrudes from somewhere, it sticks out.
stick out, start (from), point, project
His skinny arms protruded from tattered sleeves, and his tiny head was bedecked with two huge ears and a large, narrow nose.
bedeck
If flags or other ornaments bedeck a place, a lot of them have been hung up to decorate it.
decorate, grace, trim, array
His skinny arms protruded from tattered sleeves, and his tiny head was bedecked with two huge ears and a large, narrow nose.
enchanted
If you are enchanted by someone or something, they cause you to have feelings of great delight or pleasure.
fascinated, charmed, absorbed, entranced
Ichabod was soon enchanted by her charms. Day and night, Ichabod’s mind invariably drifted to Katrina’s beauty and h er father’s rich farm.
invariably
If something invariably happens or is invariably true, it always happens or is always true.
always, regularly, constantly, every time
Ichabod was soon enchanted by her charms. Day and night, Ichabod’s mind invariably drifted to Katrina’s beauty and h er father’s rich farm.
brawny
Someone who is brawny is strong and has big muscles.
muscular, strong, powerful, athletic
Unlike Ichabod, Brom was strong and muscular. The villagers often marveled over his brawny physique.
physique
Someone’s physique is the shape and size of their body.
build, form, body, figure
Unlike Ichabod, Brom was strong and muscular. The villagers often marveled over his brawny physique.
disguise
To disguise something means to hide it or make it appear different so that people will not know about it or will not recognize it.
hide, cover, conceal, screen
Ichabod feared Brom Bones, so to disguise his amorous purposes, Ichabod pretended to give Katrina singing lessons.
amorous
If you describe someone’s feelings or actions as amorous, you mean that they involve sexual desire.
loving, in love, tender, passionate
Ichabod feared Brom Bones, so to disguise his amorous purposes, Ichabod pretended to give Katrina singing lessons.
ransack
If people ransack a building, they damage things in it or make it very untidy, often because they are looking for something in a quick and careless way.
plunder, raid, loot, pillage
Brom, therefore, began playing tricks on Ichabod. He stopped up Ichabod’s chimney and ransacked his house, upsetting his furniture and leaving a mess.
accomplished
If someone is accomplished at something, they are very good at it.
skilled, able, professional, expert
Ichabod was an accomplished dancer and danced every dance with Katrina while Brom Bones stared at him with rage in his eyes.
Interactive Activities
Flashcards
Learn
Spelling Practice
Match
Test
More Practice (Downloadable Practice Worksheet-PDF)
Episode 581 Word Power | The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow by English Plus Podcast on Scribd
0 Comments