ROPHINE FIELD

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Commitment to Excellence

MID TERM HOLIDAY ASSIGNMENT

It was a cold, foggy evening when Clara stepped cautiously into the abandoned manor. The
creaking floorboards echoed like whispers of forgotten secrets. (Her heart pounded—anxious yet
excited.) A chill ran down her spine as the wind howled through shattered windows, scattering
loose papers across the dusty floor.

In the dim light, a shadowy figure flickered at the corner of her eye. She froze, gripping the small
lantern that barely pierced the gloom. A golden key glinted faintly atop the fireplace mantel, but
as she reached for it, it vanished, leaving only the faint smell of aged wood and candle wax
lingering in the air.

“What trickery is this?” Clara murmured, her breath visible in the icy air. Every step she took
seemed to stir invisible eyes, watching, waiting. The walls whispered stories of the past, their
voices soft yet urgent, guiding her deeper into the manor’s secrets.

She knelt by a cracked mirror, noticing her reflection fracture into fragments of shadow and
light, as if the house itself toyed with her senses. An old diary lay open nearby, its pages
smelling faintly of mothballs and time. A note scribbled hastily read: “The key is not what it
seems.” Clara’s mind raced, every possibility spinning like a storm inside her thoughts. Could
she trust what she saw, or was the manor a maze of illusions meant to confuse the daring?
Every corner of the room seemed alive, each tick of the broken clock syncing with her racing
pulse. Clara knew she had to solve the puzzle before the night swallowed the secrets completely.

Answer the following questions in the space provided.

Section A – Reading & Language (20 marks)

[Link] all instances of parentheses in the text. Explain how the information inside the
parentheses adds to the suspense or shows Clara’s feelings.

Her heart pounded, anxious yet excited.

This shows how Clara is feeling inside. It makes the story more suspenseful because we
can see that she is scared but also curious at the same time. It helps us understand her
emotions better and makes the moment more intense.
2. Find one example of an extended metaphor in the text. Explain in 2–3 sentences how this
metaphor develops the mood or theme of the story.

Could she trust what she saw , or was the manor a maze of illusions meant to confuse the
darling?

The manor is compared to a maze. This shows that the house is confusing and full of secrets. It
develops the mysterious mood because it makes the reader feel like Clara is trapped in something
complicated and hard to escape.

1. From the text, select five words that contain either a prefix or a suffix. For each word,
identify the prefix or suffix, explain the meaning, and use the word in a new sentence.

1. Forgotten-suffix -shows past participle form

He felt forgotten when no one wished him a happy birthday.

2. Visible-suffix-able to be seen
 The stars are so visible in the sky.

[Link]-suffix-something already happened

I was abandoned on the street.

[Link]-prefix-not seen

I felt invisible to my class.

[Link]-suffix-shows something happened.

The plate shattered on the floor.

2. Identify one example each of visual, aural, tactile, and olfactory imagery from the text.
For each, explain how the imagery contributes to the eerie or mysterious atmosphere.

Visual: “a golden key glinted faintly atop the fireplace mantel”

Aural : “the wind howled through shattered windows”

Tactile : “A chill ran down her spine”

Olfactory imagery: “the faint smell of aged wood and candle wax”

This adds realism and makes the setting feel old and eerie.

This makes us almost feel the cold fear she is experiencing.

This creates a creepy sound in our minds and makes the scene feel scary.
 This helps us picture the key shining in the dark, which makes it mysterious.

This helps us picture the key shining in the dark, which makes it mysterious.

5. Using the story as inspiration, write three sentences that include conditional clauses and
modal verbs. Ensure that your sentences make sense in the context of the mystery.
If Clara touched the mirror again she might discover another clue

If the key appeared once more she would try to grab it quickly.

If she stayed too in the manor, she could get trapped inside fore

Section B – Writing (20 marks)

6. Write a formal letter in blocked format to the author of the story. In your letter:
o Express your thoughts about the mystery and how it made you feel
o Suggest one way the story could be extended or improved
o Use the correct blocked format (your address, date, salutation, body, closing).

69 street

Italy
16 February, 2026

Dear Author,

I am writing to tell you how much I enjoyed reading The Vanishing Key. The story was very
interesting and full of suspense. It made me feel nervous and curious at the same time because I
really wanted to know what would happen next.
I liked how you described the manor and how the key suddenly disappeared. That part made the
story more mysterious and exciting. The details helped me imagine the setting clearly in my
mind.

One way you could improve the story is by continuing it and explaining what the key actually
unlocks. It would be exciting to find out if Clara solves the mystery or discovers something
unexpected.

Overall, I really enjoyed your story and I hope you continue writing more mysteries like this.

Yours sincerely,

Natalia kuriah