In a small fishing village called Windy Cove, there was a spooky story everyone talked about: the Phantom Ship. This ghostly ship was said to sail the foggy seas at night, glowing in the dark. Fishermen reported hearing strange laughter from the ship, adding to the mystery and making it both thrilling and a bit scary. On nights with a full moon, kids would gather by the dock, whispering about the ship’s captain, Captain McGuffin, who loved to play tricks on anyone who crossed his path.

One stormy night, three brave friends—Tommy, Bella, and Max—decided to uncover the truth about the Phantom Ship. They brought along a telescope, a big flashlight, and a pie that Bella had baked. “If we find the Phantom Ship,” Bella said confidently, “we can make peace with Captain McGuffin by giving him this delicious pie!” Filled with excitement, they set off into the mist, not knowing that this would be the wildest adventure of their lives.

When they got to the edge of the dock, a thick fog surrounded them. “Do you see that light?” Tommy whispered, pointing to a flickering glow in the distance. The friends squinted and saw a ship with tattered sails coming closer, looking like flapping laundry. Then, a ghostly figure appeared, waving his arms. It was Captain McGuffin! But instead of being scary, he looked like a confused old man who had lost his hat in the wind.

“Ahoy there, kids!” the captain shouted over the crashing waves. “You thought I was a scary ghost? I’m just looking for my sock! It keeps disappearing!” The friends started laughing, realizing the legendary ghost was just a funny sailor who lost his laundry. They offered him Bella’s pie as a peace offering. Captain McGuffin’s eyes lit up, and he said, “Pie? That’s the real treasure!”

Sitting on the dock, sharing the pie and telling jokes, the children learned the truth about the Phantom Ship. “I used to look for treasure all over the seas,” Captain McGuffin explained, “but I found something better—friends, laughter, and tasty treats! That’s why my ship roams at night; I’m looking for someone to share it with.” The kids understood that some legends were not just about being scary but also taught important life lessons.

Before they left, Captain McGuffin gave each of them a small silver coin. “These coins bring good luck! Remember, it’s not just the treasure that matters; it’s the friends you make along the way.” As the friends waved goodbye, they felt happy and excited. From then on, they told the story of the Phantom Ship not as a scary legend but as a funny tale about a silly sailor and the importance of laughter and friendship.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the main spooky story that everyone in Windy Cove talks about?

2. Who are the three friends that decide to uncover the truth about the Phantom Ship?

3. What items did Tommy, Bella, and Max bring with them for their adventure?

4. How does Captain McGuffin surprise the friends when they meet him?

5. What lesson do the children learn from their encounter with Captain McGuffin?

6. What does Captain McGuffin give to each of the friends before they leave?

7. How does the way the friends tell the story of the Phantom Ship change after their adventure?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a small fishing village called Windy Cove, there was a spooky story everyone talked about: the Phantom Ship. This ghostly ship was said to sail the foggy seas at night, glowing in the dark. Fishermen reported hearing strange (1)______ from the ship, adding to the mystery and making it both thrilling and a bit scary. On nights with a full moon, kids would gather by the dock, whispering about the ship’s captain, (2)______ McGuffin, who (3)______ to play tricks on anyone who crossed his path.

One stormy night, three brave friends—Tommy, (4)______, and Max—decided to uncover the truth about the Phantom Ship. They brought along a telescope, a big flashlight, and a pie that Bella had baked. “If we find the Phantom Ship,” Bella said confidently, “we can make peace with Captain (5)______ by giving him this delicious pie!” Filled with excitement, they set off into the mist, not knowing that this would be the wildest (6)______ of their lives.

When they got to the edge of the dock, a thick fog surrounded them. “Do you see that light?” Tommy whispered, pointing to a (7)______ glow in the distance. The friends squinted and saw a ship with tattered sails (8)______ closer, looking like flapping laundry. Then, a ghostly figure appeared, waving his arms. It was Captain McGuffin! But instead of being scary, he looked like a confused old man who had lost his hat in the wind.

“Ahoy there, kids!” the captain shouted over the crashing waves. “You thought I was a scary ghost? I’m just looking for my sock! It keeps (9)______!” The friends started (10)______, realizing the (11)______ ghost was just a funny sailor who lost his laundry. They offered him Bella’s pie as a (12)______ offering. Captain McGuffin’s eyes lit up, and he said, “Pie? That’s the real treasure!”

Sitting on the dock, sharing the pie and telling jokes, the children learned the truth about the Phantom Ship. “I used to look for treasure all over the seas,” Captain McGuffin explained, “but I found something better—friends, laughter, and tasty treats! That’s why my ship roams at night; I’m looking for someone to (13)______ it with.” The kids understood that some legends were not just about being scary but also taught important life (14)______.

Before they left, Captain McGuffin gave each of them a (15)______ silver coin. “These coins bring good luck! Remember, it’s not just the (16)______ that matters; it’s the friends you make along the way.” As the friends waved goodbye, they felt happy and excited. From then on, they told the story of the Phantom Ship not as a scary legend but as a funny tale about a silly sailor and the importance of laughter and friendship.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your favorite spooky story or legend? Why do you like it?

2. How would you feel if you saw a ghostly ship sailing in the night? Would you be scared or excited? Why?

3. Do you think it’s important to face your fears, like the friends did in the story? Why or why not?

4. Have you ever gone on an adventure with your friends? What happened, and how did you feel?

5. What is a special treat or food you would share with someone to make peace? Why did you choose that?

6. Do you think laughter is really the best way to deal with scary situations? Why or why not?

7. How would you feel if you met a famous character from a story or movie? What would you want to ask them?

8. Do you believe in ghosts or legends like the Phantom Ship? Why or why not?

9. What do you think is more valuable: treasure or friendship? Why do you feel that way?

10. How do stories like this one help us learn important lessons in life? Can you give an example?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. spooky
2. phantom
3. thrilling
4. uncover
5. telescope
6. mist
7. flickering
8. tattered
9. ghostly
10. ahoy
11. crashing
12. offering
13. treasure
14. legends
15. sailor

Meanings:
(A) A thin layer of fog or smoke
(B) Scary or creepy
(C) Something given to show respect or as a gift
(D) Making a loud noise, like waves hitting rocks
(E) Shining unsteadily, like a candle in the wind
(F) Looking like a ghost
(G) Something that is not real, like a ghost
(H) Very exciting and full of suspense
(I) Traditional stories passed down through generations
(J) A device used to see things that are far away
(K) Torn and in bad condition
(L) A greeting used by sailors
(M) A person who works on a ship
(N) Valuable items like gold or jewels
(O) To find out or reveal something hidden
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the village where the Phantom Ship story takes place?
(a) Sunny Bay
(b) Misty Harbor
(c) Windy Cove
(d) Stormy Shores

2. Who are the three brave friends that set out to uncover the truth about the Phantom Ship?
(a) Jake, Lily, and Sam
(b) Alex, Emma, and Noah
(c) Sarah, David, and Mia
(d) Tommy, Bella, and Max

3. What did Bella bring along to offer to Captain McGuffin?
(a) A pie
(b) A sandwich
(c) A cake
(d) A drink

4. What did Captain McGuffin say he was actually looking for?
(a) His sock
(b) His hat
(c) His treasure
(d) His ship

5. How did the children feel when they first saw the ghostly figure of Captain McGuffin?
(a) They were terrified and ran away
(b) They were angry and shouted
(c) They were confused and laughed
(d) They were indifferent and walked away

6. What lesson did the children learn from their encounter with Captain McGuffin?
(a) The value of treasure hunting
(b) The importance of friendship and laughter
(c) The need to be afraid of ghosts
(d) The significance of sailing

7. What did Captain McGuffin give to each of the children before they left?
(a) A piece of treasure
(b) A map to find more ships
(c) A fishing rod
(d) A small silver coin

8. How did the children choose to tell the story of the Phantom Ship after their adventure?
(a) As a scary legend to frighten others
(b) As a funny tale about a silly sailor
(c) As a true story of a ghost
(d) As a warning to stay away from the sea

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. When they encounter Captain McGuffin, he turns out to be a clear-minded old man looking for his lost sock, rather than a scary ghost.
2. Fishermen in the village reported hearing normal laughter coming from the Phantom Ship.
3. Three friends named Tommy, Bella, and Max decide to investigate the legend of the Phantom Ship on a stormy night.
4. At the end of their adventure, Captain McGuffin gives each child a small silver coin, symbolizing good luck and the importance of friendship.
5. The Phantom Ship is described as dark and stationary in the foggy seas at night.
6. Bella brings a pie as a peace offering to the ship’s captain, hoping to make a good impression.
7. The story takes place in a small fishing village named Windy Cove, where the locals share tales about a ghostly ship.
8. Captain McGuffin shares that he values solitude and seriousness more than treasure, which changes the kids’ perspective on the legend.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this story in two sentences. Here are some hints:
Who are the main characters?
What happens in the story?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the main spooky story that everyone in Windy Cove talks about?
The main spooky story is about the Phantom Ship, which is said to sail the foggy seas at night and glow in the dark.

2. Who are the three friends that decide to uncover the truth about the Phantom Ship?
The three friends are Tommy, Bella, and Max.

3. What items did Tommy, Bella, and Max bring with them for their adventure?
They brought a telescope, a big flashlight, and a pie that Bella had baked.

4. How does Captain McGuffin surprise the friends when they meet him?
Captain McGuffin surprises the friends by revealing that he is not a scary ghost but a confused old man looking for his lost sock.

5. What lesson do the children learn from their encounter with Captain McGuffin?
The children learn that some legends are not just about being scary; they can also teach important lessons about friendship and laughter.

6. What does Captain McGuffin give to each of the friends before they leave?
Captain McGuffin gives each of the friends a small silver coin for good luck.

7. How does the way the friends tell the story of the Phantom Ship change after their adventure?
After their adventure, the friends tell the story of the Phantom Ship as a funny tale about a silly sailor instead of a scary legend, emphasizing the importance of laughter and friendship.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) laughter
(2) Captain
(3) loved
(4) Bella
(5) McGuffin
(6) adventure
(7) flickering
(8) coming
(9) disappearing
(10) laughing
(11) legendary
(12) peace
(13) share
(14) lessons
(15) small
(16) treasure
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. spooky
Answer: (B) Scary or creepy

2. phantom
Answer: (G) Something that is not real, like a ghost

3. thrilling
Answer: (H) Very exciting and full of suspense

4. uncover
Answer: (O) To find out or reveal something hidden

5. telescope
Answer: (J) A device used to see things that are far away

6. mist
Answer: (A) A thin layer of fog or smoke

7. flickering
Answer: (E) Shining unsteadily, like a candle in the wind

8. tattered
Answer: (K) Torn and in bad condition

9. ghostly
Answer: (F) Looking like a ghost

10. ahoy
Answer: (L) A greeting used by sailors

11. crashing
Answer: (D) Making a loud noise, like waves hitting rocks

12. offering
Answer: (C) Something given to show respect or as a gift

13. treasure
Answer: (N) Valuable items like gold or jewels

14. legends
Answer: (I) Traditional stories passed down through generations

15. sailor
Answer: (M) A person who works on a ship
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the village where the Phantom Ship story takes place?
Answer: (c) Windy Cove

2. Who are the three brave friends that set out to uncover the truth about the Phantom Ship?
Answer: (d) Tommy, Bella, and Max

3. What did Bella bring along to offer to Captain McGuffin?
Answer: (a) A pie

4. What did Captain McGuffin say he was actually looking for?
Answer: (a) His sock

5. How did the children feel when they first saw the ghostly figure of Captain McGuffin?
Answer: (c) They were confused and laughed

6. What lesson did the children learn from their encounter with Captain McGuffin?
Answer: (b) The importance of friendship and laughter

7. What did Captain McGuffin give to each of the children before they left?
Answer: (d) A small silver coin

8. How did the children choose to tell the story of the Phantom Ship after their adventure?
Answer: (b) As a funny tale about a silly sailor
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. When they encounter Captain McGuffin, he turns out to be a clear-minded old man looking for his lost sock, rather than a scary ghost. (Answer: False)
2. Fishermen in the village reported hearing normal laughter coming from the Phantom Ship. (Answer: False)
3. Three friends named Tommy, Bella, and Max decide to investigate the legend of the Phantom Ship on a stormy night. (Answer: True)
4. At the end of their adventure, Captain McGuffin gives each child a small silver coin, symbolizing good luck and the importance of friendship. (Answer: True)
5. The Phantom Ship is described as dark and stationary in the foggy seas at night. (Answer: False)
6. Bella brings a pie as a peace offering to the ship’s captain, hoping to make a good impression. (Answer: True)
7. The story takes place in a small fishing village named Windy Cove, where the locals share tales about a ghostly ship. (Answer: True)
8. Captain McGuffin shares that he values solitude and seriousness more than treasure, which changes the kids’ perspective on the legend. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧