English with Jennifer. A site for language learners

Fifteen-year-old Ben Armstrong stood in front of the mirror and looked at his image. Instead of a brown-haired teenager, he saw a vampire with pale skin. (1) When he smiled, he made sure his fangs showed. He liked the effect.

He had gone trick-or-treating when he was younger, but he actually could not remember if he had ever been to a costume party on Halloween. (2) Since Ben had heard how great Halloween parties were at the Johnsons', he did not want to miss this one. He planned to meet his friends there. He lived only two blocks away.

Ben had moved to this town only a few months ago. He had made a couple of friends already, but he was still getting to know other kids in his class. He had been told that the Johnsons came up with new ideas every year to thrill their guests. Garrett Johnson was in Ben's class, and Garrett had invited at least twenty or thirty kids from school. It was going to be a big crowd.

Ben put the final touches on his costume and got ready to go. (3) Because he didn't want to arrive too late, he called good-bye to his parents and rushed out the door.

(4) While Ben walked down the darkened streets, he let the cool wind and moonlit sky add to his excitement for some Halloween fun. He imagined everyone in colorful costumes. There would be laughing and dancing. Oh, and hopefully good food. (5) Because he had not eaten since lunch, he was now extremely hungry. (6) Of course, he would have to take out his plastic fangs before he ate a sandwich or some potatoe chips. That made Ben laugh. So much for looking like a real vampire!

Ben arrived at the Johnson's ten minutes past the hour. He thought there had been lights on a moment before, but now the house looked dark as if no one were home. (7) After he rang the doorbell one more time, Ben stepped up to a side window and looked inside. Nothing. Not even a shadow. Strange, Ben thought. This is strange.

Then the front door opened. Ben could not see who had opened it. There were no voices, no sounds, no sign of anyone.

"Hello?" the timid vampire called out. He cautiously stepped inside. Was he crazy for stepping into this dark house? Where was the party?

Before another thought could enter his head, Ben saw a skeleton approach. It was glowing. Ben instinctively raised his arms to defend himself. Just as he got ready either to deflect a blow or deliver one of his own, the lights suddenly came on and a crowd of delighted voices shouted, "Surprise!" The skeleton came closer. The tall figure removed the face mask, and there was Garrett Johson. He was grinning.

"Hey, Ben! Welcome to your first Halloween party here in town!"

(8) After Ben calmed down enough to hide the fact that he had actually been scared, he spoke with a forgiving smile. "You almost had me fooled!"

The other kids surrounded Ben and welcomed him to the party. The music came on, and laughter began filling the rooms. Ben was surrounded by other vampires, a few witches, a ghost, half a dozen fairies, and many other strange creatures, but he new that behind each mask was a new friend.


Now change the adverb clauses in bold to phrases.
(1) [?], Ben made sure his fangs showed.
(2) [?] how great Halloween parties were at the Johnsons', Ben did not want to miss this one.
(3) [?] to arrive too late, he called good-bye to his parents and rushed out the door.
(4) [?] down the darkened streets, Ben let the cool wind and moonlit sky add to his excitement for some Halloween fun.
(5) [?] lunch, he was now extremely hungry.
(6) Of course, he would have to take out his plastic fangs [?] a sandwich or some potato chips.
(7) [?] the doorbell one more time, Ben stepped up to a side window and looked inside.
(8) [?] enough to hide the fact that he had actually been scared, Ben spoke with a forgiving smile.