Chapter: 03. The Witches
A. Choose the correct answer for these questions.
Where were the speaker’s parents when they met with an accident? b. Norway (specifically, just north of Oslo) What subject was the speaker’s grandmother an expert in? What was the family name of the second child who vanished? What did the third child turn into? What does a witch never do? B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
I am trying to make sure you don’t go the same way.
a. Who is the speaker?
* The narrator’s grandmother.
b. Who is the speaker talking to?
* The narrator (her seven-year-old grandson).
c. What does the speaker mean by ‘go the same way’?
* The speaker means that she wants to prevent the narrator from disappearing or being transformed by witches, just like the five children whose stories she is recounting. But wasn’t there a most tremendous fuss when this happened.
a. Who is the listener?
* The narrator’s grandmother.
b. What does the speaker refer to when he says ‘when this happened’?
* The speaker is referring to the transformation of the nine-year-old boy, Leif, into a porpoise after diving into the water.
c. What was the listener’s response?
* The grandmother responded, “Not much… You must remember that here in Norway we are used to that sort of thing. There are witches everywhere.” C. Think and answer.
Do you think ghosts or witches exist? Should we believe in them? Whether ghosts or witches exist is a matter of personal belief, culture, and folklore. Many people believe in them due to stories, traditions, or perceived experiences, while others consider them to be purely fictional or products of imagination. From a scientific perspective, there is no empirical evidence to prove their existence. Whether one “should” believe in them is a personal choice; however, it’s always wise to approach such topics with a critical mind and distinguish between fiction and reality, especially when it comes to safety. The story speaks about children who were not alert enough and were taken by witches. What do you think could be a solution to solve this problem? In a world where dangers like those posed by witches (or dangerous people disguised as them) exist, a key solution would be to educate children about stranger danger and personal safety. This includes teaching them: To never talk to strangers or accept anything (like apples) from them. To never go anywhere with someone they don’t know, even if that person seems friendly or offers something tempting. To always stay close to their trusted adults (parents, guardians, teachers) in public places. To speak up immediately if anyone makes them feel uncomfortable or tries to lead them away. Additionally, adults could increase supervision of children, especially in public areas, and foster open communication where children feel safe reporting any unusual encounters. 
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