Reading Aloud for English Fluency Speaking Practice | Holes Chapter 20 Lesson

For this lesson, you will need the book. You can use the E-book, Paperback, or any version but you will need a book to read from.
Here is how reading aloud with me will help you improve your English fluency.
1. You will get to hear how I break down words to pronounce them.
2. You will get to hear how a native speaker blends sounds and words together naturally.
3. You will learn how to pause to emphasize elements of what you say.
4. You will learn the proper tone and inflection to make your speaking more dynamic.
5. You will have fun reading in English and that is what this is really about. Having fun while learning makes you learn faster.

I recommend that you watch this video with headphones on and your book. Sit in a place where you can comfortably read out loud and not disturb anyone. This is very important. You must read aloud with me to benefit from the speaking drills. I have used this method for years and my intermediate level English students see fast improvement in their speaking fluency. It also improves their reading skills.

This includes affiliate links. They don't add any cost to the totals but help support the channel.

[ListenandLearnEnglish]

Hi Everyone. Remember to answer the question at the end of the vidoe.

[cesaraugustogonzalezbarrie]

Thanks for the Joy you have in the lessons we feel confortable listening to you.

[angelicarivera]

Thank you, I like you mimic when you read, that help me to understand better.

[sacdiyoxashi]

I 'm getting ready to listen to you carefully your lesson thank you 🙋

[carolinavallejo]

Why do you think the warden said. "Unfortunatly for you"? Because the warden thought that Mr. Sir would retaliet against Stanley of what she's done to him. But so far I don't know Mr. Sir feelings. I really like the story, thanks Chris!

[artem_]

Chapter 20
20
It felt good to walk in the shade of the two oak trees. Stanley wondered if
this was
how a condemned man felt on his way to the electric chair— appreciating all of
the good
things in life for the last time.

They had to step around holes to get to the cabin door. Stanley was surprised
to see
so many around the cabin. He would have expected the Warden to not want the
campers
digging so close to her home. But several holes were right up against the cabin
wall.

The holes were closer together here as well, and were of different shapes and
sizes.

Mr. Sir knocked on the door. Stanley still held the empty sack.
"Yes?" the Warden said, opening the door.

"There's been a little trouble out on the lake, " Mr. Sir said. "Caveman will
tell you
all about it."

The Warden stared at Mr. Sir a moment, then her gaze turned toward Stanley. He
felt nothing but dread now.

"Come in, I suppose, " said the Warden. "You're letting the cold out."

It was air-conditioned inside her cabin. The television was going. She picked
up the
remote and turned it off.

She sat down on a canvas chair. She was barefoot and wearing shorts. Her legs
were
as freckled as her face and arms.

"So what is it you have to tell me?"

Stanley took a breath to steady himself. "While Mr. Sir was filling the
canteens, I
snuck into the truck and stole his sack of sunflower seeds."


"I see." She turned to Mr. Sir. "That's why you brought him here?"

"Yes, but I think he's lying. I think someone else stole the sack, and Caveman
is
covering up for X-Ray or somebody. It was a twenty-pound sack, and he claims to
have
eaten them all by himself." He took the sack from Stanley and handed it to the
Warden.

"I see, " the Warden said again.

"The sack wasn't full, " said Stanley. "And I spilled a lot. You can check my
hole."
"In that room, Caveman, there's a small flowered case. Will you get it for me,

please?" She pointed to a door.

Stanley looked at the door, then at the Warden, then back at the door. He slowly
walked toward it.

It was a kind of dressing room, with a sink and a mirror. Next to the sink he
saw the
case, white with pink roses.

He brought it back out to the Warden, and she set it on the glass coffee table
in front
of her. She unclasped the latch and opened the case.

It was a makeup case. Stanley's mother had one similar to it. He saw several
bottles
of nail polish, polish remover, a couple of lipstick tubes, and other jars and
powders.

The Warden held up a small jar of dark-red nail polish. "You see this, Caveman?"
He nodded.

"This is my special nail polish. Do you see the dark rich color? You can't buy
that in
a store. I have to make it myself."

Stanley had no idea why she was showing it to him. He wondered why the Warden
would ever have the need to wear nail polish or makeup.

"Do you want to know my secret ingredient?"
He raised and lowered one shoulder.

The Warden opened the bottle. "Rattlesnake venom." With a small paintbrush she
began applying it to the nails on her left hand. "It's perfectly harmless . . .
when it's dry."

She finished her left hand. She waved it in the air for a few seconds, then
began
painting the nails on her right hand. "It's only toxic while it's wet."

She finished painting her nails, then stood up. She reached over and touched
Stanley's face with her fingers. She ran her sharp wet nails very gently down
his cheek.
He felt his skin tingle.

The nail on her pinkie just barely touched the wound behind his ear. A sharp
sting
of pain caused him to jump back.

The Warden turned to face Mr. Sir, who was sitting on the fireplace hearth.
"So you think he stole your sunflower seeds?"

"No, he says he stole them, but I think it was— "

She stepped toward him and struck him across the face.

Mr. Sir stared at her. He had three long red marks slanting across the left
side of his
face. Stanley didn't know if the redness was caused by her nail polish or his
blood.

It took a moment for the venom to sink in. Suddenly, Mr. Sir screamed and
clutched
his face with both hands. He let himself fall over, rolling off the hearth and
onto the rug.

The Warden spoke softly. "I don't especially care about your sunflower seeds."
Mr. Sir moaned.

"If you must know, " said the Warden, "I liked it better when you smoked."


For a second, Mr. Sir's pain seemed to recede. He took several long, deep
breaths.
Then his head jerked violently, and he let out a shrill scream, worse than the
one before.

The Warden turned to Stanley. "I suggest you go back to your hole now."

Stanley started to go, but Mr. Sir lay in the way. Stanley could see the
muscles on
his face jump and twitch. His body writhed in agony.

Stanley stepped carefully over him. "Is he— ?"
"Excuse me?" said the Warden.

Stanley was too frightened to speak.

"He's not going to die, " the Warden said. "Unfortunately for you."

[eraitausechedecamargo]

My answer: It is because of Mr. Sir's revenge against Stanley.

[cesaraugustogonzalezbarrie]

I think the warden said to Stanley unfortunately for you because Mr sir is going to take revenge and Mr sir is not going to die