Vocabulary Preview

Match each word or phrase with the correct definition.

1. Serious a. a way of doing something
2. Trail b. a path
3. Objective c. can be seen through
4. Transparent d. based on fact; without personal opinion or emotion
5. Haunted e. sincere; authentic
6. Process f. often visited by ghosts
Researching Ghosts
Dale Kaczmarek believes in ghosts, and he has been the president of
the Ghost Research Society since 1982. In his career, Kaczmarek has met
many people who do not believe in ghosts, and when they find out that he is a
ghost expert, they think he is a fool. So, one of Kaczmareks goals is to make
ghost research more scientific. Not all people believe in ghosts, but most
people trust science. So if ghost research becomes scientific, more people
will respect Kaczmareks work. Kaczmarek follows a careful process to
investigate ghosts. The first step happens when someone telephones
Kaczmarek about a ghost. During the first phone call, Kaczmarek interviews
the caller to determine if it is a serious case or a hoax. Next, Kaczmarek
asks the caller what he or she wants him to do. Some people want him to find
out the cause of the paranormal activity, while other people want him to
remove a ghost from their house. After the phone call, Kaczmarek contacts
other members of the Ghost Research Society, and Kaczmarek makes a team
from a few members. They visit the house where the ghost was reported,
but he never tells the members any details about the case. This is very
important to keep the investigation objective because if they know the
details, they might imagine seeing something.
After a thorough inspection of the location, the team talks to the
homeowner, and they share what they have observed with each other for
the first time. By waiting until this time to share the details, Kaczmarek
believes that his method of investigation is more scientific.
Kaczmarek has shared his expertise of ghosts by writing books and
giving tours of haunted places. Kaczmarek wrote a book called Windy City
Ghosts about ghosts in Chicago. One of the stories in this book is about
ghost horses and their ghost riders. People sometimes see these ghosts on
95
th
Street, which is a busy street that runs through the forest near some
horse stables. People ride horses from these stables into the forest, and
they must cross 95th Street. Over the years, there have been several
accidents in which horses and riders were killed by fast-moving cars.
Sometimes at night, people driving through the forest report seeing
transparent horses and riders crossing the street. They stop their cars to
let the horses and riders pass, but when they look closely, the horses and
riders have disappeared! All of these reports have come from the area
where the horse trail crosses 95th Street. Kaczmarek gives tours to this
location and tries to explain the world of ghost research to his guests.
Through his books, tours, and the scientific process of his investigations,
Kaczmarek is improving the reputation of ghost researchers.

Expert --- a person with special knowledge or skill
Scientific --- following the principles of science
Investigate --- to examine; to look into
Determine --- to decide; to find the truth
Contact --- to communicate with
Observe --- to watch; to note with ones senses
Method --- a way of doing something; process
Expertise --- special knowledge or skill
reputation --- what others think of a person, thing, or
Reading Comprehension
A Mark each statement as either true (T) or false (F) according to the
reading.
____ Dale Kaczmarek is the president of the Ghost Research Society.
____ The first step in a ghost investigation is to visit the place where the
paranormal activity was reported.
____ Kaczmareks only job is removing ghosts.
____ Kaczmarek thinks that talking about details first helps the research
team.
B Choose the best answer according to the reading.
1. What is one of Kaczmareks goals?
a. To be an expert on ghost horses
b. To catch the ghosts of 95th Street
c. To prove that ghosts exist
d. To make ghost research more scientific
2. Why doesnt Kaczmarek describe the paranormal activity to his team
before inspecting the location?
a. He doesnt like to frighten the team members.
b. Kaczmarek doesnt want them to expect anything.
c. He doesnt know any details until he arrives at the location.
d. Kaczmarek and his team live far away from each other.
3. Which activity does Kaczmarek NOT do?
a. Write books about ghosts
b. Give tours of haunted places
c. Speak to ghosts for other people
d. Investigate paranormal activity
C For the next two questions, look for the answers in the reading passage
and write them on the lines provided.
1. When Kaczmarek visits a house where ghosts have been reported, why
does he not share any details of the case to the team members?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
2. Why does Kaczmarek give tours to the 95th Street location in Chicago?
____________________________________________________
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