Learn English through Stories Level 3 ⭐️ The Strange City - Graded Reader | English Audio Podcast

Summary

In a controlled city where everyone wakes up at the same time and follows a strict daily routine, Patrick awakens earlier than usual, triggering a series of unsettling realizations. As he starts to question his surroundings, he uncovers a disturbing truth: the residents are being drugged to suppress their memories and emotions. Desperate to break free from the artificial life, Patrick escapes the city and meets Jack, who offers him a choice—to stay in the real world or return to the controlled life. Patrick chooses freedom, determined to reclaim his life.

Takeaways

• 🕰️ Patrick wakes up unusually early at 7:30, which is strange because everyone in the city usually wakes up at 9:00.
• 🧐 Patrick begins to question why people in the city always wake up at the same time and why they never feel hungry.
• 🍽️ He suspects that something in the food may be suppressing their hunger and memory, as he hasn't felt hungry for a long time.
• ❓ Evelyn, his partner, dismisses his concerns, emphasizing their daily routine and activities, but Patrick feels something is wrong.
• 👕 People in the city wear clothes that indicate their level, with different colors representing different levels.
• 🏢 Patrick notices that no one has children in the city and realizes that there have been no new births in years.
• 🏥 He also observes that no one gets sick, and when people do, they are taken away to a hospital, never to return.
• 🚁 Patrick manages to escape the city, finding a helicopter on the roof and recalling his past life working in a helicopter factory.
• 🌍 After escaping, he learns that Terra Vista City is one of many cities designed to keep the unemployed pacified with drugs and routines.
• 🔄 Patrick is given a choice: return to Terra Vista and forget everything, or live freely in the real world with the challenges it brings. He chooses to stay free.

Q & A

What unusual event does Patrick experience at the beginning of the story?

Patrick wakes up earlier than usual, at 7:30 instead of 9:00, which is strange because everyone in the city always wakes up at exactly 9:00 every day.

Why does Patrick start to suspect something is wrong in Terra Vista City?

Patrick begins to suspect something is wrong because he realizes he hasn't felt hungry in a long time, and he believes there may be a drug in the food that prevents people from feeling hunger or remembering things.

What does Evelyn's response to Patrick's concerns suggest about life in Terra Vista City?

Evelyn's response suggests that life in Terra Vista City is routine and controlled. She dismisses Patrick's concerns, focusing on their scheduled activities and expressing no interest in questioning their life or circumstances.

What does Patrick notice about the children in Terra Vista City that deepens his suspicions?

Patrick notices that the youngest children are around 9 or 10 years old, and there have been no new births since they arrived in Terra Vista City, which makes him suspect that something unusual is happening.

Why does Patrick become concerned about Robert's memory?

Patrick becomes concerned when Robert doesn't remember injuring his leg and being taken to the hospital, even though Patrick clearly recalls the event. This suggests that something is affecting people's memories in Terra Vista City.

What significant realization does Patrick come to during breakfast?

Patrick realizes that nobody in Terra Vista City feels hunger, and he suspects that there is something in the food or drinks that suppresses both hunger and memories.

What happens when Patrick visits the 30th level of the building?

Patrick sneaks to the 30th level, which is forbidden for regular residents. He ends up knocking out Tom, the sports organizer, and escaping to the roof where he finds a helicopter.

What important memory does Patrick recover when he sees the helicopter?

Patrick remembers that he used to work in a helicopter factory and is knowledgeable about helicopters, which suggests he had a different life before coming to Terra Vista City.

What does Patrick learn from Jack after escaping Terra Vista City?

Patrick learns from Jack that Terra Vista City is one of many controlled environments built by governments to house unemployed people, where they are given drugs and food to prevent them from feeling hunger, sadness, or remembering their pasts.

What choice does Patrick face at the end of the story, and what is his decision?

Patrick is given the choice to either return to Terra Vista City and forget everything, or stay in the outside world and live freely, though with more challenges. He chooses to stay outside.