Smurl haunting

High school (ages 12+)
Everyday Life

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/smurl-haunting

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the claimed period of activity?1974 to 1989
2. What is the geographic origin of claims?West Pittston, Pennsylvania, U.S
3. How long did the haunting last?It lasted fifteen years, from 1974 to 1989.
4. Why did people talk about the Smurl haunting?The family shared scary events, and books and a TV movie made the story famous.

Demonic Infestation: The belief that a malevolent supernatural entity has taken possession of a place or person.
Parsimonious Explanation: The simplest explanation that accounts for all the observed facts, often favored by scientific inquiry.
Cultural Resonance: The degree to which a story or idea connects with and is understood by a society.
Suggestibility: The tendency to be influenced by the ideas or actions of others, potentially affecting perception.