Emma had always been curious about the old abandoned house at the end of Maple Street. It was a tall, creaky structure with boarded-up windows and a sagging roof, and everyone in town whispered stories about it. Some said it was haunted, while others believed it was simply too dangerous to explore. Emma, however, was determined to find out the truth for herself. One late afternoon, as the sun was beginning to set and cast long shadows across the neighborhood, Emma grabbed her flashlight and a small backpack. She took a deep breath, feeling both nervous and excited, and made her way cautiously toward the house. The front door was slightly ajar, creaking loudly as she pushed it open. Inside, the air smelled musty, and dust particles floated lazily in the fading light. Emma stepped inside, her footsteps echoing on the wooden floorboards. The house was filled with old furniture covered in white sheets and broken picture frames hanging crookedly on the walls. As she moved through the dimly lit rooms, her eyes caught sight of something unusual—a strange, shimmering light coming from the basement. Curiosity pushed her forward. She slowly descended the creaky staircase, which groaned under her weight. At the bottom, Emma found a small door partially hidden behind a pile of broken furniture. She hesitated for a moment, then pushed it open. To her surprise, she saw a tiny room illuminated by a soft, glowing orb hovering in the center. Emma’s heart pounded with excitement. Carefully, she stepped closer and reached out her hand. As her fingers touched the orb, a warm sensation spread through her, and suddenly, she felt a strange sensation as if her surroundings were shifting. Before she knew it, she was no longer in the basement but standing in a lush, vibrant forest filled with colorful flowers and towering trees. In awe, Emma looked around. The sky above was a bright shade of blue, and she could hear the cheerful chirping of birds. As she wandered through the forest, she noticed a small, sparkling stream winding its way through the trees. On the other side, she saw a group of children playing, their laughter ringing through the air. Emma realized she had traveled to a place beyond her imagination—a magical land that seemed to exist just beyond the boundaries of her world. She spent what felt like hours exploring, making friends with a friendly fox and watching a rainbow form in the sky after a gentle rain. But eventually, she remembered her family and the house at the end of Maple Street. With a twinge of sadness, Emma said goodbye to her new friends and stepped back toward the glowing orb. As she touched it once more, she felt a familiar warmth, and suddenly, she was back in the basement of the old house. The orb was gone, and everything looked just as it had before—dusty and silent. Emma hurried up the stairs and out of the house, her mind swirling with wonder. Though no one else believed her story about the magical land, Emma knew it was real. From that day on, she visited the house often, always hoping to find the glowing orb again and return to her incredible adventure. And even if she never did, she carried the memory of her magical journey with her, knowing that sometimes, the most extraordinary things happen when you dare to explore the unknown.

Answer the following questions based on the passage above.