Sherlock Holmes: Getting Young Again  ·  Easy Reading B1  ·  Episode I of VII

Episode I: The Dog That Knew the Truth

A mysterious message from Holmes

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Date:

Before you read  ·  Key vocabulary

WordDefinitionUkrainian
casea mystery or problem a detective needs to solveсправа
behaviourthe way someone or something actsповедінка
curiousinterested and wanting to know moreцікавий
loyalalways faithful, never leaving youвірний

Exercise 1  ·  Match the word to its meaning

Write the correct letter (A–D) in the box next to each word.

1. case A.not polite (bonus!)
2. behaviour B.a mystery or problem a detective needs to solve
3. curious C.the way someone or something acts
4. loyal D.interested and wanting to know more
E.always faithful, never leaving you
Think about it: Have you ever noticed how a dog reacts differently to different people? What might that tell you about the person?

Dr Watson speaking

Hi! I’m Dr Watson. I’m happy that you’re here. This is one of my most interesting stories.

One day, Sherlock Holmes sent me a message. It was very short: “Come at once if you can. If you can’t, come anyway.” – S.H.

Holmes is always like this. When he needs me, I have to be there. I didn’t know what was waiting for me… but I knew one thing.

It was going to be another strange and exciting adventure.

Reading & Listening  ·  Fill in the gaps

Listen to the audio and write the missing words. All words are in the word bank below.

▶ Listen at: corporate.englishvivavox.com/course-reading/sherlock-creeping-man/chapter-1 Audio options: UK English  ·  US English  ·  With Music

scan for audio

Word bank  (some words are used twice)

arrivedaskeddidn’t saydidn’t speakdidn’t understandlookedsatsaidsmiledwaitedwas

When I   at 221B Baker Street, Holmes was sitting in his chair. His face   serious. He   hello.

For thirty minutes, he  . I   in my chair and  .

Then, suddenly, he looked at me and  .

“Sorry, Watson,” he  . “I was thinking. I have an interesting case. A very strange one.”

I   curious. “Tell me, Holmes,” I said.

“Have you ever noticed the behaviour of dogs?” Holmes  . “Dogs show us many things about their owners.”

I  . “Dogs?” I asked.

*   *   *

“Yes,” Holmes  . “Happy people have happy dogs. Angry people have angry dogs. But listen to this. A dog loves its owner for many years. Now, suddenly, it attacks him! Why?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Is this your case?”

Holmes   at me. “Watson, small things are important. This is no small thing. It’s a very serious case.”

I   back. “Tell me more,” I said.

This   the start of one of the strangest cases in Sherlock Holmes’ career.

After you read  ·  Comprehension questions

Answer in full sentences.

1. Why did Holmes send Watson a message?

2. What was strange about the dog’s behaviour?

3. How did Watson feel at the beginning? Circle the best answer:   confused  /  excited  /  angry  — then explain why.

Grammar Practice  ·  Past Simple

Exercise 2  ·  Fill in the gaps

Write the Past Simple form of the verb in brackets.

Watson   (arrive) at 221B Baker Street. Holmes   (not say) hello. For thirty minutes, he   (not speak).

Exercise 3  ·  Fill in the gaps

Write the Past Simple form of the verb in brackets.

Holmes   (look) at Watson and   (smile). “Sorry, Watson,” he   (say). Watson   (be) curious about the new case.

Exercise 4  ·  Put the events in the correct order

Write 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the box.

Holmes asked: “Have you ever noticed the behaviour of dogs?”
Watson arrived at 221B Baker Street.
Holmes smiled and said, “Sorry, Watson. I was thinking.”
Watson sat back and said, “Tell me more.”

Speaking Practice  ·  Tell the story

Answer aloud or write short notes to prepare your answer.

1. Did Holmes say hello to Watson when he arrived?

2. Why did Watson go to 221B Baker Street?

3. Why did Holmes make Watson wait for 30 minutes?

4. Why was Watson surprised that a dog attacked its owner?

5. Would you like to help Sherlock Holmes solve this mystery?

6. Do you think the case will be interesting?

Talk to Holmes  ·  Personal questions (Past Simple)

Answer in Past Simple. Write your answer or speak it aloud.

“Watson arrived the moment I called. Did you arrive somewhere quickly this week, without stopping to think?”

“Watson sat and waited for thirty minutes without a word. Did you wait for someone or something this week? What did you do while you waited?”

“Watson asked many questions when he didn’t understand. Do you ask for help when something is difficult? Did you ask a question today?”

✄ cut here  —  answer key below

Answer Key  ·  Episode I: The Dog That Knew the Truth

Exercise 1  ·  Matching

1–B   2–C   3–D   4–E

Exercise 2

arrived  ·  didn’t say  ·  didn’t speak

Exercise 3

looked  ·  smiled  ·  said  ·  was

Exercise 4  ·  Order

1 Watson arrived  ·  2 Holmes smiled+Sorry  ·  3 Holmes asked about dogs  ·  4 Watson sat back

Listening gaps (in order)

arrived  ·  looked  ·  didn’t say  ·  didn’t speak  ·  sat  ·  waited  ·  smiled  ·  said  ·  was  ·  asked  ·  didn’t understand  ·  said  ·  looked  ·  sat  ·  was

Comprehension

1. Holmes had a new and interesting case. He needed Watson to come and help him.

2. The dog had always been loyal to its owner. But suddenly, it started attacking him. Holmes found this very strange.

3. Confused. Watson didn’t understand why Holmes was asking about dogs.