Before you read: Key words
- widower a man whose wife has died вдівець
- engaged planning to get married заручений
- loyal always faithful, never leaving you вірний
- crawling moving on hands and knees like a baby or an animal повзати
Match the word to its meaning
I sat back in my chair, feeling disappointed. Was this the reason I was called here? Holmes looked at me and said, “The same old Watson! You never learn that small things can lead to big problems. Isn’t it strange that a well-known professor of science, like Professor Presbury, who has a loyal dog, is now being attacked by his own dog? What do you think?”
I said, “The dog is ill.”
Holmes replied, “That could be true, but the dog attacks no one else. It only attacks the professor on special occasions. Very strange, Watson, very strange.”
Holmes started explaining. “Professor Presbury is famous for his academic work. He’s a widower with a daughter, Edith. He is a strong man, but a few months ago, his life changed. He got engaged to a younger woman, Alice. The family didn’t approve of it because of the professor’s age.
“One day, the professor left home without telling anyone. When he came back two weeks later, he looked tired. He didn’t tell anyone where he had been. A letter from Prague showed that the professor had been there. After that, something changed.”
The professor became strange. His family felt that he was not the same person. He was still intelligent. His daughter tried to understand him, but it was impossible.
Mr Bennett explained that the professor brought back a small wooden box from his trip. (Mr Bennett is Professor Presbury’s assistant and the fiancé of his daughter, Edith.)
Mr Bennett touched the box once, but the professor got very angry.
Mr Bennett kept a diary and wrote down the dates of strange things that happened. The professor’s dog, Roy, attacked him on July 2nd, July 11th, and July 20th. After that, the dog was kept in the stables.
“Two nights ago, Mr Bennett was woken up at 2 AM. He heard a strange noise. He looked outside and saw the professor crawling down the hallway, moving on his hands and feet. He seemed normal at first but then suddenly jumped up and ran away. He couldn’t understand what was happening.”
Last night, he heard the dog barking loudly. His daughter saw the professor’s face at her window on the second floor. There was no ladder, but he was there!
“We need to see him. Let’s go tomorrow to check on him.”
After you read
1. Why did Professor Presbury go to Prague?
We don’t know yet. He left without telling anyone and came back looking tired. A letter showed he had been in Prague.
2. What three strange things did Mr Bennett notice?
1) The professor’s dog Roy attacked him three times. 2) The professor was crawling on the floor at 2 AM. 3) The professor’s face appeared at his daughter’s second-floor window with no ladder.
3. How often did the dog attack the professor? What pattern do you notice?
July 2nd, July 11th, July 20th — every 9 days. This is a pattern, not random.
Past Simple Practice
Fill in the gaps
Write the Past Simple form of the verb in brackets. Press Enter or click Check.
The professor (leave) home without telling anyone. When he (come) back, he (look) tired. He (bring) back a small wooden box.
Fill in the gaps
Write the Past Simple form of the verb in brackets.
Mr Bennett (keep) a diary and (write) down the dates. The dog (attack) the professor on July 2nd. That night, Bennett (hear) a noise and (see) the professor crawling.
Sentence order
Put the events in the correct order. Click what happened first, then second, and so on. Click a numbered sentence to remove it.
Talk to Watson
Dr Watson wants to ask you a few questions. Answer using Past Simple, just like in the story.
Watson:
“The professor left home without telling anyone. Did you leave somewhere in a hurry last week, without saying where you were going?”
Watson:
“Mr Bennett kept a diary and wrote down every strange thing he noticed. Did you write anything down last week so you didn’t forget it?”
Watson:
“Mr Bennett heard a strange noise at 2 AM and saw the professor crawling on the floor. Did you hear or see something strange last night?”
Listening Practice
Listen to the audio above. Then fill in the missing words in the text and check your answers.
Speaking Practice
Record your answers
Press record and answer the questions out loud, just like in a real conversation. Watch it back to hear your own progress. No pressure, no grades. Just you and your English.
- Where did the professor go when he left home?
- How did the professor look when he came back?
- What happened when Mr Bennett touched the box?
- What did Edith see at her window?
- Why do you think the professor was crawling on his hands and feet?
- Do you think the professor was trying to play hide-and-seek, or was it something more mysterious?