Sherlock Holmes: Getting Young Again · Easy Reading B1 · Episode II of VII
Professor Presbury and his strange behaviour
Before you read · Key vocabulary
| Word | Definition | Ukrainian |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Exercise 1 · Match the word to its meaning
Write the correct letter (A–D) in the box next to each word.
| 1. widower | A.moving on hands and knees like a baby or an animal | |
| 2. engaged | B.planning to get married | |
| 3. loyal | C.a man whose wife has died | |
| 4. crawling | D.always faithful, never leaving you |
Reading introduction · Read this first (no gaps)
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.”
Reading & Listening · Fill in the gaps
Listen to the audio and write the missing words. All words are in the word bank below.
scan for audio
Word bank
Holmes 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 . 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 home without telling anyone. When he back two weeks later, he looked tired. He anyone where he had been. A letter from Prague that the professor had been there. After that, something changed.”
The professor strange. His family felt that he was not the same person. He was still intelligent. His daughter to understand him, but it was impossible.
Mr Bennett explained that the professor back a small wooden box from his trip.
Mr Bennett the box once, but the professor very angry.
Mr Bennett a diary and down the dates of strange things that happened. The professor’s dog, Roy, 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 a strange noise. He looked outside and the professor crawling down the hallway, moving on his hands and feet. He normal at first but then suddenly up and 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 · Comprehension questions
Answer in full sentences.
1. Why did Professor Presbury go to Prague?
2. What three strange things did Mr Bennett notice?
3. How often did the dog attack the professor? What pattern do you notice?
Grammar Practice · Past Simple
Exercise 2 · Fill in the gaps
Write the Past Simple form of the verb in brackets.
The professor (leave) home without telling anyone. When he (come) back, he (look) tired. He (bring) back a small wooden box.
Exercise 3 · 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.
Exercise 4 · Put the events in the correct order
Write 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the box.
Speaking Practice · Tell the story
Answer aloud or write short notes.
1. Where did the professor go when he left home?
2. How did the professor look when he came back?
3. What happened when Mr Bennett touched the box?
4. What did Edith see at her window?
5. Why do you think the professor was crawling on his hands and feet?
6. Do you think the professor was trying to play hide-and-seek, or was it something more mysterious?
Talk to Watson · Personal questions (Past Simple)
“The professor left home without telling anyone. Did you leave somewhere in a hurry last week, without saying where you were going?”
“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?”
“Mr Bennett heard a strange noise at 2 AM and saw the professor crawling. Did you hear or see something strange last night?”
Answer Key · Episode II: Crawling in the Night
Exercise 1 · Matching
1–C 2–B 3–D 4–A
Exercise 2
left · came · looked · brought
Exercise 3
kept · wrote · attacked · heard · saw
Exercise 4 · Order
1 left for Prague · 2 came back with box · 3 dog attacked 3 times · 4 Bennett saw crawling
Listening gaps (in order)
started · changed · left · came · didn’t tell · showed · became · tried · brought · touched · got · kept · wrote · attacked · heard · saw · seemed · jumped · ran
Comprehension
1. We don’t know yet. He left without telling anyone and came back looking tired. A letter showed he had been in Prague.
2. 1) The dog Roy attacked him three times. 2) He was crawling on the floor at 2 AM. 3) His face appeared at his daughter’s second-floor window with no ladder.
3. July 2nd, July 11th, July 20th — every 9 days. This is a pattern, not random.