Before you read: Key words
- appointment a planned meeting at a specific time зустріч / запис
- suspicious thinking that something is wrong or that someone is lying підозрілий
- investigate to look carefully for information to solve a problem розслідувати
- rude not polite грубий
Match the word to its meaning
Holmes smiled and said, “Tomorrow we will go to Cambridge.”
On Monday morning, we travelled to the famous university town. Holmes didn’t talk about the case until we dropped our bags at the hotel.
“I think we can meet the professor before lunch. He’s giving a lecture at 11 AM, and he’ll be home after that,” Holmes said.
I asked, “Why are we visiting him?”
Holmes looked at his notebook. “Something strange happened on August 26th. We’ll say we have an appointment with him. He’ll think it’s true.”
I wasn’t sure, but I agreed.
A local man took us to the professor’s house. The house was very nice, with lawns and flowers. When we went inside, he was waiting for us.
The professor was tall and serious-looking. He looked at our cards and said, “Please sit down. How can I help you?”
Holmes smiled and said, “I want to ask you the same thing, Professor.”
“Me?” the professor said.
“Someone told me you needed my help,” Holmes replied.
“Who told you that?” the professor asked, looking suspicious.
Holmes didn’t answer directly. He said, “I’m sorry if I made a mistake.”
Holmes didn’t get upset. He said, “We are sorry for bothering you.”
But the professor became very angry. He shouted and shook his hands at us. He was acting strangely.
After you read
1. Why did Holmes pretend to have an appointment with the professor?
Holmes wanted to visit the professor and observe him without explaining the real reason. It was a way to get inside the house.
2. How did the professor react when Holmes visited?
At first he seemed polite, but when Holmes said someone had told him the professor needed help, the professor became very angry and shouted at them.
3. Was Holmes upset when the professor shouted at them? What did he say?
No, Holmes was not upset. He said he was sorry for bothering the professor. He was calm and not angry. He said it was all part of the job.
Past Simple Practice
Fill in the gaps
Write the Past Simple form of the verb in brackets. Press Enter or click Check.
Holmes (smile) and (say) they would go to Cambridge. On Monday, they (travel) to the university town. Holmes (not talk) about the case until they (drop) their bags at the hotel.
Sentence order
Put the events in the correct order. Click what happened first, then second, and so on.
Answer the questions
Write your short answer in the box, then click See answers to check.
1. Why did Holmes say he had an appointment with the professor?
2. Was Holmes upset when the professor shouted at them?
Talk to Holmes
Sherlock Holmes has a few questions for you. Answer using Past Simple, just like in the story.
Holmes:
“Watson and I travelled to Cambridge for this case. Did you travel somewhere new last year? Where did you go?”
Holmes:
“Watson agreed to my plan even though he wasn’t completely sure. Did you agree to something you weren’t sure about last week?”
Holmes:
“The professor became very angry and shouted at us. Did you become angry at someone this week? What happened?”
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 Holmes and Dr Watson plan to go?
- Who did they plan to visit?
- Did they stay with their friends in Cambridge?
- What did the professor look like?
- Was the professor happy to see Holmes and Watson?
- Did the professor become angry?
- Did the professor know why Holmes and Watson were visiting?