Sherlock Holmes: Getting Young Again · Easy Reading B1 · Episode IV of VII
Clues that do not connect… yet
Before you read · Key vocabulary
| Word | Definition | Ukrainian |
|---|---|---|
| Slavic | relating to countries like Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, Ukraine | слов’янський |
| insane | mentally ill; not thinking clearly | божевільний |
| patience | the ability to wait calmly | терпіння |
| telegram | a short message sent quickly over a long distance (used before phones) | телеграма |
Exercise 1 · Match the word to its meaning
Write the correct letter (A–D) in the box next to each word.
| 1. Slavic | A.the ability to wait calmly | |
| 2. insane | B.relating to countries like Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine | |
| 3. patience | C.a short message sent quickly over a long distance | |
| 4. telegram | D.mentally ill; not thinking clearly |
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 and I the professor’s house. Holmes the situation funny.
“Our friend is very nervous,” Holmes said. “We weren’t very polite, but we the information we needed. Still, Watson, I think someone is following us.”
We footsteps behind us. It wasn’t the professor. It was Mr Bennett, the professor’s assistant.
Mr Bennett us to the window. It was hard to reach, but there was a water pipe that someone could use to climb up.
“I couldn’t climb it,” Mr Bennett said. Holmes .
Mr Bennett Holmes the address. “Dorak… sounds like a Slavic name. It’s important. We’ll head back to London this afternoon. There’s no crime to charge the professor with, and we can’t prove he’s insane. We need more time.”
“What should we do?” Mr Bennett .
“Patience,” Holmes . “Next Tuesday might be the turning point. Let Miss Presbury stay with us for now.”
On our way to the hotel, Holmes at a post office to send a telegram. Later, we an answer from Mr Mercer:
“I Dorak. He’s an old Bohemian man who has a large shop.”
Holmes , “Mercer handles routine investigations. Knowing about Dorak is important since the professor is secretly writing to him. It’s also connected to the professor’s trip to Prague.”
“But we have a lot of confusing events that don’t seem to connect. For example, what does a dog’s anger have to do with a visit to Prague? And what does that have to do with a man crawling down a hallway?”
After you read · Comprehension questions
Answer in full sentences.
1. Why did Mr Bennett follow Holmes and Watson out of the professor’s house?
2. Who is Dorak and why is he important?
3. Holmes has several strange clues that don’t connect yet. Can you name them?
Grammar Practice · Past Simple
Exercise 2 · Fill in the gaps
Write the Past Simple form of the verb in brackets.
Holmes and Watson (leave) the professor’s house. Mr Bennett (follow) them outside and (hand) Holmes an important address. Holmes (nod) and said it was part of the job.
Exercise 3 · Fill in the gaps
Write the Past Simple form of the verb in brackets.
Holmes (stop) at a post office to send a telegram. Later, they (receive) an answer: Mercer had (visit) Dorak. Holmes (explain) the connection to Prague.
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. Why did Mr Bennett follow Holmes and Watson outside?
2. Was Holmes angry when the professor shouted?
3. What did Holmes want to see before leaving Cambridge?
4. Why couldn’t Holmes arrest the professor?
5. Who is Dorak and where does he live?
6. What did Mr Mercer find out about Dorak?
Talk to Watson · Personal questions (Past Simple)
“Holmes stopped at a post office to send a telegram. Did you stop somewhere unexpected today: a shop, a café, anywhere?”
“Holmes received a reply and explained the connection between the clues. Did you explain something to someone today?”
“Holmes found the professor’s strange behaviour curious, not scary. Did you find something funny or surprising this week?”
Answer Key · Episode IV: The Puzzle
Exercise 1 · Matching
1–B 2–D 3–A 4–C
Exercise 2
left · followed · handed · nodded
Exercise 3
stopped · received · visited · explained
Exercise 4 · Order
1 left the house · 2 Bennett handed address · 3 Holmes sent telegram · 4 Mercer visited Dorak
Listening gaps (in order)
left · found · got · heard · took · nodded · handed · asked · said · stopped · received · visited · explained
Comprehension
1. He wanted to apologise for the professor’s angry behaviour. He was worried and said the professor was becoming more dangerous.
2. Dorak is an old Bohemian man with a large shop in London. The professor is secretly writing letters to him. Holmes thinks this is connected to Prague.
3. 1) The dog attacks its owner. 2) The professor secretly writes to Dorak. 3) The professor was crawling at night. 4) He appeared at his daughter’s window with no ladder.