English lessons for Sherlock Holmes - The Copper Beeches

Main Characters

Miss Hunter (governess)
Miss Stoper
Mr Rucastle
Mrs Rucastle
Mr Toller (servant)
Mrs Toller (house keeper)
Alice
Mr Fowler

Comprehension:

1) How does Holmes criticise the record of his cases which Watson has been writing?
2) How much salary did Miss Hunter receive from Colonel Munro? How much does Mr Rucastle offer her?
3) What position is she offered at The Copper Beeches?
4) What strange conditions are involved in the contract?
5) Why does Miss Hunter firstly refuse the position?
6) How does Mr Rucastle persuade her?
7) What kind of dress would Mrs Rucastle like her to wear?
8) What does Miss Hunter find in a drawer?
9) How many explanations can Holmes think of for these strange incidents?
10) Why is crime more widespread in the country (compared to the city) according to Sherlock?
11) What does Mr Rucastle do while Miss Hunter is sitting at the window?
12) How does Miss Hunter satisfy her desire to see what's going on behind her back?
13) What does she see? What is Mrs Rucastle's reaction?
14) What does Miss Hunter find at the top of the turret?
15) How does Miss Hunter trick Mrs Toller and lock her in the cellar?
16) Who is Alice?
17) Why did Mr Rucastle move Alice into the turret?
18) What was the real reason for employing Miss Hunter?
19) How did Mrs Toller help Mr Fowler?

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Match the expressions with their equivalents, and then use them in the sentences in the correct form.

In the first place

Without care or forethought

In an offhand manner

To find by chance

In a nutshell

To decide

To come upon/across

To sum up

To hang about

Firstly

To take no notice of

To hang around

To make up your mind

To stare at s.o

To fix your eyes upon s.o

To pay no attention to

Insistent

Extraordinary/singular/uncommon

Apprehensive

Assertive and forceful

Exceptional

Uneasy and fearful

Curious

Malevolent and ominous

Sinister

Intriguing

Delighted

Dreadful

Comical

Overjoyed

Impertinent

Funny

Intolerable

Rude

Essential

Unbearable

Vile

Giving and plentiful

Generous

Vital

Use the following verbs to report what was said. Remember to use the correct forms. Here are a few examples of the different types

1) Want to do (+ to + infinitive) [promise, threaten, offer]
2) Tell s.o to do (object + to + infinitive) [ask, warn, advise, order, persuade]
3) Congratulate s.o on doing (object + preposition + gerund) [accuse s.o (of), thank s.o (for), praise s.o (for)]
4) Avoid doing (+ gerund) [deny, admit, regret, suggest, recommend]
5) Insist on doing (+ preposition + gerund) [apologise for]
6) Say that (+ that + clause) [promise, insist, suggest, deny, admit, regret]
7) Tell s.o that [assure, persuade, convince, warn, (NOT ask)]

1) 'No, I'm afraid I cannot cut my hair'
Miss Hunter refused
2) 'We can offer you 120 pound, but you really must cut your hair'
Mr Rucastle insisted
3) 'Miss Hunter, if you refuse such an excellent offer then we cant be expected to find you another one'
Miss Stoper warned
4) 'I was so consumed by the desire to see'
Miss Hunter admitted
5) 'If you ever set foot over that threshold again, Ill throw you to the mastiff'
Mr Rucastle threatened
6) 'Miss Hunter, you are indeed an exceptional woman'
Holmes praised
7) 'Data, data, data - I cant make bricks without clay'
Holmes complained
8) 'Perhaps he went down to look for cockroaches'
Miss Hunter suggested
9) 'It's a pity you didn't let me know what you were planning.'
Mrs Toller regretted
10) 'I took no part in this - I was Miss Alice's friend.'
Mrs Toller denied