По следам детективов: увлекательные истории для изучения английского языка - Анжелика Ягудена

Agatha Christie

Exercise 1

1) It means that everyone has their own secrets.

2) Agatha Christie was born on September 15, 1890, in Torquay.

3) Her maiden name was Agatha Clarissa Miller.

4) Yes, she did. She was the youngest of three children.

5) Agatha Christie wrote sixty-six mystery novels under her own name, and another six under the pen name Mary Westmacott. She also published a number of short story collections, numerous plays, and an autobiography.

6) Agatha Christie created iconic characters: Poirot and Miss Marple.

7) Agatha was home-schooled.

8) Agatha Christie taught herself to read by the age of five.

9) She invented imaginary friends and wrote poems.

10) Agatha Christie was terribly shy by nature and had stage freight.

11) Her first husband’s name was Archibald Christie.

12) She worked as a nurse in а hospital and then became an assistant pharmacist.

13) Her debut novel was published in 1920. She was unable to find a publisher for four years.

14) Agatha Christie dedicated her debut novel to her mother.

15) Yes, she had a daughter named Rosalind.

16) The day she went missing, Agatha had a fierce fight with her husband, who was in love with another woman.

17) There was huge speculation over the causes of Agatha Christie’s disappearance. Some suggested that her husband was involved, others assumed she drowned herself. According to other versions, the writer could have been kidnapped. Many suggested she took revenge on her husband or staged her own disappearance.

18) She had been missing for eleven days.

19) She was found at a hotel in Harrogate, Yorkshire.

20) She checked into the hotel under the last name of her husband’s lady friend.

21) Agatha Christie never discussed the circumstances of her disappearance, claiming memory loss.

22) Doctors suggested she suffered a nervous breakdown.

23) As I see it, Agatha was really upset after a fight with her husband. She wanted to cool down and gather her thoughts. Most likely, she wanted to teach her husband a lesson.

24) It took her about two years to cope with painful emotions and move on.

25) Her second husband’s name was Max Mallowan.

26) Her second husband was an archeologist.

27) Agatha was a private person. She was smart, imaginative and talented, but vulnerable and sensitive. I guess she was a true adventure seeker.

28) I’ve read just one of her books called And Then There Were None. It’s thrilling and powerful. I enjoyed reading it. This book captured my imagination like nothing before. It really holds you till the end.

29) I’ve just finished reading a mystery novel called The Silent Patient, which truly impressed me. The novel is full of twists and turns. It kept me intrigued from start to end. There are multiple characters introduced and really well described. This book is exactly what I’ve been looking for: a fast-paced and absorbing psychological thriller.

30) Actually, I like to read all kinds of books, fiction and non-fiction. But most of all, I love detective stories. Such books are always full of suspense and unexpected twists. They create tension, and you literally can’t tear yourself away from them. Sometimes, I feel like reading romance novels or adventure stories.

Exercise 2

an action-packed detective story with an unpredictable ending; to stage her disappearance; the unsurpassed “Queen of Crime”; a short story collection; an iconic character; a beloved father; imaginary friends; to grieve the loss of someone; all of a sudden; to live apart; the relationship reached a stalemate; the mysterious disappearance; safe and well; to cope with painful emotions; wanderlust / passion for traveling; her disappearance caused a great public outcry; that’s how the world works; they grew apart; to take piano and singing lessons; lesser-known facts; to puzzle over; there was speculation; to take revenge on her husband; to check into a hotel

Exercise 3

самая продаваемая писательница в мире; хитрый план; отправиться в кругосветное путешествие; настоящая искательница приключений; справиться со всеми жизненными трудностями; спустя время; бесследно исчезнуть при подозрительных обстоятельствах; в часе езды от дома; финансовые трудности; построить карьеру в области музыки; замкнутый человек; двигаться вперед (жить дальше); братья и сестры; наложить отпечаток (на что-либо); громкая ссора; обучаться на дому; зарегистрироваться в отеле; военный офицер; природная застенчивость; иметь богатое воображение; мир рухнул в одночасье; готовить план побега; зайти в тупик; личные вещи

Exercise 4

1 e; 2 a; 3 b; 4 f; 5 c; 6 d; 7 g; 8 i; 9 h; 10 j

DETECTIVE RIDDLE No. 1

1) Mr. Johnson could not possibly be the thief because he didn’t have a motive to cancel or postpone a test. As we all know, tests are the best way to evaluate students. Mr. Johnson was obviously a disinterested party.

2) Ann could not possibly be the thief. She was an excellent student who was always ready for a test.

3) Pam could not possibly be the thief because she had been prepared for a test. It was not in her interest.

4) Nick was the thief. He was a bad student and had a motive. His mom got a letter about his poor attendance. Apparently, he was about to drop out of school.

5) Cindy could not possibly be the thief because she wasn’t at school that day.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Exercise 1

1) Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh.

2) Arthur Conan Doyle was born into a prosperous family. His father was a member of а well-respected artistic family.

3) His mother had a passion for books.

4) His father was an illustrator and a watercolorist.

5) He was a man of great intelligence and boundless energy; an all-rounder who was guided by high moral principles.

6) Not at all. He never liked the boarding school, especially because it practiced corporal punishment.

7) Contrary to the family tradition, Doyle decided to pursue а career in medicine.

8) He was a keen sportsman. Doyle was good at football, cricket, golf, billiards, and rugby. Besides, he liked to ski very much.

9) Dr. Bell was Doyle’s teacher. He had exceptional observation and deductive skills.

10) He was twenty-three. The book was never published because it was lost in the post. However, Doyle rewrote this story, and it was published posthumously only in 2011.

11) Arthur Conan Doyle was married twice. He had five children: two children from his first marriage and three children from his second marriage.

12) Doyle’s first wife was his patient’s sister.

13) His wife was terminally ill: she was expected just a few months to live at the most.

14) Doyle was determined to extend her life. And he did it. Louisa lived another thirteen years.

15) Life was tough on him. He lost many loved ones: his son, brother, wife, etc.

16) His debut novel was called A Study in Scarlet. It first appeared in 1887 in the magazine and in 1888 was republished as a single volume.

17) Sherlock Holmes’ character was inspired by the real person Dr. Joseph Bell.

18) Well, I’ve never read a book about Sherlock Holmes, but I watched an action film starring Robert Downey. So, I immediately think of a tall man who is wearing an elegant hat and a black overcoat.

19) Apart from detective novels and science fiction, Arthur Conan Doyle also wrote poems, plays, and historical novels.

20) They were fake. The fairies were created, staged, and photographed by the two cousins Elsie and Francеs.

21) Among his most well-known books are The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Lost World, and many others.

22) In my opinion, the greatest mystery novels of all time are The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, and The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.

23) One of my favorite mystery novels is The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. The story is about four pensioners who investigate murders. This book is a real page-turner! I was also impressed by the book called Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. It kept me intrigued from start to end.

24) As for me,