UNIT 6: SHERLOCK HOLMES - THE CASE OF THE BLUE DIAMOND

UNIT 6: SHERLOCK HOLMES - THE CASE OF THE BLUE DIAMOND

(SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE)

AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY

     Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 – 1930), born in Edingburgh, Scotland, is best known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes. He statrted writing after working as a doctor and soon became one of the world’s best-known authors. His adventure story The Lost World is also available in Dominoes.
NOTES:
magnifying glass: when you look through this, small things are big
walking stick: a long, thin piece of wood; you use this to help you to walk
countess: the wife of a rich, important man
High Court: the most important court in the country
cab: a taxi
feel sorry for: to be unhappy about
witness: a person who saw a crime
Before reading

Activity 1:

+ This story is about a blue diamond. Find the word ‘diamond’ in the dictionary. Which among the following sentences expresses the meaning of a diamond?

a. A piece of stone that can be found in the museum.
b. A very expensive stone that usually has no color.
c. A special kind of wood that can be seen in the forest.
d. A kind of wine that can be found in a pub.

Answer:

Activity 2:

+ Find these words in your dictionary. They are all in the story.

 crime
 brain
 magnifying
 glass
 pub
 goose
 doorman
 walking stick
 innocent
 town people
 cab

Which are words for:

a. animals?
b. people?
c. things?

Answers:

Activity 3:

+ All of the following words are in the story. Use them to complete the given sentences.

terrible      innocent      winner            interesting      jewel         feel            sorry for         court             look back over

a. It was a accident.
b. Mary read a very book on History.
c. Tom the poor old man.
d. The criminal was brought to for trial.

Answers:

While reading
Activity 4:
+ Here are the people in The Blue Diamond. Guess what kind of work they do. Type the correct words or phrases in the box.

	a. Mr Peterson
	b. Mr Baker
	c. James Ryder
	d. John Horner
	e. Catherine Cusack
	f. Mrs Hudson
	g. Mr Windigate
	h. Mr Breckinridge
	i. Mrs Oakshot

Answers:

Activity 5:

+ Match the sentences with the pictures. Type the correct letter in the box.

1. ‘When he got to Tottenham Court Road he saw, in the street in front of him, a tall man with a goose over his shoulder.’
2. ‘There was a tall man already at Sherlock Holmes’s front door when I came down the street.’
3. ‘He put his head in his hands and began to cry.’
4. ‘Breckinridge stood, tall and angry, in front of his shop door. A weak little man stood in front of him in the street.’
5. ‘Peterson opened his hand. There was a beautiful blue diamond in it.’
6. ‘We walked south and soon came to Mr Breckinridge’s shop.’

Answers:

Activity 6:

+ Correct the mistakes in these sentences. Type the correct words or phrases in the box.
a. The Countess paid 2,000 francs for the diamond.
b. Holmes understands how the diamond got into the goose.
c. The police thinks James Ryder took it.
d. Mr. Peterson leaves the diamond with his wife.
e. The diamond disappeared from the Countess’s mansion.
f. Holmes wants to find John Horner.

Answers:

Activity 7:

+ Choose the right words or phraes to finish the sentences.

1. Holmes thinks the diamond is …
a. wonderful and good
b. beautiful but bad
c. nice and cheap

2. Holmes feels …
a. angry with Mr. Breckinridge
b. happy about the case
c. tired

3. Holmes asks Mr. Breckinridge …
a. about the geese
b. about the diamond
c. about the Cosmopolitan Hotel

4. After Mr Baker leaves, Holmes and Watson go to speak to …
a. Jack Horner
b. Mrs. Oakshott
c. Mr Windigate, the owner of the Alpha

Answers:

Activity 8:

+ Listen to the speaker. He will read Chapter 6 (One or Two Questions) in the story (in the CD-ROM).

Activity 9:

+ Listen and repeat after the speaker.
Oakshott
Amoy
Breckinridge
magnifying
solution
witness
assistant
manager
detective
Cosmopolitan Hotel
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+ Which words above have the following transcription? Type the words in the boxes.

/∂dvf:twsm∂nt/
/dwtektwv/
/mænw®∂r/
/kozm∂polwt∂n/
/wwtn∂s/
/mægnwfawwŋ/

Answers:

Activity 10:

+ Correct some mistakes in this summary of the story. Type the correct words or phrases in the box right after each mistake.
    Holmes and Watson talk in the street near Breckinridge’s hotel (a) . Holmes is not happy (b) to get Countess Morcar’s address. Behind them they hear Mr. Breckinridge singing (c) in front of his shop with a big man. This man is very interested in Mrs. Oakshott’s dogs (d) . Mr. Breckinridge gets angry (e) with him. Holmes tells the man that he knows nothing (f) about the case. The man says his name is John Redman, but his real name is James Ryder. And he himself is the diamond owner (g) .

Answers:

After reading
Activity 11:
+ Match the folowing sentences with the pictures. Type the correct letter in the box.

1. Mr. Windigate gave us some beer.	a.
2. Holmes opened his safe and took out the blue diamond.	b.
3. Peterson took the goose and the hat home with him.	c.
4. Peterson opened his hand. There was a beautiful blue diamond in it.	d.
5. ‘So we got into the cab and went home. Ryder looked excited but said nothing. Holmes didn’t speak at all in the cab.’	e.

Answers:

Activity 12:

+ Put these sentences in the correct order. Number them 1-7. Type the corrcet number in the box.
a. Mr Breckinridge is angry with Holmes.
b. Holmes asks Mr Breckinridge about the geese.
c. Holmes gives Mr Breckinridge a pound.
d. Mr Windigate tells Holmes about Mr. Breckinridge’s shop.
e. Mr Breckinridge tells Holmes about Mrs Oakshott.
f.  Holmes and Watson go to the Alpha.
g. Holmes and Watson go to Covent Garden.

Answers: