English Lessons with Sherlock A course for upper intermediate students, by David Nicholls
The focus of this course is on vocabulary and reporting verbs
Sherlock Holmes A Scandal in Belgravia
Comprehension: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)
What is the first crime which Sherlock investigates by live stream? How does Sherlock view the crime scene? Why has Sherlock been called to Buckingham Palace? Why does he first refuse to investigate the case? Who is Irene Adler and what does she have? What does she want from the illustrious client? 6) What does Sherlock steal from Buckingham Palace? 7) How does Sherlock guess the code for the safe? 8) What amusing thing happens to Sherlock’s phone? 9) How does Sherlock insult everyone at the Christmas party? 10) Why does Sherlock believe that Irene Adler must be dead? 11) What is it that is so precious on Irene’s phone? 12) What is Mycroft’s solution to the ‘Coventry Conundrum’? 13) Who is Irene Adler working for? 14) How does Sherlock deduce that Irene has feelings for him? 15) Does Irene survive?
Match the adjectives with their equivalents, and then use them in the sentences (some are from the show) Transparent Illustrious Anonymous Delicate Modest humiliating delusional brainy marvellous atrocious jealous
Distinguished See through (obvious) Prone to self-deception Nameless Very clever Fragile or sensitive Really awful humble Degrading and shaming envious wonderful
1) Sherlock’s was asked by an ____ client who wished to remain ____ to investigate a case. 2) Sherlock thought that the first case of the hitchhiker was ____. 3) Watson thought it was ____ that he had to go to the crime scene without Sherlock, and show him everything using a laptop. 4) ____ is the new sexy. 5) Sherlock upset everyone at the party. His behaviour was ____
www.skype-lessons.com Match the collocations, and then use them in the sentences Clear Glance Compromising hour solve witness eager Shame pupils Bump 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
at s.t your throat of need crimes photographs into s.o dilate to impress on s.o protection scheme
Holmes and Watson ____ ____ together. Mycroft ____ ____ the police reports and immediately solved the crime. The illustrious client came to Sherlock in their ____ ____ ____. I assume that Irene Adler has some ____ ____ Mrs Hudson leave Baker street? ____ ____ ____, John Watson. England would fall. In my opinion, Sherlock is a little too ____ ____ ____ on this BBC version. Something missing in the original character.
www.skype-lessons.com Match the expressions with their equivalents, and then use them in the sentences (in the correct forms) There’s no point in Punch s.o I’m used to blackmail For god’s sake! To keep an eye on s.t To keep people in the dark The deceased
1) 2) 3) 4) 5)
For goodness sake! The crime of asking for money in order not to reveal a secret Watch s.t closely There’s no reason to Hit s.o with a fist The dead I’m familiar with Make sure something remains secret
If you see Sherlock, try not to ____ him ____ ____ ____ mystery at one end of my cases, both ends is too much work. ____ ____ ____, put your clothes on! There will be more. They will be ____ ____ ____ ____ the building Irene Adler was skilled in the art of ____.
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Use the following verbs to report what was said. Remember to use the correct forms. Here are a few examples of the different types Want to do (+ to + infinitive) promise, threaten, offer Tell s.o to do (object + to + infinitive) ask, warn, advise, order, persuade, remind Congratulate s.o on doing (object + preposition + gerund) accuse s.o (of), thank s.o (for) Avoid doing (+ gerund) deny, admit, regret, suggest, recommend Insist on doing (+ preposition + gerund) apologise for, Say that (+ that + clause) promise, insist, suggest, deny, admit Tell s.o that assure, assume, persuade, convince, warn, advise, insist, remind (NOT ask)
1) ‘For God’s sake, put your clothes on!’ Mycroft insisted 2) ‘I don’t know the code!’ Holmes denied 3) ‘Are we here to see the Queen?’ Watson asked 4) ‘Can’t you both, for once, behave like grown-ups? Mycroft suggested 5) ‘May I say sorry for how my brother is dressed’ Mycroft apologised 6) ‘In this hour of need, Sherlock, your name has arisen’ Mycroft admitted 7) ‘And I suppose this woman has some compromising photographs’ Holmes assumed 8) ‘Punch me in the face’ Holmes asked 9) ‘I was a soldier! I killed people’ Watson reminded 10) ‘If you don’t open the safe, I’m going to kill Dr Watson’ The American threatened 11) ‘There will be more men coming. They will be keeping an eye on the building’ Holmes warned
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ANSWERS 1) A man has been killed by a blow to the head by a stream. No murder weapon has been found and the only suspect is the man who found the body. He has come to Sherlock form advice. 2) He uses a Wi fi connection on Watson’s laptop. 3) His brother, Mycroft Holmes, has a case for him to investigate.
4) Because Mycroft refuses to tell him the name of the client and this upsets Sherlock. 5) She is a dominatrix who has already been involved in two political scandals. She has compromising photos of a young, female politician. Apparently, she wants nothing. She needs them for ‘insurance’ and not blackmail. 6) An ashtray 7) Irene Adler tells him that she has already given him the code. He guesses that she means her measurements – she gave him them when she came in naked. 8) Irene Adler changes the noise it makes when he receives a text. 9) He forgets the name of Dr Watson’s girlfriend, tells Lestrade that his wife is still having an affair, and tells Molly that she is in love with the person that she brought the present for, only to find out that it is for himself. 10) He knows that she needed the phone for protection (it had the photos on it). But she gave it up (it was Sherlock’s Christmas present). Then he goes to the morgue and sees her dead body. 11) It’s not just the photos. There is information about a bomb on a flight. 12) Fill up a plane up with dead bodies, and let the bomb explode, but on an empty plane. The terrorists would then be unaware that the security services were watching them. 13) Jim Moriarty, ‘the consultant criminal’. 14) Because her pupils dilated and her pulse got faster when he came near her. 15) Mycroft believes that she has been beheaded by terrorists. He tells Watson to tell Holmes that she is in America on a witness protection scheme. But in reality, Sherlock saved her, (!!!???) and now she is perhaps OK…..