Reading Time I

Here are some exercises for your reading. 

Sherlock Holms

In 1885 a young doctor named Arthur Conan Doyle opened offices in London. He wanted to be a successful doctor but for some reason he never found enough patients. To pass the time he began to write stories and send them to the newspaper.

Conan Doyle’s stories were about a clever detective, Sherlock Holmes. Conan Doyle wrote that Sherlock Holmes lived at 221b Baker Street in London, and people with problems came to him for help. Often police detectives came to Sherlock Holmes with their problems, too. He was able to solve mysteries that the smartest policemen in England were unable to figure out.

Sometimes Sherlock Holmes could solve a mystery without leaving his chair. He listened carefully to the information his clients gave and then figured out the answer. At other times he spent days or weeks looking for clues. Sherlock Holmes traveled to different cities and countries to solve the mysteries. Sometimes he wore disguises and pretended to be an old man, or a sailor. Holmes did anything to find the answer to the mysteries he was working on. His friend Dr. Watson accompanied him on most of his adventures.

Sherlock Holmes is the most famous detective in English literature, but many people don’t understand that he is a fictional character, not a real person. The English post officers report that people send mail to Sherlock Holmes at 221b Baker St, every day. He gets more than 2,000 letters every year.

©     Information, Please

Use facts from the reading and your own knowledge and ideas. Write your answers on a separate piece of paper

1.      What did Arthur Conan Doyle wan to be?

2.      What is Arthur Conan Doyle famous for?

3.      Who bought and read Doyle’s stories in 1885?

4.      In Doyle’s stories, who came to see Sherlock Holmes?

5.      In the stories, how do you think the English policemen tell about Sherlock Holmes?

6.      How did Sherlock Holmes solve the mysteries?

©     Sequences

These sentences are out of order. When they are put in the right sequence, they will tell a story. Read the sentences. Decide which sentence comes first, second, third, etc. On your paper, rewrite the sentences in the correct sequence.

	The people of London loved the mysteries and asked the newspaper to print more.
	Arthur Conan Doyle started writing mystery stories in 1885.
	Today people still read and love the mystery cases solved by the brilliant Sherlock Holmes.
	He named this detective Sherlock Holmes.
	He wrote about a strange fictional character, a brilliant detective who smoked a pipe and played the violin.
	The first Sherlock Holmes mystery stories were printed in London newspaper.
	Conan Doyle’s stories were translated into many languages, and Sherlock Holmes became famous all over the world.

©     Drawing Conclusion

Use information given in the reading to draw your own conclusion. Write your answer on a piece of paper.

1.      Who do you think writes to Sherlock Holmes? Why do they write?

2.      Do you think Arthur Conan Doyle answers Sherlock Holmes mail? Why or why not?

3.      You can draw the conclusion from this reading that:

a.       Arthur Conan Doyle was the real Dr. Watson.

b.      Arthur Conan Doyle was more successful as a writer than as a doctor

c.       London is a city of many mysteries.

Good Luck

Taken from IN GOOD COMPANY BY Ann Marry Drayton and Charles Skidmore