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

21) Because he was deeply affected by the death of his best friend Charles Dickens and became almost blind.

22) Wilkie Collins died from a stroke in London on September 23, 1889. Every step of the way, his “muse” Caroline was by his side.

23) According to Collins’ last will, his inheritance was divided into equal parts among the two women and their children. He wanted his inheritance to go to his closest relatives rather than to fall into the wrong hands of their wives or husbands.

24) Collins’ daughter Harriet became a victim of a cheat. Her husband, Henry Bartley, a trustee of Wilkie Collins’s estate, fraudulently took possession of her money.

25) The most famous works of Collins are The Moonstone and The Woman in White.

26) I’ve read The Woman in White. It kept me intrigued from start to end. This book is a real page-turner!

27) Well, I immediately think of Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Edgar Allan Poe. A modern writer I would recommend is Donato Carrisi.

Exercise 2

a paternal grandmother; every cloud has a silver lining; contrary to the expectations; a piercing scream; to be uniformly kind and considerate to children; over time; at his father’s insistence; to enjoy the spectacular scenery; a marriage of love; to gain recognition within the literary circles; to settle in France; prominent figures of the day; no correspondence survived; social events; to lead a secluded lifestyle; to become а victim of a cheat

Exercise 3

завладеть деньгами; ближайшие родственники; присутствовать на свадебной церемонии; храбрый рыцарь; иметь терапевтический (лечебный) эффект; вспоминать самые счастливые моменты жизни; понять смысл жизни; составить завещание; частый гость; расплатиться с многочисленными долгами; преданная мать и жена; неисчерпаемый сочинитель; дама сердца; происхождение и личность; иметь свое собственное представление; избранница; быть рядом с кем-то; заблаговременно; предусмотрительный (осторожный) по природе

Exercise 4

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

DETECTIVE RIDDLE No. 5

1) Mrs. Green couldn’t possibly be the burglar because at the time of the crime she was making a festive dinner. However, she could have suspected someone because her face turned all red from shame or anger.

2) Tom couldn’t possibly be the burglar because he had a broken leg.

3) Brian was the burglar. As it was mentioned, the events took place in winter. So, we have the evidence: Brian’s cheeks were red from cold. It means that he clearly lied about his exam preparation. It seemed that he had just got home.

4) Kurt couldn’t possibly be the burglar because he looked sleepy and had worked the night shift.

Mary Roberts Rinehart

Exercise 1

1) Mary Roberts Rinehart was born on August 12, 1876, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

2) Her maiden name was Mary Ella Roberts.

3) Her father’s name was Thomas, and her mother’s name was Cornelia.

4) Rinehart family lived modestly because Mary’s father was an unsuccessful inventor and couldn’t provide a better life for his kids.

5) They moved to their own house when her younger sister was born.

6) She chose a creative path and became an author of children’s books and a columnist.

7) She graduated from the Pittsburgh Training School for Nurses.

8) Mary met her husband in college. His name was Stanley Marshall Rinehart.

9) Mary’s husband was a homeopathic doctor.

10) She wrote her first stories when she was about fifteen.

11) The couple had three sons. According to some sources, they also had a daughter, but nothing is known about her except her name.

12) After the stock market crash in 1903, Mary and Stanley lost their savings. So, she decided to support her husband and to contribute to the family budget.

13) Her first book was called The Circular Staircase. The novel was an immediate success.

14) She worked as a war correspondent and interviewed a lot of prominent historic figures, such as Winston Churchill and Mary of Teck.

15) More than enough. Her family had everything they could have ever wanted: a giant apartment, a luxurious mansion, and even servants.

16) Her husband died in 1932 with his family by his side.

17) No, she never married again after her husband’s death.

18) Stanley and Frederick devoted themselves to publishing, and Alan became a writer, a film producer, and a playwright.

19) She had a heart condition and also suffered from cancer and underwent а major surgery.

20) It was her Filipino cook Blas Reyes.

21) The cook fired the gun and then attempted to stab her.

22) He had worked for the Rinehart family for twenty-five years.

23) Mary’s chauffeur Ted and the gardener came to her aid. Ted grabbed the gun and then together they knocked Reyes down and tied his hands.

24) When the attacker was interrogated by police, he was unable to give any motive. Probably, Reyes wasn’t happy with Mary’s new butler. Besides, he didn’t like to take orders from the woman and wanted to quit.

25) Mary Roberts Rinehart died in her sleep on September 22, 1958.

26) Among her most famous works are The Circular Staircase, The Wall, The Lipstick, The Door, and many others.

27) Definitely. I always read books before sleep. Bedtime stories have been my favorite pastime since childhood. They help me calm down, unwind, and dive into the world of adventures and magic.

Exercise 2

to lose one’s savings; to make up stories; to live modestly; to overcome a lot of hardships that the fate had in stock; keep one’s head high; for one’s own pleasure; human life is cyclical; to blame oneself; to build a successful career; scared to death; to build character; a hateful job; to have a fight; an attempted murder; to break one’s spirit; to contribute to the family budget; to have regular medical check-ups

Exercise 3

следовать за своей мечтой; упасть духом; плодовитый писатель; проблемы со здоровьем; сложные жизненные ситуации; подниматься по лестнице; повлиять на здоровье; нажать на курок; пожилая женщина; в здравом уме; ненавистная работа; оставаться сильной и жизнерадостной; врач-гомеопат; расставлять ловушки преступникам; попробовать свои силы в писательстве; обеспечить своим детям хороший старт в жизни

Exercise 4

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

DETECTIVE RIDDLE No. 6

1) Mr. Walker was not the criminal because he had an alibi. He had been fixing his car. The detective noticed that Mr. Walker’s hands were black from the motor oil.

2) Thomas couldn’t possibly be the criminal because he was in a grey suit and white sneakers. He had been working out at the gym. The detective could easily check this by getting in touch with the gym staff.

3) David couldn’t possibly be a criminal because he just got out of the shower. The detective noticed that his hair was wet, and he was dressed in a bathrobe.

4) Bob was the criminal. Не was wearing blue jeans. Besides, his hair was damp because of the rain outside.

Сноски

1

Spiritualism is a movement based on the belief that souls of the dead can communicate with the living through a medium.

2

Сумеречное состояние – состояние, характеризующееся кратковременной потерей ясности сознания и отрешенностью от окружающего мира.

3

Social climber is a person who attempts to gain a higher social position or acceptance in high society.