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

hit a dead end [hɪt ə ded end] – заходить в тупик

grow apart [grəʊ əˈpɑːt] – отдаляться друг от друга

as it turned out [æz ɪt tɜːnd aʊt] – как оказалось, выяснилось

overnight [ˌəʊvəˈnaɪt] – в одночасье, неожиданно, мгновенно

devastated [ˈdevəsteɪtɪd] – опустошенный, подавленный

separation [ˌsepəˈreɪʃn] – разлука, расставание

breaking up [ˈbreɪkɪŋ ʌp] – расставание, разрыв

split up [splɪt ʌp] – расставаться, расходиться

divorce [dɪˈvɔːs] – развестись

vulnerable [ˈvʌlnərəbl] – уязвимый, беззащитный

kiss goodnight [kɪs ˌɡʊdˈnaɪt] – поцеловать кого-то на ночь, перед сном

personal belongings [ˈpɜːsənl bɪˈlɔːŋɪŋz] – личные вещи

speculation [spekjʊˈleɪʃn] – предположение, домысел, догадка

worst-case scenario [wɜːst keɪs səˈnæriəʊ] – наихудший сценарий

kidnap [ˈkɪdnæp] – похищать

take revenge (on) [teɪk rɪˈvenʤ ɑːn] – отомстить, взять реванш

cunning ploy [ˈkʌnɪŋ plɔɪ] – хитрый ход

stage [steɪʤ] – инсценировать

manhunt [ˈmænhʌnt] – преследование, розыск

cause a public outcry [kɔːz ə ˈpʌblɪk ˈaʊtkraɪ] – вызывать общественный резонанс

nervous breakdown [ˈnɜːvəs ˈbreɪkdaʊn] – нервный срыв

loss of memory [lɔːs əv ˈmemərɪ] – потеря памяти

bond over [bɑːnd ˈəʊvə] – сходиться, сближаться на почве

passion for traveling [pæʃn fɔː ˈtrævəlɪŋ] – страсть к путешествиям

wanderlust [ˈwɑːndəlʌst] – страсть к путешествиям

adventure seeker [ədˈvenʧə ˈsiːkə] – искатель приключений

Exercises

Exercise 1. Answer the following questions:

1) What does the English proverb “Every family has a skeleton in the cupboard” mean?

2) When and where was Agatha Christie born?

3) What was her maiden name?

4) Did Agatha have any siblings?

5) How many books did Agatha Christie write?

6) What famous fictional characters did Agatha Christie create?

7) What kind of education did she get?

8) At what age did Agatha Christie learn to read?

9) What did she like doing in her free time as a child?

10) What prevented Agatha from pursuing a career in music?

11) What was her first husband’s name?

12) What did Agatha Christie do during World War I?

13) When was her debut novel published? How much time did it take her to find a publisher?

14) Who did Agatha Christie dedicate her first book to?

15) Did Agatha have any children?

16) What caused her mysterious disappearance?

17) Were there any versions of what had happened?

18) How long had Agatha been missing before she was found?

19) Where was she found?

20) What name was the reservation under?

21) Did she give an explanation of her disappearance?

22) What did doctors say about her condition?

23) In your opinion, what was the main reason for her disappearance?

24) How long did it take her to get over a divorce?

25) What was her second husband’s name?

26) What was his profession?

27) In your opinion, what kind of person was Agatha Christie?

28) Have you ever read any books by Agatha Christie? What is your opinion on it?

29) What book have you recently read that really impressed you?

30) What kind of books do you like to read?

Exercise 2. Find the equivalents of the following words and phrases in the text:

остросюжетный детектив с непредсказуемой развязкой; инсценировать собственное исчезновение; непревзойденная королева детективного жанра; сборник коротких рассказов; культовый персонаж; горячо любимый отец; воображаемые друзья; переживать утрату; как гром среди ясного неба; жить в разлуке; отношения зашли в тупик; таинственное исчезновение; целая и невредимая; справиться с болезненными эмоциями; страсть к путешествиям; исчезновение вызвало большой общественный резонанс; так устроен мир; они отдалились друг от друга; брать уроки фортепиано и пения; менее известные факты; ломать голову; ходили слухи; отомстить мужу; зарегистрироваться в гостинице

Exercise 3. Give the Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases:

the world’s best-selling novelist; a cunning ploy; to go on a round-the-world trip; a true adventure seeker; to overcome all life’s challenges; over time; to vanish without a trace in suspicious circumstances; an hour’s ride from home; financial hardships; to pursue a career in music; a private person; to move on; siblings; to leave an imprint (on); a fierce argument; to be home schooled; to check into a hotel; military officer; natural shyness; to have a rich imagination; the world collapsed overnight; to prepare an escape plan; to come to a dead end; personal belongings

Exercise 4. Match the words with their definitions:

Detective Riddle No. 1

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a detective? If so, let’s see if you have the ability to be one. Read the story carefully and collect all the clues that lead to the suspect. Find all the information needed to solve the mystery.

● Collect the evidence, check out alibis and interrogate each suspect to solve the crime.

● Possible suspects: Mr. Johnson, Ann, Pam, Nick, Cindy.

Ms. Smith, an English teacher, got to school a few minutes before the beginning of the lesson. She came across her colleague Mr. Johnson, in the entrance hall, and they had a small talk. She put her handbag and the classroom key on the table and answered the phone. Three of her students (Ann, Pam, and Nick) were standing nearby. Then Ms. Smith checked her email on her smartphone. There was a message from her student Cindy with a request. The girl explained her reason for not attending school. Then Ms. Smith looked at her watch and hurried to the classroom. The class test was scheduled to start in five minutes.

When Ms. Smith got there, she started feeling that something was wrong. The door was locked, and the students were waiting outside. Ann was helping her classmate with his homework. She was a straight A student and was always ready for school. Pam was playing games on her mobile. She was standing by herself, which was unusual for her. Pam wasn’t too nervous because she had prepared for the test the day before. Nick looked upset or puzzled. He did poorly at school and lagged behind his classmates. Yesterday, his mom got a letter from the headmaster about his poor school attendance.

As it turned out, the key was nowhere to be found. Someone had stolen it. Miss Marple entered the crime scene and immediately solved the case. Who was the thief?

Arthur Conan Doyle

(May 22, 1859 – July 7, 1930)

It is no wonder they say that a talented person is talented in everything. This catchphrase fully reflects the personality of Arthur Conan Doyle, the legendary writer, poet, physician, sportsman, and spiritualist. This list goes on indefinitely. Well, I happen to think that Arthur Conan Doyle was an all-rounder, successful in anything he did. He was a man of great intelligence and boundless energy. However, at the same time, his life was full of contradictions and paradoxes. After all, judge for yourself: how could a skilled physician believe in the existence of fairies and ghosts? Could it be that, somewhere deep in his heart, he was still a child? He was so desperate for the supernatural that strange things started to happen in his life. Did you know that his first book was mysteriously lost in the post? Can it really be true that we attract what we believe? Let’s look for answers to these and other questions and trace the remarkable life of the greatest writer of all time – Arthur Conan Doyle.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the “literary father” of Sherlock Holmes, the most popular fictional character in the history of literature. The legendary writer was born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh, into a prosperous family. His mother, Mary, was a lively and well-educated woman who had a passion for books. Arthur would often say that he inherited his storytelling talent from her. Doyle’s father, Charles, was an illustrator and a watercolorist; a member of a well-respected artistic family. However, a lot of his talent was wasted because of his health issues. Charles always felt he could do