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sherlock-holmes-reading-comprehension

The document discusses the fictional characters Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, highlighting their friendship, roles in the stories, and Holmes's complex personality traits. It explains how Holmes was one of the first fictional detectives to use forensic science and emphasizes the popularity of mystery stories in Victorian England. Additionally, the document includes questions and activities related to the text for further engagement.

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Adelina Cosoveanu
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26 views

sherlock-holmes-reading-comprehension

The document discusses the fictional characters Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, highlighting their friendship, roles in the stories, and Holmes's complex personality traits. It explains how Holmes was one of the first fictional detectives to use forensic science and emphasizes the popularity of mystery stories in Victorian England. Additionally, the document includes questions and activities related to the text for further engagement.

Uploaded by

Adelina Cosoveanu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sherlock Holmes and John Watson

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote many stories with these two characters. If you read all of
the stories, you can almost believe that Sherlock Holmes and John Watson really existed! In
fact, there's a museum in London at 221B Baker's Street where Sherlock and John lived. All the
details of their flat have been recreated. Visitors are regularly confused because it is so realistic.
So here are some *facts about this famous duo...

When Sherlock Holmes moved to London in 1874, he didn't have much money. His
rooms at 221B Baker Street were too expensive for him, so he decided to *share the cost with John
Watson. And that was the beginning of their friendship.

Watson is the narrator of the stories. He follows Holmes and helps him. He's a doctor
and sometimes his medical skills help Sherlock Holmes in the investigations. He doesn't always
understand the mysteries, but he tries to guess, exactly like the reader. He also tells the reader
about Holmes's qualities and his defects.

Sherlock Holmes is a more complex character. He's extremely intelligent, he has a


remarkable memory and he can be very dynamic. He notices *tiny details and connects all the clues
to reach the conclusion and solve the crime. He isn't always easy-going, but he's a faithful friend.
He's sensitive but he doesn't show his sensitivity, he likes to help the victims of tragedies.

He's also very hardworking and determined when a case interests him. When he doesn't have
a case, or when he *needs to relax, Holmes plays the violin. When he can't understand a case, or
when he's bored, he can become aggressive and agitated. And sometimes he's a little scornful with
Watson because Watson doesn't understand the cases quickly and *needs explanations.

At the time when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories were published, detective stories
were a new genre and Sherlock Holmes was one of the first fictional investigators. Sherlock Holmes
is the first to use forensic science: chemistry equipment, fingerprints, footprints and medical
knowledge. He also uses his excellent education and encyclopedic memory, train timetables,
maps, weather forecasts, etc. Finally Holmes understood the importance of human psychology to
solve a crime.
Conan Doyle believed that in a mystery story, you must give the reader all the elements
to find the solution. Reading his books and trying to solve the crime became a very popular pastime
in Victorian England. You can try too!

1. There are many transparent words in the text. Give four examples in
the first paragraph.

2. There is a "false friend" in the text too. Give the correct translation and find other
examples in the text.

"Character" (l.1) doesn't mean "personality ", it means _________________________________

3. Read the definitions and suggest a translation for the underlined words:

a. It's very easy to live with an easy-going person (l. 12).


b. A faithful person (l. 12) is a person that you can count on, it's a person who is always there for
you.
c. When you don't have anything to do, you feel bored (l.14).
d. A scornful person (l. 15) feels superior to other people.
4. Complete this chart with information about the personalities of the characters.

Sherlock Holmes John Watson


Qualities

Defects

5. Translate the following part of the text

Sherlock Holmes is a more complex character. He's extremely intelligent, he has a remarkable

memory and he can be very dynamic. He notices *tiny details and connects all the clues to reach

the conclusion and solve the crime. He isn't always easy-going, but he's a faithful friend. He's

sensitive but he doesn't show his sensitivity, he likes to help the victims of tragedies. He's also very

hardworking and determined when a case interests him

Sherlock Holmes and John Watson

6. Circle the pictures that correspond to what Sherlock Holmes uses according to the text:

7. True or false? Justify by quoting the text.

a. Sherlock Holmes and John Watson really existed.

b. Sherlock Holmes lived in London all his life.


c. He wasn't rich.

d. Sherlock Holmes was always aggressive.

e. He didn't understand people, he only understood * facts.

8. The text mentions two things that fans of Sherlock Holmes can do. What are they?

Bonus question: What was the name of the British monarch at the time of Sherlock Holmes?

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