The Hound of the Baskervilles – Easy English Story for Beginners (Level A1/A2): An adapted version of the famous Sherlock Holmes story about a mysterious curse and a terrifying-for aults and kids, page 52
The Hound of the Baskervilles – Easy English Story for Beginners (Level A1/A2)
An adapted version of the famous Sherlock Holmes story about a mysterious curse and a terrifying hound — retold in clear and easy English for all ages.
Chapter 1
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
Glossary
Answers to All Tasks
Chapter 2
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
Glossary
Answers to All Tasks
Chapter 3
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
Glossary
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Chapter 4
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
Glossary
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Chapter 5
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
Glossary
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Chapter 6
Exam Practice Tasks
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Glossary
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Chapter 7
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
Glossary
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Chapter 8
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
Glossary
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Chapter 9
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
Glossary
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Chapter 10
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
Glossary
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Chapter 11
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
Glossary
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Chapter 12
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
Glossary
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Chapter 13
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
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Chapter 14
Exam Practice Tasks
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Chapter 15
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
Glossary
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Chapter 16
Exam Practice Tasks
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Multiple Choice
Glossary
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Chapter 1
Mr. Sherlock Holmes is usually late in the mornings. He was at the breakfast table. I stood by the fireplace and picked up a stick. A visitor left it the night before. The stick was thick and made of wood. It had a round top and was called a “Penang lawyer.” There was a silver band on it with the words “To James Mortimer, M.R.C.S., from his friends of the C.C.H.” The date was “1884.” It was a stick that a doctor might use.
Holmes asked me, “What do you think of it?”
I told him, “I think Dr. Mortimer is a good doctor. People like him.”
Holmes said, “Good! What else?”
I replied, “He is probably a country doctor who walks a lot.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because the stick is worn out from walking. A city doctor would not carry such a stick.”
“Very good!” Holmes said.
I continued, “The initials ‘C.C.H.’ might mean a local hunt. He may have helped them as a doctor.”
Holmes smiled. “You are clever, Watson. You help me find the truth.”
I was happy to hear this. I tried to think like Holmes. He took the stick from me and looked at it closely. Then he looked at it again with a magnifying glass.
He said, “There are some clues on the stick. They can help us learn about Dr. Mortimer.”
I felt important and asked, “Did I miss anything important?”
Holmes replied, “Yes, many of your ideas are wrong. But you are right that he is a country doctor who walks a lot.”
I said, “So I was right!”
Holmes added, “Yes, but there is more. The stick was probably a gift from a hospital, not a hunt. ‘C.C.’ might mean ‘Charing Cross.’”
“Maybe you’re right,” I said.
“Let’s use this idea. If ‘C.C.H.’ means ‘Charing Cross Hospital,’ what else can we find out?”
I thought and said, “He must have worked in the city before going to the country.”
Holmes replied, “Yes, but think more. Why would they give him a gift? They give gifts when someone leaves a job. Dr. Mortimer probably left the hospital to start his own practice.”
“That makes sense,” I said.
Holmes continued, “He could not be on the hospital staff. He was likely a house-surgeon or a house-physician. He left five years ago.”
I laughed and said, “So he is not an old doctor after all?”
Holmes said, “No, he is young, friendly, and has a dog. The dog is between a terrier and a mastiff.”
I laughed again. “How do you know about the dog?”
Holmes replied, “Because I see the dog outside our door. Don’t move, Watson. The owner is coming now.”
A tall, thin man entered our room. He had a long nose and big eyes behind gold glasses. He looked like a doctor but was not dressed well. He saw the stick and ran to it. “I am so glad! I thought I lost it!” he said.
Holmes asked, “A gift from Charing Cross Hospital?”
The man said, “Yes. My friends gave it to me when I got married.”
Holmes said, “That is interesting. You have changed our ideas.”
The man looked surprised. “Why is that?”
Holmes replied, “Because you left the hospital after getting married.”
The man said, “Yes, I needed to start my own home.”
Holmes said, “You are Dr. James Mortimer?”
The man corrected him, “No, Mister. I am a humble M.R.C.S.”
Holmes said, “You are a clear thinker.”
Dr. Mortimer said, “I am not practical. I have a big problem. I came to you because you are the best expert.”
Holmes asked, “Who is better than me?”
Dr. Mortimer replied, “A scientific person is better. But you are a practical man.”
Holmes said, “You should tell me your problem directly.”
Dr. Mortimer agreed and began to explain.
Exam Practice Tasks
1. Why does Sherlock Holmes think the stick is important?
2. Describe Dr. Mortimer based on what Holmes and Watson say about him.
3. What does Dr. Mortimer ask Holmes for help with?
4. How does Holmes feel about Watson’s ideas?
Fill in the blanks
1. Mr. Sherlock Holmes was usually ________ in the mornings.
2. The stick was a gift to ________ Mortimer.
3. Dr. Mortimer is a ________ doctor who walks a lot.
4. Holmes looked at the stick with a ________ glass.
Multiple Choice
1. What does the stick belong to?
a) A hunter
b) A doctor
c) A teacher
d) A farmer
2. Why did Dr. Mortimer leave the hospital?
a) He wanted to travel
b) He got married
c) He was sick
d) He wanted to retire
3. What does Holmes think about Watson's ideas?
a) They are all wrong
b) They are very good
c) They help him find the truth
d) They are silly
Glossary
amiable – friendly and pleasant
belief – a strong idea that something is true
deductions – conclusions based on facts
doctor – a person who helps sick people
examine – to look at something carefully
hospital – a place where sick people go for help
inference – a guess based on information
marriage – the act of being married
presentation – a gift given to someone
practitioner – a person who works in a profession
silver - a shiny gray – white metal
stick – a long thin piece of wood
visitor – a person who comes to see someone
worn – damaged from use
Answers to All Tasks
Answers to Exam Practice Tasks
1. The stick is important because it gives clues about Dr. Mortimer.
2. Dr. Mortimer is a good doctor, friendly, and walks a lot.
3. Dr. Mortimer asks Holmes for help with a serious problem.
4. Holmes feels that Watson’s ideas help him find the truth.
Answers to Fill in the Blanks
1. late
2. James
3. country
4. magnifying
Answers to Multiple Choice
1. b
2. b
3. c
Chapter 2
Dr. James Mortimer said, “I have a manuscript in my pocket.”
Holmes replied, “I saw it when you entered the room.”
“It is an old manuscript,” Dr. Mortimer explained.
“Is it from the early 1700s?” asked Holmes.
“Yes, the exact date is 1742,” Dr. Mortimer answered. He took it from his pocket. “This paper belongs to Sir Charles Baskerville. He died suddenly about three months ago. I was his friend and doctor. He was a strong man, but he took this document very seriously.”
Holmes took the manuscript and looked at it. “You can see the old writing here. It says ‘Baskerville Hall’ and ‘1742.’”
“It is a statement about a legend in the Baskerville family,” Dr. Mortimer said.
“But you want to talk about something more modern?” Holmes asked.
“Yes, it is a serious matter that must be decided in twenty-four hours. But this manuscript is important. May I read it to you?”
Holmes leaned back and closed his eyes. Dr. Mortimer held the manuscript in the light and read in a shaky voice:
“Many stories say how the Hound of the Baskervilles began. I come from Hugo Baskerville. I got the story from my father. I believe it is true. I want you to know that justice can punish sin but can also forgive it. Do not fear the past, but be careful in the future. Our family has suffered a lot.
“During the Great Rebellion, Hugo Baskerville was a wild and cruel man. He fell in love with a farmer’s daughter. The girl was scared of him, so she avoided him. One night, Hugo and some of his friends took the girl away while her family was not home. They brought her to Baskerville Hall. While Hugo and his friends were drinking, the girl was scared. She climbed out of a window and ran home across the moors.
“Later, Hugo went to check on her and found she was gone. He became very angry. He shouted that he would give his soul to catch her. One of his friends suggested that they set the hounds on her. Hugo ran out, called his horse, and let the dogs loose.
“The friends did not understand what was happening at first. But soon they realized what Hugo was doing. They grabbed their guns and horses and rode after him. They followed the girl’s path.
“They met a shepherd who was terrified. He told them he saw the girl and that Hugo was riding a black horse. He also saw a frightening dog behind Hugo. The shepherd felt very scared. The men rode on, but soon they felt cold fear when they saw Hugo’s horse running without him.
“They came upon the hounds, who were scared and whimpering. Three of the men went down into a valley. They found the girl dead on the ground. Hugo was also dead nearby. Above him stood a huge black creature that looked like a dog. It was killing Hugo. The three men screamed and ran away. One died that night from fear. The others lived, but they were never the same.
“This is the tale of the hound that has haunted our family since then. Many of our family members have died in strange and scary ways. But we can find comfort in knowing that justice will not always punish the innocent. Be careful when crossing the moors at night.”
After Dr. Mortimer finished reading, he looked at Sherlock Holmes. Holmes yawned and threw his cigarette into the fire.
“Well?” Holmes asked.
“Do you not find it interesting?” Dr. Mortimer asked.
“Only to a collector of fairy tales,” Holmes replied.
Dr. Mortimer took out a newspaper. “Now, Mr. Holmes, I have something more recent. This is from the Devon County Chronicle of May 14th.”
Holmes sat up, interested. Dr. Mortimer began to read:
“Sir Charles Baskerville suddenly died. He was a kind man and helped many people. He had made a lot of money in South Africa. He wanted to help the community. Many people were sad when he died.
“Sir Charles was a widower and had a simple lifestyle. He had a butler and housekeeper named Barrymore. They said he was not well and had heart problems. He liked to walk in the garden every night. On May 4th, he said he would go to London the next day. He went for his usual walk, but he never returned.
“Barrymore went to look for him and found his footprints. They led to a gate that went out to the moor. At the end of the path, they found Sir Charles's body. There was no sign of violence, but his face looked strange. The doctor said it was from heart problems. The jury decided that he died of natural causes. Sir Charles’s heir is Mr. Henry Baskerville, his brother’s son. He was in America and needs to be informed of his inheritance.”
Dr. Mortimer put the newspaper back in his pocket. “Those are the facts about Sir Charles’s death.”
“Thank you for telling me,” said Sherlock Holmes. “This case is interesting. I saw some comments about it, but I was busy with another case.”
“Is that all?” Dr. Mortimer asked.
“Please tell me more,” Holmes said.
Dr. Mortimer looked serious. “I have not told anyone else this. I didn’t want to support a superstition. I also thought Baskerville Hall might stay empty if people thought it was cursed. I thought it was better not to share everything. But I can tell you.
“There are not many people living on the moors. I saw a lot of Sir Charles. He was worried about the legend. He believed something terrible was going to happen to his family. He asked me if I had seen any strange creatures or heard the hound.
“Three weeks before he died, I visited him. He looked very scared. I saw him looking behind me in horror. I turned but saw nothing. He was very upset. I thought it was nothing.
“It was my idea for Sir Charles to go to London. He was worried, and that was bad for his health. I thought a change would help him. But then he died.”
Dr. Mortimer told Holmes he went to Baskerville Hall right after Sir Charles died. He checked everything and saw the footprints. “Sir Charles lay on the ground, and his face was twisted in fear. There were no injuries. But Barrymore said there were no footprints around the body. I found some. They were the footprints of a giant hound!”
Exam Practice Tasks
1. Why did Dr. Mortimer want to tell Holmes about the manuscript?
2. What did Sir Charles Baskerville believe about his family?
3. How did Sir Charles die according to the inquest?
4. What did Dr. Mortimer see before Sir Charles died that worried him?
Fill in the blanks
1. Dr. Mortimer had a ______ in his pocket.
2. Sir Charles Baskerville was a kind ______.
3. The manuscript was about a legend in the ______ family.
4. Dr. Mortimer thought Sir Charles would be better after a trip to ______.
Multiple Choice
1. What did Dr. Mortimer read from the manuscript?
a) A story about a dog
b) A recipe
c) A travel guide
d) A fairy tale
2. Who was Sir Charles Baskerville?
a) A doctor
b) A farmer
c) A kind man and a wealthy person
d) A shepherd
3. What did the footprints near Sir Charles's body belong to?
a) A woman
b) A child
c) A man
d) A giant hound
Glossary
Baskerville – the name of a family
butler – a man who helps in a house
chamber – a room, especially a bedroom
cigar – a rolled tobacco for smoking
crazed – very confused or scared
document – a written or printed paper
forgery – a fake document
inquest – an official investigation into a death
legend – a traditional story, sometimes with magic
manuscript – a written document
