##################

Welcome to the mystery:
author & detective intro

Who is Agatha Christie?

Agatha Christie (1890–1976) is the most famous mystery writer in the world. People call her the „Queen of Crime.“ She wrote 66 detective novels and sold over two billion books in dozens of languages! Her stories are full of clever clues, exciting secrets, and shocking endings.

Who is Hercule Poirot?

Hercule Poirot is Agatha Christie’s most famous detective. He comes from Belgium and has two very famous features:

1. A grand black mustache that he takes great care of.
2. „The little grey cells“—this is what he calls his brilliant brain!

Poirot does not run after criminals with guns. Instead, he sits quietly, asks simple questions, and uses his brain to solve difficult puzzles.

##################

Chapter 1:
The rich girl and the angry friend

Linnet Ridgeway is young, beautiful, and very rich. She lives in a huge house with a grand garden in England. Linnet has everything she wants: expensive clothes, lots of money, and many friends. People look at her and say, „Linnet is a very lucky woman.“

One warm afternoon, Linnet sits in her sunny living room. A small car stops outside the front door.

A young woman gets out of the car. Her name is Jacqueline de Bellefort, but her friends call her Jackie. Jackie and Linnet were best friends at school. But Jackie is poor, and Linnet is very rich.

Jackie runs into the room. She looks happy and excited.

„Linnet! I have wonderful news!“ Jackie says. „I am in love!“

Linnet smiles. „That is fantastic, Jackie! Who is the lucky man?“

„His name is Simon Doyle,“ Jackie answers. „He is handsome, kind, and strong. But he has no money and no job.“

Jackie looks at her rich friend with hope in her eyes. „Linnet, you have big houses and lots of land. Can you give Simon a job as your land manager? Please!“

Linnet nods warmly. „Of course, Jackie! Bring him to my house tomorrow. I want to meet him.“

The next day, Jackie brings Simon to Linnet’s house.

Simon Doyle is tall and handsome, with bright blue eyes. When Linnet sees Simon, she stops talking. She looks at his face for a long time.

Simon looks at Linnet, too. He forgets to look at Jackie.

Linnet gives Simon the job right away. „You start work today, Simon,“ she says with a sweet smile.

Jackie is so happy. She hugs Linnet. „Thank you, Linnet! You are my best friend!“

Three months later, everything changes.

Jackie goes to Linnet’s house to see her fiancé, Simon. But Simon is not working. He is in the garden with Linnet.

They are holding hands. They are looking into each other’s eyes.

Jackie stops walking. Her heart feels cold.

Linnet looks up and sees Jackie. She does not look sad or sorry.

„Jackie,“ Linnet says calmly. „Simon and I are going to get married.“

Jackie cannot speak. Her face turns pale, and tears fill her eyes. „What about me, Simon?“ she whispers. „You promised to love me forever!“

Simon looks down at the ground. He does not touch Jackie. „I am sorry, Jackie,“ he says softly. „I love Linnet now.“

Jackie looks at her old best friend. Her deep sadness turns into dangerous anger.

„You took my boyfriend, Linnet,“ Jackie says slowly. Her voice is cold like ice. „You took everything from me. But remember this: wherever you go, I will follow you.“

_______________________________

Key words to learn

1. Estate / Land (noun) – A very large area of land with big houses and fields.
2. Fiancé (noun) – The person you promise to marry.
3. Handsome (adjective) – Good-looking (usually used for men).
4. Pale (adjective) – Light in color, often when someone is shocked, sad, or sick.
5. Promise (verb) – To say clearly that you will definitely do something.

#######################

Comprehension questions

1. What kind of life does Linnet Ridgeway have?
   
2. Why does Jackie ask Linnet to help Simon Doyle?
   
3. What happens when Linnet and Simon meet for the first time?
   
4. What does Jackie see in the garden three months later?
   
5. What warning does Jackie give Linnet before leaving?
   
   _______________________________

Answer key:

1. What kind of life does Linnet Ridgeway have?
   (Answer: She is young, beautiful, and very rich with a big house in England.)
2. Why does Jackie ask Linnet to help Simon Doyle?
   (Answer: Simon is Jackie’s fiancé, and he needs a job.)
3. What happens when Linnet and Simon meet for the first time?
   (Answer: They look at each other for a long time, and Simon forgets to look at Jackie.)
4. What does Jackie see in the garden three months later?
   (Answer: She sees Linnet and Simon holding hands and looking into each other’s eyes.)
5. What warning does Jackie give Linnet before leaving?
   (Answer: „Wherever you go, I will follow you.“)

#####################

True or false

1. Linnet Ridgeway is poor, but Jackie is very rich.
2. Jackie and Linnet were best friends at school.
3. Jackie visits Linnet to share the news that she is in love with Simon Doyle.
4. Simon Doyle has a lot of money and a great job when Jackie first meets him.
5. Jackie asks Linnet to give Simon a job as her land manager.
6. When Linnet first sees Simon, she refuses to give him a job.
7. Three months later, Jackie finds Simon working hard by himself in the garden.
8. Linnet apologizes to Jackie with tears in her eyes when Jackie catches them together.
9. Simon tells Jackie that he loves Linnet now.
10. At the end of the story, Jackie promises to follow Linnet wherever she goes.

________________________________

Answer key:

1. Linnet Ridgeway is poor, but Jackie is very rich.
   • False (Linnet is very rich, and Jackie is poor.)
2. Jackie and Linnet were best friends at school.
   • True
3. Jackie visits Linnet to share the news that she is in love with Simon Doyle.
   • True
4. Simon Doyle has a lot of money and a great job when Jackie first meets him.
   • False (He has no money and no job.)
5. Jackie asks Linnet to give Simon a job as her land manager.
   • True
6. When Linnet first sees Simon, she refuses to give him a job.
   • False (She gives him the job right away.)
7. Three months later, Jackie finds Simon working hard by himself in the garden.
   • False (Simon is not working; he is in the garden with Linnet, holding hands.)
8. Linnet apologizes to Jackie with tears in her eyes when Jackie catches them together.
   • False (Linnet looks calm and does not look sad or sorry.)
9. Simon tells Jackie that he loves Linnet now.
   • True
10. At the end of the story, Jackie promises to follow Linnet wherever she goes.
    • True

##################

>>Chapter 2

##################

##################

Please use the box below
to write your feedback.
Only I can read it.
It is not public.

Please tell me:

• Are the texts and exercises OK?
• Are the topics OK?
• Is the level OK?
• Is it too easy or too difficult?
• Is it too short, too long?
• Do you want texts about other topics?

Thank you! I appreciate your feedback.

___________________________________

Remember how babies
learn a language:

Babies learn a language by listening.
They use their ears to hear sounds.
Their brain remembers these sounds.
Babies connect sounds with people and things.
They listen to their parents.
Then they copy the sounds they hear. They imitate words.
Slowly, babies learn to speak.

So,
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN………………

SMFrockZ@gmx.at