• shadows on the Nile

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Chapter 2:
The Trip to Egypt

Linnet and Simon get married in secret. To celebrate, they travel to Egypt for their honeymoon. They want peace, warm sunshine, and beautiful sights.

Egypt is hot and dusty, with yellow sand and ancient temples. The famous river Nile flows slowly through the country.

Linnet and Simon stay at a grand hotel near the river. They walk near the bright blue water and feel happy. Linnet thinks, „Finally, we are safe. Nobody can ruin our happiness here.“

Suddenly, Linnet stops walking. Her face turns pale.

A woman is standing near a tall palm tree. She wears a dark dress and a hat. She looks directly at Linnet and Simon.

It is Jackie.

Jackie smiles, but her eyes are not friendly. She walks past them slowly and says nothing.

Simon turns red with anger. „Jackie, stop this!“ he shouts. „Why are you here?“

Jackie turns around. „I told you, Simon,“ she answers softly. „Wherever you go, I will follow you. I have money for a holiday, too.“

Linnet feels scared. Every time they change hotels, Jackie appears. When they visit the big statues at Abu Simbel, Jackie is sitting in the shadows. When they sit down for dinner, Jackie gets a table next to them.

„She is watching us all the time!“ Linnet tells Simon in their room. „She is crazy! I cannot sleep. I cannot relax.“

„Do not worry, my love,“ Simon says, holding her hands. „We are boarding a luxury steamship tomorrow. Its name is the Karnak. We will travel down the river Nile. She cannot follow us onto the boat.“

The next day, Linnet and Simon board the Karnak. The ship has clean wooden decks, comfortable rooms, and a large dining saloon.

Linnet sits on the deck and looks at the calm water. She feels relaxed for the first time in weeks.

Then, the ship’s bell rings. The last passengers walk onto the boat.

First, a small Belgian man with a big black mustache walks up the stairs. His name is Hercule Poirot, the world’s most famous detective. He is also on holiday.

Then, another passenger walks up the stairs carrying a small leather bag.

Linnet gasps and drops her teacup.

It is Jackie. She walks onto the ship with a cold, sharp smile. The trap is closing.

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Key words to learn

1. Honeymoon (noun) – A holiday taken by a newly married couple.
2. Passenger (noun) – A person who travels in a ship, train, bus, or plane.
3. Steamship (noun) – A large boat powered by steam engines.
4. Shadows (noun) – Dark areas where sunlight or light is blocked.
5. Board (verb) – To get onto a ship, plane, train, or bus.
6. Trap (noun) – A trap is something that catches animals or people, or a hidden danger that catches you by surprise.

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Comprehension questions

1. Why do Linnet and Simon go to Egypt?
2. How does Linnet feel when she sees Jackie near the palm tree?
3. What does Jackie do whenever Linnet and Simon change hotels?
4. Who is Hercule Poirot?
5. What happens at the end of Chapter 2 when the ship’s bell rings?

_______________________________

1. Why do Linnet and Simon go to Egypt?
   (Answer: They get married and go to Egypt for their honeymoon.)
2. How does Linnet feel when she sees Jackie near the palm tree?
   (Answer: She stops walking and her face turns pale with fear.)
3. What does Jackie do whenever Linnet and Simon change hotels?
   (Answer: She follows them and appears everywhere they go.)
4. Who is Hercule Poirot?
   (Answer: He is a Belgian man with a big mustache and the world’s most famous detective.)
5. What happens at the end of Chapter 2 when the ship’s bell rings?
   (Answer: Jackie boards the steamship Karnak after Linnet and Simon.)

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Multiple choice:

1. What causes Linnet’s face to turn pale?
   A) A sudden sandstorm
   B) Seeing Jackie standing by a tall palm tree
   C) Dropping her bag into the river
2. How do Linnet and Simon get married?
   A) In secret
   B) In a very grand cathedral in London
   C) At a public ceremony with all their friends
3. Who is Hercule Poirot?
   A) Linnet’s personal bodyguard on the trip
   B) A famous Belgian detective who is on holiday
   C) The captain
4. What is the name of the luxury steamship they board?
   A) The Sphinx
   B) The Nile Queen
   C) The Karnak
5. How is the environment of Egypt described in the text?
   A) Hot and dusty, with yellow sand
   B) Very cold and snowy, with big icy mountains
   C) Extremely green and rainforest-like
6. What expression does Jackie have as she walks onto the ship?
   A) A cold, sharp smile
   B) A warm and friendly grin
   C) A look of complete confusion and sadness
7. What excuse does Jackie give for following them?
   A) She works for the luxury hotel
   B) She is traveling together with Hercule Poirot
   C) She has money
8. How does Linnet initially feel walking near the grand hotel?
   A) Safe and happy
   B) Nervous and paranoid about every single tourist
   C) Completely bored and restless
9. What famous river flows slowly through Egypt?
   A) The Amazon
   B) The Nile
   C) The Danube
10. What does Linnet do when she sees Jackie board the ship?
    A) She screams out loud and runs directly to her room
    B) She gasps and drops her teacup
    C) She confronts Jackie in front of everyone
11. Where do Linnet and Simon travel for their honeymoon?
    A) Italy
    B) Greece
    C) Egypt
12. How does Simon react when he sees Jackie?
    A) He gets angry
    B) He laughs out loud and pretends not to notice
    C) He turns around and runs back into the hotel
13. Where does Jackie sit when Linnet and Simon go to dinner?
    A) At the kitchen bar
    B) In a private room located on the upper floor
    C) Next to them
14. What features are mentioned as part of the Karnak?
    A) An outdoor swimming pool and two tennis courts
    B) Wooden decks
    C) Tall marble pillars and private glass balconies
15. Why does Simon think Jackie cannot bother them on the boat?
    A) The boat tickets were completely sold out weeks ago
    B) She cannot follow
    C) He hired several bodyguards to block her entrance

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Answer key:
1-C, 2-A, 3-C, 4-C, 5-A, 6-A, 7-C, 8-A,
9-B, 10-B, 11-C, 12-A, 13-C, 14-B, 15-B

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>>Chapter 3

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___________________________________

Remember how babies
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Babies learn a language by listening.
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Then they copy the sounds they hear. They imitate words.
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