• Death in Cabin 43

Pre-reading questions

1. What is the main job of a detective in a story? A) To steal expensive items B) To find the truth and solve a crime C) To drive a big boat on the river D) To clean the rooms of a hotel
2. What does an „alibi“ mean when someone is accused of a crime? A) Proof that a person was in a different place B) A secret letter written in blood C) A bad hurt on a person’s leg D) A very costly necklace
3. What is a „suspect“ in a mystery story? A) The person who finds the body B) A person who might be the killer C) The doctor who helps sick people D) A tool used to open locked doors
4. If a murder happens on a moving boat, where is the killer most likely to be? A) Safe at home in another city B) Still on the boat with the other people C) Swimming deep under the water D) At a police station asking for help
5. What do detectives look for when they examine a crime scene? A) Books to read for fun B) Hot tea and breakfast food C) Clues left by the killer D) New clothes to buy

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Chapter 5:
The Silent Crime

The next morning, the sun rises over the river Nile. The water is calm, but the steamship Karnak is no longer peaceful.

At 7:00 AM, a maid walks down the quiet corridor to Cabin 43. She carries a tray with hot tea for Linnet Doyle. She knocks gently on the door. Nobody answers.

The maid opens the door slowly. „Good morning, Mrs. Doyle,“ she says.

Linnet lies in her bed, covered by a white blanket. She looks like she is sleeping. But her face is very still.

The maid steps closer. Suddenly, she screams in horror.

Linnet’s eyes are wide open. Above her left ear, there is a small black burn mark and a drop of dried blood. On the wall above her head, someone wrote the letter ‚J‘ in red blood.

Hercule Poirot and the ship’s captain arrive immediately. Poirot inspects the bedroom carefully.

„She died instantly from a single gunshot to the head,“ Poirot says quietly. „The shooter held the gun very close to her pillow.“

Poirot looks around the room:

• Linnet’s expensive pearl necklace is missing from her table.
• The letter ‚J‘ is painted on the wall with Linnet’s own blood.

Poirot goes to Dr. Bessner’s cabin to question Simon. Simon sits in bed with a heavy bandage on his leg. He cannot move.

„Linnet… dead?“ Simon gasps. He covers his face with his hands and cries. „Who did this? Why?“

Poirot speaks softly. „Yesterday night, Jackie shot your leg. Where was she after that?“

Simon stops crying and looks up. „Jackie did not do this! Cornelia sat with Jackie in her cabin all night! Jackie was never alone!“

Poirot nods. He checks with Cornelia. She confirms: „Yes, Mr. Poirot. Jackie was crying in her room all night. She never left her bed.“

Poirot strokes his mustache thoughtfully.

• Simon could not walk because of his broken leg.
• Jackie had a complete alibi all night.
• The silver pistol is still missing.

„If Jackie and Simon are both innocent,“ Poirot whispers to himself, „who killed Linnet Doyle?“

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Key Words to Learn

1. Maid (noun) – A female worker who cleans rooms and serves tea in a hotel or ship.
2. Burn mark (noun) – A dark spot left on skin or cloth by heat or gunpowder.
3. Pearl (noun) – A small, round, shiny white gem found inside oyster shells.
4. Instantly (adverb) – Immediately; happening in a single second.
5. Alibi (noun) – Proof that you were in a different place when a crime happened.

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Comprehension questions

1. Who finds Linnet’s body at 7:00 AM?
   
2. What letter is written on the wall in blood above Linnet’s head?
   
3. What valuable item is missing from Linnet’s room?
   
4. Why could Simon NOT shoot Linnet during the night?
   
5. Who confirms that Jackie stayed in her room all night?

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Answer key

1. Who finds Linnet’s body at 7:00 AM?
   (Answer: The maid bringing hot tea finds Linnet’s body.)
2. What letter is written on the wall in blood above Linnet’s head?
   (Answer: The letter ‚J‘.)
3. What valuable item is missing from Linnet’s room?
   (Answer: Her expensive pearl necklace.)
4. Why could Simon NOT shoot Linnet during the night?
   (Answer: His leg bone was broken, and he was in Dr. Bessner’s room.)
5. Who confirms that Jackie stayed in her room all night?
   (Answer: Cornelia confirms that Jackie stayed in her room.)

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Multiple choice:

1. How did Linnet die?
   • A) A heavy object fell on her head and hurt her severely
   • B) Someone put poison in her morning tea
   • C) She died from a gunshot to the head
2. Where was the gun when someone shot Linnet?
   • A) Very far from her bed
   • B) Very close to her pillow
   • C) Outside near the window on the balcony
3. Where are the people in the story?
   • A) At a hospital near the river Nile
   • B) On a farm near the water
   • C) On the ship Karnak
4. Why can Simon NOT walk?
   • A) He feels sick and wants to sleep all day
   • B) He has a broken leg
   • C) He has a hot fever
5. Who comes to the room after the maid screams?
   • A) Poirot and the captain
   • B) Simon and the doctor
   • C) Jackie, Cornelia, and the ship doctor
6. What is on the skin near Linnet’s left ear?
   • A) A small burn mark
   • B) A long red line
   • C) A big dark mark with a lot of fresh red blood
7. Who stayed with Jackie all night?
   • A) The doctor and the captain of the ship
   • B) Cornelia
   • C) The maid
8. What does Linnet look like when the maid opens the door?
   • A) She is reading a book
   • B) She is getting up
   • C) She is sleeping
9. What is on the wall above Linnet’s bed?
   • A) A long message written with dark blue ink
   • B) The letter ‚J‘ in blood
   • C) The letter ‚S‘
10. Where is the silver gun at the end of the text?
    • A) In the big dining room near the door
    • B) Under the bed
    • C) Nobody knows where it is
11. Where does Poirot talk to Simon?
    • A) In Dr. Bessner’s room
    • B) In Linnet’s big bedroom on the ship
    • C) In the dining room
12. When does the maid go to Cabin 43?
    • A) At 8:00 AM after everyone eats breakfast
    • B) At 7:00 AM
    • C) At 6:00 AM
13. What does the maid carry to Linnet’s room?
    • A) Clean towels
    • B) A big breakfast with food and juice
    • C) Hot tea
14. What does the maid do first at the door?
    • A) She opens the door with her key
    • B) She shouts very loudly to call Linnet
    • C) She knocks gently
15. What item is NOT on Linnet’s table?
    • A) Her pearl necklace
    • B) Her ring
    • C) Her watch

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

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Sentence ordering/ chronological sequencing

Exercise 1: The Maid’s Morning

Put the events in order from 1 to 5 based on what happens first to last.

• [ ] The maid screams in horror when she sees the blood.
• [ ] The maid carries hot tea to Cabin 43.
• [ ] The maid opens the door slowly and says „Good morning.“
• [ ] The maid knocks gently on the cabin door.
• [ ] Poirot and the captain arrive at Linnet’s room immediately.

Exercise 2: Poirot’s Investigation

Put the events in order from 1 to 5 based on Poirot’s actions.

• [ ] Poirot speaks with Cornelia to check Jackie’s story.
• [ ] Poirot inspects Linnet’s bedroom and finds the missing necklace.
• [ ] Poirot wonders who killed Linnet if Simon and Jackie are innocent.
• [ ] Poirot goes to Dr. Bessner’s cabin to question Simon.
• [ ] Poirot observes that the shooter held the gun very close to the pillow.

Exercise 3: The Full Story

Put the events in order from 1 to 5 to show the whole sequence of events.

• [ ] Linnet is found dead in her bed with a burn mark and blood.
• [ ] Jackie shoots Simon’s leg the night before the murder.
• [ ] Simon gasps and cries when he learns about Linnet’s death.
• [ ] Cornelia confirms that Jackie stayed in her room all night.
• [ ] A maid walks down the corridor at 7:00 AM with a tray of hot tea.

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Answer key

Exercise 1:

1. The maid carries hot tea to Cabin 43.
2. The maid knocks gently on the cabin door.
3. The maid opens the door slowly and says „Good morning.“
4. The maid screams in horror when she sees the blood.
5. Poirot and the captain arrive at Linnet’s room immediately.

Exercise 2:

1. Poirot inspects Linnet’s bedroom and finds the missing necklace.
2. Poirot observes that the shooter held the gun very close to the pillow.
3. Poirot goes to Dr. Bessner’s cabin to question Simon.
4. Poirot speaks with Cornelia to check Jackie’s story.
5. Poirot wonders who killed Linnet if Simon and Jackie are innocent.

Exercise 3:

1. Jackie shoots Simon’s leg the night before the murder.
2. A maid walks down the corridor at 7:00 AM with a tray of hot tea.
3. Linnet is found dead in her bed with a burn mark and blood.
4. Simon gasps and cries when he learns about Linnet’s death.
5. Cornelia confirms that Jackie stayed in her room all night.

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Cause & effect – match each numbered cause (1–5) with its correct lettered effect (A–E).

Causes:

1. Simon has a heavy bandage on his leg.
2. Nobody answers the cabin door.
3. The shooter held the gun very close to her pillow.
4. Jackie stayed in her room with Cornelia all night.
5. The maid sees open eyes and blood on the bed.

Effects:

• A) Linnet died instantly from the gunshot.
• B) The maid steps closer and screams in horror.
• C) He cannot walk or leave his bed.
• D) She has a complete alibi for the time of the murder.
• E) The maid opens the door slowly.

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Answer key

• 1 > C (Simon has a heavy bandage on his leg > He cannot walk or leave his bed.)
• 2 > E (Nobody answers the cabin door > The maid opens the door slowly.)
• 3 > A (The shooter held the gun very close to her pillow > Linnet died instantly from the gunshot.)
• 4 > D (Jackie stayed in her room with Cornelia all night > She has a complete alibi for the time of the murder.)
• 5 > B (The maid sees open eyes and blood on the bed > The maid steps closer and screams in horror.)

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>>Chapter 6

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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

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