The Worlds Most Famous Detective

What do you already know What would you like to What did you learn about
about Sherlock Holmes? learn about Sherlock Sherlock Holmes?
Holmes?

1. Read the following text to find some answers to your questions:

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) (1)_________ medicine in Edinburgh. After graduating he started
working as an ophthalmologist, but he had few patients so he began writing. During his studies he met
Joseph Bell, a doctor (2) _________ could deduce peoples characters from details in their appearance. Bell
became the model for the (3) _________ famous detective in the world, Sherlock Holmes. Holmes first
appeared (4) _________ 1887 in the story A Study in Scarlet.

Sherlock Holmes was the first scientific detective. He solved cases by deduction rather than because the
criminal (5) _________ a mistake. Holmes is one of the best known characters in English literature and the
one that has been portrayed the most times in film. Everyone recognizes the tall, pipe-smoking detective,
with the characteristic hat (6) _________ the magnifying glass. Holmes is (7) _________ famous that many
tourists visit the place where the fictional detective lived in London.

Conan Doyle became tired of the success of Sherlock Holmes. He wanted to find time to write serious
historical novels (8) _________ he decided to kill Holmes in one of his stories. But Holmes (9) _________ so
popular that in the end he had to revive him. In the story "The Adventure of the Empty House, Holmes
reappeared explaining to his surprised companion, Dr Watson, that he faked his death (10) _________ fool
his enemies.

Sherlock Holmes - http://keepcalmandteachenglish.blogspot.gr/

 2. Watch a short documentary about Sherlock Holmes. Which of these things
are included in the video? Select six things.

A statue of Sherlock Holmes
Holmes' famous address, 221b Baker Street
An interview with a writer of crime stories
A visit to a Sherlock Holmes pub
An interview with an actor
An interview with a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society
A visit to a police museum
An interview with an ex-policeman
A Sherlock Holmes computer game

3. Do you remember the answers to these questions?

a. What makes Sherlock Holmes so interesting?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

b. Why is he still so popular?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

4. Use the correct prepositions to complete the expressions in the sentences.

In / of / against / of / with / for / for / after

a. The streets of London are full _____ history.

b. More than a hundred years ago, Sherlock Holmes led the fight __________ crime.
c. But not all the famous characters associated _______ London were real.
d. Sherlock Holmes wasnt a real person, but you can find evidence _______ him all over London.
e. There's a pub named ________ him.
f. He was famous _____ his forensic or scientific techniques.
g. His creator, Conan Doyle, visited police museums to get inspiration _____ his stories.
h. He was really interested ______ real-life crimes.

Video and activities 2, 4 are from Word on the Street, The British Council
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/word-street/sherlock-holmes

Sherlock Holmes - http://keepcalmandteachenglish.blogspot.gr/