Examination Card №46

I. Reading
Any time when the circus came to town, Aram and his friend Joey forgot about everything.

They spent all their time at the trains, watching them unload the animals, hanging around the grounds, trying to win the favour of the animal men, the workers, the acrobats, and the clowns.

The circus was adventure, travel, danger, skill, grace, romance, comedy, peanuts, popcorn, chewing-gum and soda-water for the boys. They used to carry water to the elephants and tried to seem associated with the whole magnificent affair, the putting up of the big tent, the getting everything in order, and the worldly-wise waiting for the people to come and spend their money.

One day Joey came tearing into the classroom ten minutes late, and shouted to Aram that the circus was in town. Aram jumped up and ran out of the room with poor old Miss Flibety screaming after him and ordering him to stay. The boy heard her all right and knew that his not staying would mean powerful strapping from old man Dawson but he couldn't help it because he was just crazy about a circus.

II. Writing
From: Peter
To: Alex
Subject: instructions

Dear Alex,
Thank you very much for your decision to help me. This is to give you some instructions. Please water the flowers twice a week. I'm coming back on July 10th early in the morning. Leave the key for me with my neighbour Anna Ivanivna, Flat 35.
Yours,
Peter

III. Speaking
I am fond of reading books, especially detective stories. The crime-mystery-detective story has been a popular genre of fiction for many years. These stories are mostly based on the character of an amateur or professional detective as he or she solves a crime by interrogating suspects, investigating clues, and tracking down criminals.

Edgar Allan Poe, Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle created detective stories which are read and appreciated by people all over the world. The birth of the modern crime-mystery-detective story can be traced back to the 1841 publication of the short story "Murders in the Rue Morgue," written by the American author Edgar Allan Poe. While Poe is generally considered to be the inventor of the modern crime-mystery-detective story, the British author Arthur Conan Doyle is credited with creating the prototype of the detective-hero that was to remain dominant throughout the twentieth century. Doyle created perhaps the best-known and best-loved hero of the genre, Sherlock Holmes, who first appeared in the novel A Study in Scarlet in 1887. His first short story featuring Holmes was published in 1891, and was followed by a series of short story collections featuring Holmes and his loyal friend, Dr. John Watson. The Holmes series proved incredibly popular and exerted a profound influence on the genre.

I have read most of the stories about Sherlock Holmes but The Hound of Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is my favourite and I would recommend everybody to read it. It is an excellent story that takes place in London and Dartmoor. This fascinating book is about the famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, who with his trusted assistant, Watson, tries to solve the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville. The mystery is somehow connected with the legend of the hound, which is an enormous, evil, hunting dog that terrorises the people of Baskerville. Soon, it becomes clear that Sir Henry, who is Sir Charles' nephew, and the only surviving heir to the Baskerville fortune, is also in danger. Holmes and Watson have to move quickly in order to protect Sir Henry's life and to solve the mystery.

The book is full of thrilling moments as the author creates tension with unexpected twists and vivid descriptions. What gives the book its dark atmosphere, however, is the silent, evil presence of the legendary hound which dominates the story throughout.

Readers will have a difficult time putting this masterpiece down as they are kept in suspense until the very end of the book.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-21