How did his writing talent develop?

Which facts prove that Conan Doyle took an active part in social life?

 

№14 MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

Read the magazine article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about

                               Agatha Christie wrote some of the best detective stories in English. Her own life also contains a mystery that has only recently been solved.

                       The story began like this. At 9.45 pm on December 3^rd 1926, Agatha Christie left her home in the south of England, saying that she was going out for a drive in her car. The next morning, her car was found quite far away crashed. The front end of the car was in some bushes, the headlights* were still on. Inside, there    were only some women's clothes and Agatha Christie's driving license.

                          The detective in charge of the case, William Kenward immediately organized a big search of the area. Policemen came from different parts of the country to help in the search, even some famous detective writers were asked to help.

                       Archie Christie, Agatha's husband, told everyone that his wife was suffering   from amnesia*. However, soon the police discovered that the marriage between Archie and Agatha Christie was not a happy one, and that Archie and Agatha were having problems. But he could not admit that his marriage was in trouble because people might have thought that he had had something to do with her disappearance.

   At this point, the police received a letter. In the letter, Agatha told Archie's brother that she was going away to rest in Yorkshire, Harrogate. The police now went there and looked for her at all the hotels. But they did not find Agatha Christie as she had not checked in using her real name. Instead, she had introduced herself as Neele, a visitor from South Africa.

   The situation was very upsetting for the police as they didn't find her. Instead, the musicians in the dance band at the hotel recognized her. It was not an easy story to believe and most people did not in fact believe it. But all what we know now is that she did not do it for publicity. She did it as she was going through an unhappy time with her husband. Later, in fact, their marriage broke up and they got divorced. However, her disappearance did make Agatha Christie the most popular crime writer in the country.

How did the story begin? Read aloud the extract which says about it

What are the details of the police investigation?

Why did Agatha Christie disappear according to the article?

                                               №15 THE ELDERLY

   1 Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about

   My grandmother moved into an old people's home when she was 80 and I visited her there when I was in Britain. She was sitting in the living room with about fifteen other residents, mostly women, half of them asleep. The room was clean and warm and the care assistants were kind and cheerful. 'The News' was on the television, and the only other sound was snoring*. People only moved when they needed to be helped to the bathroom. It was depressing. I wanted to leave.

   So when I came across a newspaper article about a new type of old people's homes in France, I felt happy. The idea is simple, but revolutionary: combining a residential home for the elderly with a nursery school in the same building. The children and the residents eat lunch together and share activities such as music, painting, gardening and caring for the pets. In the afternoons, the old people enjoy reading or telling stories to the children and, if a child is feeling sad or tired, there is always a kind adult to talk and help. There are trips out and birthday parties too.

   The advantages are enormous for everyone concerned. The children are happy because they get a lot more individual attention and respond well because someone has time for them. They also learn that old people are not different or frightening in any way. And of course, they see illness and death and learn to accept them. The residents are happy because they feel useful and needed. They are more active and more interested in life when the children are around and they take more interest in their appearance too. And the staff are happy because they see an improvement in the physical and psychological health of the residents and have an army of assistants to help with the children.

    If older people can understand and accept the youth of today, and vice versa, there will be less conflict in a community. In a world where the number of old people is increasing, we need as much understanding and tolerance as possible.

to snore -храпеть

The author's Granny lived in an old people's home. Read aloud the extract which describes the atmosphere there

What is the concept of a French old people's home?