Exercises of Activity Book

Grammar

The Past Simple

Irregular verbs

1 Complete the text with the correct form of the irregular verbs in the brackets.

Perry Mason is a famous fictional detective. Earle Stanley Gardner (1) made this character. He (2) wrote more than 80 Perry Mason novels. Perry Mason’s task (3) was to defend a client on trial for murder. In the end, Mason always (4) found proof of their innocence. Gardner (5) sold 135 million copies of the books in America alone, in the year of his death, 1969. 

2 Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs in the box below (regular and irregular).

Mahmoud Salem (1) was born in Alexandria in 1929. He (2) wrote useful and entertaining works of literature for children. One of his best detective series was “The Five Adventures which was about five heroes who (3) solved mysteries. Many generations of women and men who (4) read this series as children (5) passed them down to their children and grandchildren. Young readers (6) enjoyed his stories because there was no physical violence in them. His detective series showed values such as courage, justice and cooperation. They (7) helped the children to use their imagination and think logically by analyzing the events in order to find clues for solving mysteries.    

The Comparative

3 Write the adjectives in the correct column.

4 Complete the text with the correct form of the comparatives (more/less).

Sherlock Holmes was (1) more perceptive than Watson. That’s why, Watson was (2) less successful than Holmes in his attempts at solving cases; he was (3) less attentive to details than Holmes. As Holmes said, Watson saw but he did not observe. However, Watson was naturally (4) more honest and (5) more practical, while Holmes was (6) more mysterious.     

The Superlative

5 Write the adjectives in the correct column.

6 complete the text with the superlative form of the adjectives.

What were the characteristics of the (1) most famous detective?

Sherlock Holmes was the (2) most intelligent detective in the world.

Watson was Holmes’ (3) most loyal friend. He considered Holmes to be the (4) worst roommate in London because he was very untidy. However, he didn’t have Holmes’ brain, which was the (5) most logical of his time, so his success was limited.  

7 Use these words to make question. Then answer them.

1. intelligent / Who / the / history / ? / is / detective / in / most

Who is the most intelligent detective in history?

Sherlock Holmes is the most intelligent detective in history

2. Mahmoud Salem / ? / which / the / detective / is / of / series / best

Which is the best detective series of Mahmoud Salem?

The best detective series of Mahmoud Salem is “The Five Adventures”.

3. novel / more / which / thrilling / : / romantic / is / novel / or / detective / ? / a / a

Which is more thrilling: a romantic novel or a detective novel?

A detective novel is more thrilling than a romantic novel.  

4. useful / more / detective / ? / Whose / children / are / for / series

Whose detective series are more useful for children?

Mahmoud Salem’s detective series are more useful for children?

5. detective / is / Who / most / the / famous / in / ? / history

Who is the most famous detective in history?

Sherlock Holmes is the most famous detective in history.

8 Use these notes to write a paragraph.

Who / Sherlock Holmes’ / (great) enemy? It / Professor Moriarty. He / the (bad) criminal in the stories of Sherlock Holmes. He (not like) Sherlock Holmes and he (want) to stop his detective work. People (say) he / a genius. He / a scientist who (work) in a university. Some people (think) he / (intelligent) Holmes (defeat) him. Moriarty (successful) than Holmes.

Who was Sherlock Holmes’ greatest enemy? It ….

Who was Sherlock Holmes’ greatest enemy? It was Professor Moriarty. He was the worst criminal in the stories of Sherlock Holmes. He did not like Sherlock Holmes and he wanted to stop his detective work. People said he was a genius. He was a scientist who worked in a university. Some people thought he was more intelligent than Holmes, but Holmes defeated him. Moriarty was less successful than Holmes.

Vocabulary Corner

9 Read the clues 1-8 and write the words horizontally in the puzzle. You are given the first letter.

10 Read vertically the word for number.

9. Write its clue.

9  PROFESSIONAL