IELTS Reading practice - Sherlock Holmes (2024)

Loading...

Sherlock Holmes
The most sharp-minded detective ever

A. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a British author, created Sherlock Holmes, a fictional private

detective. Holmes, referring to himself as a “consulting detective” in the stories, is wellknown for his proficiency with his observation, inference, forensic science, and logical reasoning that borders on the incredible when investigating cases for various clients. Almost all stories were set in the Victorian eras between 1880 and 1914 and were narrated by the character of Holmes’ friend, Dr. John H. Watson, who frequently joined Holmes during his investigations. He also shared a flat with Holmes at 221B Baker Street, London, where many episodes began.

B. Holmes’s clients vary from poor pawnbrokers and governesses to wealthy aristocrats and businessmen in Europe. In the beginning, he was only recognised in select groups but cooperated with Scotland Yard, a police agency. His successful work and the publication of Watson’s stories, however, enhanced Holmes’ reputation and made him an extremely famous detective. So many people called for his assistance instead of the police, so that, according to Watson, Holmes had “overwhelming practice” by 1895. Police outside London asked Holmes for his help if available. Even a Prime Minister and the King of Bohemia came to 221B Baker Street and requested Holmes’s assistance in person. Some clients offered doubled pay, which implied that wealthy clients paid Holmes more than the set rate. In “The Adventure of the Priory School,” he was paid a 6,000-pound fee when the annual income of a young professional was 500 pound. However, Watson said that Holmes would decline the case for the wealthy and renowned if he lost his interest.

C. According to Watson, Holmes is a bohemian in his behaviour and lifestyle, also described as being fond of personal cleanliness like a cat. Holmes, however, is also an anomaly with no regard for common expectations of tidiness or decent order. Watson said, “His personal habits, as one of the most untidy people, drove a fellow-lodger to madness. He keeps cigars in the coal-scuttle, tobacco in the toe end of a Persian slipper, and his unanswered letters in the centre of his wooden mantelpiece. He dreads losing documents. “Thus, day by day his papers accumulated, until each corner of the room was stacked up with loads of manuscripts and books, which were in no way to be burnt or to be extracted by their owners.

D. Except for Watson, Holmes avoids casual company. In “The Gloria Scott”, he told Watson that he had only one friend at college for two years: “I was not a sociable man, Watson, I never mingled with men of my year” Also, the detective goes without food at the case of heavy mental engagement, claiming that “The faculties become refined when you starve them.” At moments Holmes relaxes with music or playing the violin or listening to works of composers such as Wagner and Pablo de Sarasate.

E. Homes is energetic and excitable, while he can be dispassionate and cold. He has a talent of showmanship, frequently keeping his tactics and evidence hidden until the last

moment in order to impress observers. His co-workers forgive his willingness to bend the truth on behalf of clients lying to the police by removing evidence, or even breaking into houses when he thinks it is morally justifiable.

F. The first two Sherlock Holmes stories, the novel “A Study in Scarlet” and “The Sign of the Four”, were reasonably received well. However, Holmes first became exceedingly

popular, when the first six short stories featuring the former characters were published

in 1891 in The Stand Magazine. Holmes became a celebrity in Britain and America. In 1893, when Arther Conan Doyle killed off Holmes in the story “The Final Problem”, public reaction to try to bring him back was so aggressive and unprecedented in fictional events. As a result of Holme’s death, more than 20,000 readers cancelled their subscription. Public pressure finally contributed to the author writing another story of Holmes as a resurrected character. While not the first fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes is undoubtedly the best known. Until the 2000s, there were already more than 25,000 plays, films, TV programs featuring the detective, and he is listed as the most appeared literary character in film and television history by Guinness World Records.

G. Holmes’s success and reputation lead many to believe he is not a character in fiction, but a real person. A number of literary and fan communities have been founded on this pretence. Avid readers contributed to establishing the modern practice of fandom. The fiction and character have had a far-reaching and everlasting effect on mystery writing and mainstream culture as a whole, with the original stories, as well as thousands adapted into radio plays, TV, films, and even video games by authors other than Conal Doyle for over ten decades.

H. Many fans sent letters to Holmes’s address, 221B Baker Street. Though the address did not exist, those letters began to arrive at the large Abbey National building that first

encompassed the address soon after it was built in 1932. The Sherlock Holmes Museum now holds the letters, and many of the people who sent the letter believed that Holmes was real. In a 2008 survey of British teenagers, over half of respondents believed that Sherlock Holmes was a real human.

I. Crime fiction was established by The Sherlock Holmes stories as a respectable genre read by readers of all backgrounds, and Doyle’s achievement inspired other detective stories. Holmes had a significant impact on the creation of other “peculiar gentleman detective” characters, like Hercule Poirot, published in 1920. Holmes also influenced a variety of antihero stories, as an antidote to the genius detective”, such as the gentleman thief characters A.J.Raggles and Arsene Lupin.

Questions

Question 14-19

• The reading passage has nine paragraphs, A-G.

• Which paragraph contains the following information?

• Write the correct letter, A-I, in boxes 14-19 on your answer sheet.

• NB You may use any letter more than once.

14 a description of what role the readers played with a protagonist

15 a description of how Holmes arranged his personal belongings.

16 a reference of a person being close to the detective

17 a reference of an organisation that joined Holmes solving cases

18 an explanation of common misunderstanding of the young toward Holmes

19 an explanation of Holmes’ financial status

Question 20 and 21

• Choose Two letter, A-E.

• Write the correct letters in boxes 20 and 21 on your answer sheet.

Which TWO of the following statements are made in the text about Sherlock Holmes’

personality?

A He is a sociable and outgoing celebrity

B He enjoys public attention

C He always sticks to the truth and faithfulness

D He pleases and entertains his housemate

E He dislikes losing any data

Question 22

• Choose ONE letter A-E.

• Write the correct letter in box nine on your answer sheet.

Which ONE of the following statements is made in the text about Sherlock Holmes’s influence on the world?

A A lot of authors followed the same style of the story all the time.

B A building to commemorate Holmes was constructed

C A ton of letters arrived at the detective’s house

D His fame spread in Britain only

E All people knew Holmes was a fictional man.

Question 23-26

• Complete the summary below.

• Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

• Write your answers in boxes 23-26 on your answer sheet.

An unforgettable detective in crime fiction history

Sherlock Holmes, a well-known detective, who was at the almost 23 ______________ level of reasoning and investigation, became a model of crime fiction. He did not have a particular preference for clients, but the absence of 24______________ led him to decline a call from even a rich man.Many people confused Holmes with a real person, so that letters arrived at his address from the fiction, and a 25________________ demonstrated the same misunderstanding from British teenagers. Holmes’ story contributed many adaptations and establishment of crime fiction, so even stories as an 26 ______________ against a character like Holmes were invented.

Answer keys

14 F
15 C
16 D
17 B
18 H
19 B
20 B
21 E
22 B
23 incredible
23 interest
25 survey
26 antidote

• Tổng lượt truy cập: 0
• Đang trực tuyến: 0

đào tạo ieltsluyện thi ieltstrung tâm ieltshọc IELTS onlinehọc ieltskỹ năng mềmlớp ielts chất lượng caokỹ năngkỹ năng sống