Lesson 17 A Young Detective’s Adventures: Looking for Clues 1. Warm-up Questions Warm-up Questions...

Lesson 17Lesson 17A Young Detective’s Adventures:A Young Detective’s Adventures:

Looking for CluesLooking for Clues

1. Warm-up Questions2. Text Analysis

3. Exercises4. Questions For Discussion

Distant Education College, Jilin UniversityDistant Education College, Jilin University

Extensive Extensive Reading IIReading II

Warm-up Questions


1. Why didn’t the Chief want Smith to interfere with the Fitch family?

2. Why did the Chief stress again and again that the deaths of the Fitch women were accidental?

3. What would happen to Smith if he continued to bother with the Fitch family?

4. What did Mr. Fitch ask Smith to do for him? And why?

5. How did Mr. Fitch receive Smith at his house?

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Questions for Discussion


1. What is Chief Hutch’s attitude towards the deaths of the three Mrs. Fitches?

2. Why did Mr. Hutch adopt such an attitude toward the Fitch family? What was his motive? What did he concern about, maintaining the “status quo” or seeing the justice done?

3. If you were the detective, what would you do to begin your investigation? Would you begin with Mr. Fitch himself or Darjo or Mrs. Munsing or anyone else? Why?

4. From the part of story, what kind of man was Smith?

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Exercises


1. True/False Questions

2. Multiple-choice Questions

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True/False Questions


1. Chief Hutch was angry because Smith had been reading about the three Mrs. Fitches in the old newspapers.

2. Mr. Fitch asked Chief Hutch to send Smith to investigate the death of his last wife because Smith was new to the case.

3. Detective Smith took a bus to the Fitch house because Chief Hutch didn’t think he was important enough to drive a police car.

4. Detective Smith thought the causes for the three deaths were perhaps too obvious to be believed.

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1. Chief Hutch was angry because Smith had been reading about the three Mrs. Fitches in the old newspapers. T

2. Mr. Fitch asked Chief Hutch to send Smith to investigate the death of his last wife because Smith was new to the case.



Answer




2. Mr. Fitch asked Chief Hutch to send Smith to investigate the death of his last wife because Smith was new to the case. T



Answer





3. Detective Smith took a bus to the Fitch house because Chief Hutch didn’t think he was important enough to drive a police car. F


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3. Detective Smith took a bus to the Fitch house because Chief Hutch didn’t think he was important enough to drive a police car. F

4. Detective Smith thought the causes for the three deaths were perhaps too obvious to be believed. T

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5. Detective Smith was eager to go to the Fitch house.

6. Mr. Fitch was pleased with Smith’s coming.

7. When the Chief told Smith about the rules in Flagstaff, Smith pretended not to understand what he meant.

8. The most important rule the Chief had was not to bother with the Fitch family, because it was the most powerful and richest family in the town.

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5. Detective Smith was eager to go to the Fitch house. T

6. Mr. Fitch was pleased with Smith’s coming.



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6. Mr. Fitch was pleased with Smith’s coming. F



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7. When the Chief told Smith about the rules in Flagstaff, Smith pretended not to understand what he meant. F


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7. When the Chief told Smith about the rules in Flagstaff, Smith pretended not to understand what he meant. F

8. The most important rule the Chief had was not to bother with the Fitch family, because it was the most powerful and richest family in the town. T

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9. The Chief told Smith if he continued to investigate the Fitch family’s case, he would fire him.

10. The three women all died of food poisoning.

11. Mr. Fitch asked Smith to look into the cause of his last wife’s death.

12. Smith thought Mr. Fitch an honest man. He could not have murdered his three wives.

Answer



9. The Chief told Smith if he continued to investigate the Fitch family’s case, he would fire him. T

10. The three women all died of food poisoning.



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10. The three women all died of food poisoning. F



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11. Mr. Fitch asked Smith to look into the cause of his last wife’s death. T


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11. Mr. Fitch asked Smith to look into the cause of his last wife’s death. T

12. Smith thought Mr. Fitch an honest man. He could not have murdered his three wives. F

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Multiple-choice Questions


1. According to Chief Hutch, there were more rules in Flagstaff than in New York because _______.

A) Flagstaff is a city that is much smaller than New York

B) Mr. Fitch should be protected from being killed

C) the Fitch family should be kept from being disturbed

D) there were more parking violations in Flagstaff

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1. According to Chief Hutch, there were more rules in Flagstaff than in New York because _______. C

A) Flagstaff is a city that is much smaller than New York

B) Mr. Fitch should be protected from being killed

C) the Fitch family should be kept from being disturbed

D) there were more parking violations in Flagstaff



2. Chief Hutch talked again and again about the accidental deaths of the Fitch wives in order that Detective Smith would stop ________.

A) reading the old newspapers

B) going to Mr. Fitch’s house

C) talking with Mrs. Munsing

D) thinking about and investigating all those deaths

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2. Chief Hutch talked again and again about the accidental deaths of the Fitch wives in order that Detective Smith would stop ________. D

A) reading the old newspapers

B) going to Mr. Fitch’s house

C) talking with Mrs. Munsing

D) thinking about and investigating all those deaths



3. Chief Hutch did not want to send Smith up to look into the death of Fitch’s last wife because __________.

A) he disliked Smith

B) he thought Smith might interfere with Mr. Fitch’s affairs

C) Detective Smith was inexperienced

D) both B and C

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3. Chief Hutch did not want to send Smith up to look into the death of Fitch’s last wife because __________. D

A) he disliked Smith

B) he thought Smith might interfere with Mr. Fitch’s affairs

C) Detective Smith was inexperienced

D) both B and C



4. The Chief turned to Smith with a look of astonishment on his face while talking to Mr. Fitch on the phone because ________.

A) he was afraid that Smith might overhear his phone conversation

B) he was surprised that Mr. Fitch learned the news so quickly that Smith was interested in the three deaths

C) he was astonished that Mr. Fitch wanted Smith to investigate the death of his last wife

D) he was surprised that Fitch should have asked the police to look into the matter

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4. The Chief turned to Smith with a look of astonishment on his face while talking to Mr. Fitch on the phone because ________. C

A) he was afraid that Smith might overhear his phone conversation

B) he was surprised that Mr. Fitch learned the news so quickly that Smith was interested in the three deaths

C) he was astonished that Mr. Fitch wanted Smith to investigate the death of his last wife

D) he was surprised that Fitch should have asked the police to look into the matter



5. When he had nearly reached Mr. Fitch’s house, Smith ____.

A) stopped at the roadside to enjoy the peaceful surroundings

B) couldn’t believe that a murder had happened in such a quiet and beautiful place

C) realized that Mrs. Munsing had deceived the police

D) begun to think about the real causes of the three deaths

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5. When he had nearly reached Mr. Fitch’s house, Smith ____. B

A) stopped at the roadside to enjoy the peaceful surroundings

B) couldn’t believe that a murder had happened in such a quiet and beautiful place

C) realized that Mrs. Munsing had deceived the police

D) begun to think about the real causes of the three deaths



6. What can you conclude from the story about Darjo?

A) He hated strangers.

B) He didn’t like policeman to come to the Fitch’s house.

C) He didn’t believe what Detective Smith said.

D) He was very faithful to the Fitch family.

Answer



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6. What can you conclude from the story about Darjo? D

A) He hated strangers.

B) He didn’t like policeman to come to the Fitch’s house.

C) He didn’t believe what Detective Smith said.

D) He was very faithful to the Fitch family.

Text Analysis


When I walked into the Chief’s office, I saw from the look on his face that he was not going to give me good news.

“You like working here?” he asked without expecting an answer. “Well, you got to learn the rules. We all have rules and maybe here we have more rules than you did in New York. Rules keep us honest, you know what I mean?”

I said I didn’t.

“Don’t get smart with me. You know what I mean. Our rules keep us from getting in one another’s way. You know what I mean.”

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Text Analysis


I still didn’t understand his point, but I nodded my head.

“That’s good. Now, Rule Number One is we don’t bother with the Fitch family.” He looked straight into my eyes and I stared back into his. I didn’t understand how the rule of avoiding someone would keep us honest. He slowed down his speech and raised his voice to make sure I would understand. “The Fitch family has been good to this town. They built this building we are sitting in and they built the courthouse. They built the school we all send our children to and they have given almost all of the police officers loans to buy homes. So we don’t like to bother them unnecessarily. You know what I mean?”

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Text Analysis


I was beginning to understand. “Of course, Chief. There’s no need to bother any citizen unnecessarily.”

“Then why in heaven’s name were you reading old newspapers about the accidental deaths of the Fitch women?” He stressed accidental to make sure that I knew that there was no doubt about the cause of the deaths. I wondered how he knew I had been reading the old clippings. He answered my unvoiced question.

“My brother told me you have been in twice asking for stories on the Fitches. You want to tell me why?”

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Text Analysis


I replied that a new person in town must be familiar with all the major happenings of the town that formed the town’s history.

“I’ll tell you all you need to know. And what you need to know is that the deaths were accidental. The first Mrs. Fitch was flying her own small plane which got lost and was never found again. The second woman died of food poisoning.”

“What kind of food poisoning?”

“FOOD! FOOD! FOOD poisoning. What more do you need to know?”

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Text Analysis


Nothing. I knew the third and last Mrs. Fitch had fallen off a cliff while walking with her stepdaughter. There didn’t seem to be any pattern to the deaths except that they all happened to wives of Mr. Fitch.

“Now, if I hear you’re messing around in the Fitches’ business again, you’ll be on the first bus back to that city you came from.”

At that moment the intercom buzzed and the Chief answered it. “Yeah? Sure, put him on. Good morning, Mr. Fitch … How are you this morning? Well, we couldn’t be better down here … nothing more serious than a few parking violations … Yes, she was down here, but you know how old people get at times … yes, I didn’t pay much attention to her story, you know.”

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Text AnalysisText Analysis


The Chief turned to me with a look of astonishment on his faThe Chief turned to me with a look of astonishment on his face. “Well, if you want, but I don’t really see the need. Yes, sir. ce. “Well, if you want, but I don’t really see the need. Yes, sir. I’ll be glad to help you settle the I’ll be glad to help you settle the issue once and for all. I’ll send . I’ll send up Rodriquez to check on it immediately. … Who, sir? Why, siup Rodriquez to check on it immediately. … Who, sir? Why, sir? But he’s just new, sir. He doesn’t know anything about the tr? But he’s just new, sir. He doesn’t know anything about the town, sir. Oh, I see. OK, sir. Yes, he’s right here, if you would liown, sir. Oh, I see. OK, sir. Yes, he’s right here, if you would like to talk to him.”ke to talk to him.”

The Chief put his hand over the receiver and said, “It’s Fitch;The Chief put his hand over the receiver and said, “It’s Fitch; he wants you to come up and investigate the death of his last w he wants you to come up and investigate the death of his last wife.”ife.”

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Text Analysis


Fitch seemed very concerned when I talked to him on the phone. He said he had heard Mrs. Munsing, his cook, was worried that there was some mystery connected with the death of his wife, and he would like the air cleared once and for all. He thought I would be a good one to be put on the case, because I would bring a fresh approach to the problem. I think what he wanted to say was that he didn’t trust any of these small-town cops to do an efficient job. But I thanked him for his confidence and told him I would be out to his house soon.

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Text Analysis


The Fitch house was thirty miles outside of Flagstaff. It was set back into the mountains with a steep, narrow road as the only access to the property. The Chief said that all the police cars had been assigned to senior officers, so I would have to take a bus. The bus turned off the main road before we reached the road to the Fitch home, so I had to walk the last two miles. The air was cool in the mountains, unlike the still heat of the city. But I was hot from the walk, and I stopped at the gate to the private road leading up to the Fitch home. I sat on a rock and surveyed the peaceful surroundings and knew that the Fitch cook must be wrong. This place was too quiet, too peaceful, to be the site of a murder, let alone three murders. On the other hand, the motive is classic: husband marries rich women, kills them and inherits their fortunes. But that would be too obvious. Nothing like that happens now in the twentieth century.

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Text Analysis


I started toward the house but stopped when I heard a noise behind me. I turned around and saw a man dressed in a straw hat and a long cape like those worn by the Navaho shepherds in the region. He also had a rifle in his left hand.

“State your business, stranger.”

“I’m with the police. I …”

“Police don’t walk; they drive,” he said raising the rifle level with his shoulder. “Doesn’t seem right you being on this land. Looking at things you ain’t supposed to be seeing.”

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Text Analysis


“I’m here at the invitation of Mr. Fitch. He called the police station and asked someone to come up.”

“He didn’t tell me nothing about it.”

“Couldn’t we just go up to the main house and ask if Mr. Fitch is expecting me?”

“Visitors come on Sunday … Today ain’t but Thursday. I don’t like changes. It’s not good.” He motioned for me to precede him up the path.

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Text Analysis


By the time we reached the porch of the house, the whole household had assembled. They were obviously curious about who was being led to their house at gunpoint.

“Darjo, is that any way to treat a guest?” said an older man with a face that tried to look friendly and welcoming, but somehow did not succeed.

“He didn’t come in a car,” replied Darjo as if that was a suitable reason to question someone at gunpoint.

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Text Analysis


“My apologies again for your inhospitable welcome. We are very glad you were able to come on such short notice. I presume you will be able to spend the evening with us here. That might facilitate your investigation. Let me introduce you to the household. This Ms. Ryan, my personal secretary; she has been with the family for 15 years ever since my first wife was killed in the airplane accident. But we will talk of that later. Mrs. Munsing, please show our guest to his room.” He took me by the elbow and led me toward this woman, white with fear. It was the same woman who had dropped her groceries in front of my house last week.

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Text Analysis


In his businesslike manner Mr. Fitch had seen to everything, and I was led away to my room.

(to be continued)

From The Great Preposition Mystery,

ed., Lin Lougheed, Washington, D.C., 1981.

Approximately 1,200 words.

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Words to Know

stress [] vt. 强调，着重=place emphasis one.g. The director stressed that point in particular.厂长特别强调了那一点。


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Words to Know

clipping [] n. （报纸，杂志等的）剪辑，剪报=something cut off or out, especially an item clipped from a newspaper or magazinee.g. In his room, there are clippings of various sports events.他的房间里有各种体育赛事的剪报。


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Words to Know

intercom [] n. 对讲机=an electronic intercommunication system, as between two roomse.g. The boss used the intercom to tell his secretary to come to his office.老板用对讲机叫他的秘书来他的办公室。


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Words to Know

violation [] n. 违章=the act or an instance of violating or the condition of being violatede.g. The driver was fined because of a violation of signal.司机因为违犯交通信号而被罚款。


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Words to Know

issue [] n. 问题=the essential point; cruxe.g. Those experts are discussing the issue of how to provide adequate child care.专家们正在讨论如何提供适当的儿童护理的问题。


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Words to Know

cop [] n. （美俚）警察=a police officere.g. Don't you think that the cops might be the best people to ask for help? 难到你不认为警察是求助的最合适的人吗？


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Words to Know

efficient [] adj. 效率高的=producing effectively with a minimum of waste, expense, or unnecessary efforte.g. This new copy machine is more efficient than the old one.这台新复印机比那台旧的效率高。


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Words to Know

access [] n. 通道，接近…的机会=a means of approaching, entering, exiting, or making use of; passagee.g. The only access to that ancient castle is along a muddy track.到那座古老城堡去的唯一通道是一条泥泞小路。


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Words to Know

assign [] vt. 把…分配给= set apart for a particular purpose; designatee.g. The monitor was assigned to take notes for the meeting.班长被分派作会议记录。


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Words to Know

senior [] adj. 地位（或级别）较高的=being in a position, rank, or grade above others of the same set or classe.g. A senior officer will enjoy certain privilege in the army.一位高级军官在军中享有某些特权。


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Words to Know

survey [] vt. 环视，审视= inspect carefully; scrutinizee.g. Two women were surveying the other people on the platform.两个女子正在审视月台上的其他人。


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Words to Know

surroundings [] n. 环境=the environmente.g. The house is in beautiful surroundings. 这座房屋四周的环境优美。


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Words to Know

motive [] n. 动机，目的=an emotion, desire, physiological need, or similar impulsee.g. His motive for working so hard is that he needs money. 他这么卖命干的目的在于他需要钱。


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Words to Know

shepherd [ ] n. 牧羊人，羊倌=one who herds, guards, and tends sheepe.g. A wolf came to attack the herds when the shepherd was away.狼趁牧羊人不在的时候来攻击牧群。


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Words to Know

region [] n. 地方，区域=areae.g. Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region.内蒙古是一个自治区。


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Words to Know

motion [] vi. 打手势，示意=signal by making a gesturee.g. The director motioned to the accountant to enter.经理示意让会计进来。


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Words to Know

precede [] vt. 先于，位于…之前= come, exist, or occur before in timee.g. He preceded his speech with welcome to the guests.他在正式讲演前 , 先对来宾表示欢迎。


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Words to Know

inhospitable [] adj. 不友好的，不好客的=unfriendlye.g. The inhospitable behavior of the host irritated the guests.主人不友好的举动激怒了客人们。


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Words to Know

facilitate [] vt. 使容易，使便利= make easy or easiere.g. The new underground railway will facilitate the journey to all parts of the city.新的地下铁路将为去城市各处提供方便。


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Words to Know

businesslike [] adj. 井井有条的=methodical and systematice.g. The couple maintained a businesslike attitude toward their divorce.这对夫妇以一种实际的态度对待他们的离婚。


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Useful Phrases and Expressions

keep from 防止，阻止e.g. We must keep them from getting to know our plans.我们必须防止他们知道我们的计划。


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get in 插手，参与e.g. He got in the ongoing project halfway.他在中途参与到这个正在进行的项目中来。


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in heaven’s name 究竟e.g. What in heaven’s name are you doing?你究竟在干什么？


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mess around/about in 干预，插手e.g. Don't mess around in the affairs of others.别干预他人之事。


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at times 有时e.g. At times, she will walk to work instead of driving.有时她会选择不开车而是走着去上班。


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once and for all 一劳永逸地，彻底地e.g. Once and for all, we can't agree!最后再说一遍 , 我们不能同意 !


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let alone 更不用说e.g. Their ancestors had been dirt poor and never saw royalty, let alone hung around with them.他们的祖先穷得要命，从来没有见过王族成员，更不用说和他们在一起了。


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see to 注意，照料e.g. When you start the engine, you must see to it that the car is in neutral.开发动机时 , 一定要使汽车的离合器处于空档位置。


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Difficult Sentences

“Don’t get smart with me.”别跟我耍滑头。

Don’t get smart with me: Don’t think you are clever with that reply. (His Chief thinks Dwight Smith pretends not to understand what he means.)


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Difficult Sentences

There didn’t seem to be any pattern to the deaths except that they all happened to wives of Mr. Fitch.看来，三人的死亡没有固定模式，只不过这三人恰好都是菲奇先生的妻子。

我们可将 except that看作连词，表示“除了……之外，只是”的意思，后面跟句子；经常可与 but that换用：e.g. Tony and his brother have little in common except that they share the same interest in cricket．除了对板球有共同的兴趣以外，托尼同他兄弟几乎没有共同之处。


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Difficult Sentences

It was set back into the mountains with a steep, narrow road as the only access to the property.菲奇庄园隐伏在深山之中，唯一的通道是一条又陡又窄的小路。

as the only access to the property: as the only way to the Fitch house


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Difficult Sentences

This place was too quiet, too peaceful, to be the site of a murder, let alone three murders.这个地方幽深宁静，简直不可能是杀人害命的地方，何况是三次谋杀呢。


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Difficult Sentences

Doesn’t seem right you being on this land. Looking at things you ain’t supposed to be seeing.我看你不太对劲，站在这地方东张西望地看你不该看的东西。

Looking at things you ain’t supposed to be seeing:You’re looking at things you should not see.


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Difficult Sentences

He motioned for me to precede him up the path.他用枪示意让我在前面沿着通道走向庄园。


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Difficult Sentences

They were obviously curious about who was being led to their house at gunpoint.很显然，他们都想看看这个用枪押着来到庄园的人是谁。


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Difficult Sentences

“Darjo, is that any way to treat a guest?”“大乔，有那样接待客人的吗？”


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Difficult Sentences

In his businesslike manner Mr. Fitch had seen to everything.菲奇先生面面俱到，对每件事都作了妥善的安排。


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put him on: put him on the telephone line


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Navaho []: a member of a large tribe of American Indians living in New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah.


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Difficult Sentences

“He didn’t tell me nothing about it.” :(nonstandard) “He didn’t tell me anything about it.” 他没跟我说起过。


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Difficult Sentences

By the time we reached the porch of the house, the whole household had assembled.等到我们到达房子的门廊的时候 ,全家人都聚在那里。

by the time 表示“到……时”，该结构所引导的从句通常与完成式连用：e.g. By the time the Olympics begins, everything will have been ready.到奥运会开始的时候，一切都将准备好了。


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Difficult Sentences

When I walked into the Chief’s office, I saw from the look on his face that he was not going to give me good news. 当我走进警长办公室时，从他脸上的表情看，我知道他不会有好消息告诉我。


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Difficult Sentences

Our rules keep us from getting in one another’s way.我们的规定要求我们不去干涉别人的事。


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Difficult Sentences

“Then why in heaven’s name were you reading old newspapers about the accidental deaths of the Fitch women?”“那你究竟为什么非要阅读有关菲奇太太们意外死亡的旧报纸呢？”


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Difficult Sentences

I didn’t understand how the rule of avoiding someone would keep us honest.我不明白这种回避某人的规定怎能使我们秉公执法。


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Difficult Sentences

He stressed accidental to make sure that I knew that there was no doubt about the cause of the deaths.他强调意外，以确保我知道了她们的死因无可置疑。


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Difficult Sentences

I replied that a new person in town must be familiar with all the major happenings of the town that formed the town’s history.我回答道，—个初到这里的人必须熟悉形成镇史的所有重大事件。


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Difficult Sentences

“Now, if I hear you’re messing around in the Fitches’ business again, you’ll be on the first bus back to that city you came from.”“如果我再听说你插手菲奇家的事情，你干脆就坐头班车返回你来的城市去。”


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Difficult Sentences

… and he would like the air cleared once and for all.…… 他想彻底澄清事实。


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Lesson 17 A Young Detective’s Adventures: Looking for Clues 1. Warm-up Questions Warm-up Questions...

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Transcript of Lesson 17 A Young Detective’s Adventures: Looking for Clues 1. Warm-up Questions Warm-up Questions...