Past Simple and Past Continuous: detective story

Detective Story Scooby Doo in Scotland

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in June 2004, Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred went to Scotland to see the Highland Games. They stayed at Blake Castle, near the Loch Ness and many strange things happened when they arrived…

ONCE UPON A TIME...

The castle was also a hotel, old and dark, and the people living in it were:

Mr. Angus Hoggart, the owner

Sir Ian Locksley, his cousin

Mr. Duncan McGubbin, a champion of “weight for height”

and Mrs. Agatha Marple, an old lady who also wanted to see the Highland Games.

At dinner, everyone was sitting in the dining room and eating; Fred was asking questions to Angus Hoggart:

- Do you believe in the Loch Ness monster, the one they call Nessie? - Hah, no, this is pure legend, said Angus. - Well, I think the monster is very real, said Sir Ian. - Oh, I’m so scared, said Shaggy, looking very pale. - Don’t be scared, dear Shaggy, said Angus. The only danger here is the ghost of Sir William Blake!

Shaggy and Scooby-Doo were very scared. After dinner, they all went to bed. But in the morning, around 7 a.m., Fred heard someone screaming!

It was Sir Iian, saying: "THE PAINTING! Someone stole the beautiful painting of Saint Andrew!”

Near the crime scene, in the corridor, there was a very large footprint and some blood.

Fred started his investigation: everyone was separated, and he asked the questions. Here are all the alibis:

Angus: I was reading a book about Scotland, and Nessie, and I wanted to know more. The other volume was in the library, so I went down to take it. It was around 4 a.m. Then, I read some pages, and I was sleeping from 4:30 to 6:30

Fred (thinking): I can see the books near the bed, but Angus says Nessie is not real, so why does he want to know more?

Sir Ian: I was in my bed all night, except at 4 a.m., I went to the kitchen to take a glass of water. I didn't notice anything in the corridor when I was coming back. And the I was sleeping, of course".

Fred (thinking): I don't see any glass of water near the bed. Also, Sir Ian looks tired; and at 4 a.m., there was Angus in the library, so Sir Ian must have seen him. There is a bandage on his left hand. Strange.

Duncan: I was very tired, because I was training all day fo the competition, I didn't hear anything, and I slept all night long.

Fred (thinking): I notice Duncan's feet are very large; like the footprint on the crime scene...

Mrs Agatha: You know, I'm old, now, and I love going on walks at night; I hears two men speaking in the corridor, around 5 a.m., but my ears are old, and I didn't hear all the words.

Fred (thinking): Well, we all know who these men are...

QUESTION TIME

1) When and where is the story taking place? 2) What does the Scooby--Doo Gang want to see? 3) What was Fred doing during dinner? 4) Why were Shaggy and Scooby-Doo scared? 5) Where did Angus go at 4 a.m.? Why? 6) What was Angus doing all night? 7) Where did Sir Ian go at 4 a.m.? Why? 8) What was Duncan doing all night? 9) Where was Mrs. Agatha at 5 a.m.? 10) Who did she hear?

SOLVE THE CRIME

Who were the four suspects in this case? Who stole the painting, in your opinion? How many people are guilty? Explain how you discovered who it was.