When Only Holmes Can Help, страница 70 - гдз по английскому языку 5 класс книга для чтения Верещагина, Афанасьева

Supplementary material - страница 70.

Условие.

12 When Only Holmes Can Help

If Sherlock Holmes were alive today, he would be¹ more than 140 years old. You can say it from the books about him. He would certainly no longer be living² at 221 B Baker Street. He would have retired and lived³ in Sussex.

Yet letters addressed to him continue to arrive at Baker Street. Many people write to the great detective [di'tektiv] asking him for help. Sometimes there are such phrases in the letters: “The police can't do anything. Please help.” or “I ask you, please, hurry.”

As there is no 221 B Baker Street, the postman brings them to number 221. They get not less than one letter a week. Some of those people who write, especially from abroad, really believe that Holmes is a real person and lives at 221 B Baker Street. Many letters come from Europe. People sometimes ask Holmes for his autograph ['o:togra:f] or photograph. Some letters are sent probably as a joke. But sometimes you can't be sure. One letter, for example, began: “Dear Mr Holmes, I live in France and I cannot get my house (which is more than 2 mln) because of my guardians, who are trying to get it for themselves ...”

The writer, who gives his name and address, describes how the house came into his family's hands. His letter ends: “My guardians are dangerous people. They can do anything to get the house. They are clever and only you can help. Hurry, before it is too late ...”

Another letter from an American girl ends: “I believe only you. Please, help me.”

Where it is clear that a person can be in real difficulties, he or she is advised to get in touch with a solicitor or the police. Where the writer really believes that Holmes personally will open their letter, he or she is told that such a person has never lived. These people are usually told, “We are sure you understand that Mr Holmes is no longer with us.”

Решение.