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COMPREHENSION - 1
GRADE 5
TERM 1 2015-16
Sherlock Holmes Investigates

Read the passage and answer the questions which follow.

A lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the window, rose as we entered.
Good morning, madam, said Holmes cheerily. My name is Sherlock Holmes. This is my intimate friend
and associate, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha, I am glad to see
that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the fire. Pray draw up to it and I shall order you a cup of
hot coffee, for I observe that you are shivering.
Its not cold which makes me shiver, said the woman in a low voice, changing her seat as requested.
What then?
It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror. She raised her veil as she spoke and we could see that she was indeed
in a pitiable state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless frightened eyes, like those of
some hunted animal. Her features and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot with
premature grey and her expression was weary and haggard. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his
quick, all-comprehensive glances.
You must not fear, said he soothingly, bending forward and patting her forearm. We shall soon set
matters right, I have no doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see.
You know me, then?
No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm of your left glove. You must have started
early and yet you had a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the station.
1

The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my companion.

There is no mystery, my dear madam, said he, smiling. The left arm of your jacket is spattered with mud
in no less than seven places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a dog-cart which
throws up mud in that way, and then only when you sit on the left-hand side of the driver.
Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct, said she.

(From The Speckled Band by Arthur Conan Doyle)

Answer the questions:

1. What condition was the lady in?
a. Cold, terrified, haggard
b. Tired, terrified, restless
c. Hungry, terrified, cold
2. How did Sherlock Holmes know that the lady travelled by train?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. How did Sherlock Holmes know that the lady sat on the left side of the dog-cart?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
4. How did Sherlock Holmes know that she had travelled in the dog-cart just that morning?
___________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

5. Who do you think Mrs. Hudson is?

a. Mr. Holmess wife
b. Dr. Watsons associate
c. Mr. Holmess housekeeper
2

6. At which point did the lady ride in the dog-cart?

a. From the railway station to Mr. Holmess house
b. From her home to the railway station
c. From her home to Mrs. Hudsons house

7. Why do you think the lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at Mr. Holmes?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
8. Find words in the passage that mean (one letter for every dash):
a. great confusion: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
b. sad, miserable: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

9. Sherlock Holmes tells the lady, Pray draw up to it (second paragraph). Explain what he meant by it.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

10. Give three adjectives that would describe Sherlock Holmess character from your reading of this
passage.
___________________________________________________________________________

COMPREHENSION 1
GRADE 5

Sherlock Holmes Investigates

-

TERM 1

- 2015-16

RUBRIC FOR EVALUATION

Q. No.

SOARING HIGH!

Recalls information
with understanding

Q.1
Q.2
Q. 3
Q. 4

No facts left out/ not

understood

Makes inferences

Q.5

SKILLS

Is able to analyze and

deduce

Q.6
Q.7

ON TRACK!

MUST CATCH UP!

Some facts left out/

not understood

Most facts left out/not

understood

Reads with an excellent

understanding of the
content

Reads with a fairly good

understanding of the
content

Needs help to make

inferences and is more
dependent on facts given in
the passage.
Needs to read with a better
understanding of the
content

Makes intelligent
inferences and is able to
read between the lines.

Vocabulary

Q.8

Has a good understanding

of words

Understands some of the

words but not all

Needs to enrich vocabulary

Understands idiomatic
language

Q.9

Has the ability to

understand beyond the
literal meaning of words

Understands idiomatic
language fairly well

Needs to develop the ability

to understand idiomatic
expressions

Ability to understand
and express character
traits using
appropriate adjectives

Q.10

Has the maturity to

understand character
traits from actions and use
appropriate adjectives

Has a fairly good

understanding of
character traits and some
adjectives are appropriate

Needs to read with

understanding and thought.
Adjectives used are
inappropriate.

Think!

PICK A

STRAW,

DRINK DEEP AND EXTEND YOUR LEARNING !

GRADE 5
a) More phrasal verbs
b) Sherlock Holmes in todays world

c) Other books by Sherlock Holmesresearch and read

d) Activity: Use personal belongings of
unknown owner to observe and
deduce.

COMPREHENSION 1
GRADE 5
TERM 1 2015-16
Sherlock Holmes Investigates

Fact File: (For you to know the background)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 1930)
The famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, was invented by Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle. Dr.
Doyle studied at Edinburgh University, where one of his professors was Dr. Joseph Bell.
While he was a student, Doyle learnt from Dr. Bell how to find out about people by
studying their hands, face and clothes. Dr. Doyle based the character of Sherlock Holmes
on Dr. Bell. Holmes was known for his powers of observation and said that a persons job
could be detected by looking at hands. He noticed many things, just like Dr. Bell, and this
helped him to solve crimes. Holmes was sent for when valuable jewellery or documents
were stolen.
From 1882 to 1891 Doyle was a successful doctor in England. When his first stories about
Sherlock Holmes became popular, he became a full-time author. Doyle based his detective,
Sherlock Holmes, on the character of Dr. Joseph Bell.
Conan Doyle wrote about 56 short and 4 long stories about Sherlock Holmes. Soon
Sherlock Holmes became the best known detective in the world. Stories about him were
translated into many languages. Films were made about Sherlock Holmes and his faithful
assistant, Dr. Watson. In some ways, the character of Dr. Watson is based on Doyles own
character.
Conan Doyle knew how to make his stories extremely exciting. Modern writers say that he
is the father of detective novels.
In Conan Doyles stories, Sherlock Holmes was unmarried and lived at 221 Baker Street,
London. He was over six feet tall, lean and athletic. He had sharp piercing eyes and a thin
nose. He liked to play the violin because this helped him to think about a solution to a
complicated crime.

In modern times, there are Sherlock Holmes societies in the UK, the USA and several other
countries. Sometimes people send letters to Sherlock Holmes to his home at 221 Baker
Street. The British Post Office acknowledges these letters!