Shadowing Practice: SHERLOCK HOLMES | B1 Level English Reading | A2-B1 English - Learn English Speaking with Video
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341 sentences
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It was a cold winter morning.
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I went to visit my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
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When I entered his room, he was near the fire, wearing a purple gown.
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On a wooden chair beside him were a dirty black hat, a glass tool, and a strange metal object.
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He looked at me and smiled quietly.
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Suddenly, Holmes pointed to the hat and said, This is an interesting case.
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A man lost this hat and also his goose.
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But the goose had a big secret.
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At first, it only looked like a lost hat and a bird.
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There was no name, just two letters inside the hat.
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HB.
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That could mean many people in London.
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Holmes said someone named Peterson brought the items.
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He found them on the street after some men fought and ran away, leaving the bird and the hat.
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Peterson took the goose home.
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His wife cooked it.
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and then she found something amazing inside.
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Not food, not bones, but a shiny blue stone.
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Peterson quickly went back to Holmes and showed him the stone.
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"It looks like a diamond," he said.
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But Holmes shook his head in surprise.
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It is not just a diamond.
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Holmes said.
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This is the blue jewel that was taken from a rich woman last week.
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It was a very big crime in London.
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Suddenly, the goose was more than dinner.
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It was part of a serious case.
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Now Holmes had to find out who lost the bird.
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and why the stone was inside, Holmes held the black hat in his hands.
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He looked at the sides.
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then under the rim.
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He used his magnifying glass to see small parts of the old cloth and dust.
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He said.
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This hat is old and dirty.
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but it tells me many things about its owner.
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He was once rich, but not now.
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He lost his job and has no money.
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Holmes pointed at the headband.
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The hair is grey, the man is older.
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There is dust but no care.
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No brush touched it in weeks.
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he no longer worries about his look.
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Peterson, who found the goose in Hat, told Holmes he saw a man on the street being pushed by two others.
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The goose and hat fell.
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All three ran away.
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Holmes said, So the goose and hat belonged to the same man.
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That man may be Mr. Henry Baker.
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But why did he not come back to look for them?
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Watson asked if it could be more than just a bird.
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Holmes said: Yes.
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The goose had the countess's jewel, so this hat is part of a big puzzle.
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Holmes took a newspaper and showed Watson a short story.
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It talked about the Countess's blue jewel, a worker named John Horner was taken by police.
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The report said Horner fixed a window at the hotel.
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Another worker, Ryder, left him in the room.
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When he came back, The jewel was not there.
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The paper added that Horner had a bad past.
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but he said he did nothing wrong.
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Holmes said, Maybe the wrong man is in jail.
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We must find the truth.
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After Mr. Baker left, Holmes sat down again.
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He said, Now we know he did not know about the jewel.
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He looked happy just to get a new bird and his old hat.
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I said, "I'm not going to be a good one." So he is not the thief?
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Holmes answered, No, he knew nothing.
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But we are lucky he came.
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Now we know about the Goose Club at the Alpha Inn.
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Holmes stood up and smiled.
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We will go there next.
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The man at the inn may tell us where the birds came from.
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That will help us follow the trail better.
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At 221 B Baker Street, Holmes wrote a message.
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It said: Mr. Henry Baker, please visit us at 6 :30 today at this address to talk about your goose and hat.
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He gave the note to Peterson.
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Take this to the newspaper office and ask them to print it.
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Buy another goose too so we can give it to him when he comes.
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Peterson left with the note.
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Holmes said, We wait now.
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If He wants His things, He will come.
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Then we talk and see what he knows about the lost bird.
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At 6 :30 sharp, a tall man came to the door.
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He held a paper and looked nervous.
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I said, This must be Mr. Henry Baker.
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Holmes smiled and let him in.
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Holmes gave him the hat.
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Mr. Baker looked happy and said, "Yes, that is mine.
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I am thankful you saved it.
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It is old, but I like it and need it in this cold." We ate your goose.
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Holmes said.
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But here is a new one for you.
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Mr. Baker looked glad.
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He took the bird and said, "You are very kind.
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Thank you, sir." Before the man left, Holmes asked, Where did you get the goose?
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Mr. Baker said, The Alpha Inn.
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The man there has a goose club.
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We all pay a little each week.
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He went on.
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At Christmas, everyone in the club gets a goose.
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I got mine that night, but then I was pushed on the road and dropped it.
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Holmes nodded and smiled.
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Thank you, Mr. Baker.
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You have helped us a lot.
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Enjoy your dinner.
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He shook hands with Mr. Baker, who then walked out quietly.
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As soon as Mr. Baker left the house, Holmes said, "Watson, we must go quickly to the Alpha Inn."
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It is time to follow the trail and find out more about the goose.
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We walked down the cold streets.
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Snow made the road white and hard.
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After some time, we saw the small inn with a sign.
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Holmes went inside and asked for the owner.
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Mr. Windigate, the innkeeper, came to speak with us.
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Holmes asked: Can you tell me where your Christmas geese came from?
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The man listened and then gave a name.
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"We got the geese from Covent Garden," said Mr. Windigate.
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They came from a man there.
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His name is Breckenridge.
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He sells birds and other meat at the market.
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Holmes thanked him and we left.
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The streets were busy and full of people.
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At Covent Garden, Holmes asked around: Soon we found the man called Breckinridge.
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Can you tell me where your geese came from?
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Holmes asked.
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But Breckenridge got angry.
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"You are not the first to ask.
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I will not say anything.
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Go away now." Holmes stayed calm and polite.
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But the man would not help.
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Then, a noise came from nearby.
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A small man was shouting in front of Breckenridge's market table.
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The little man said, Please, I need to know where one goose came from.
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It had a black mark on the tail.
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It is really important to me.
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Please help me find it.
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I told you, yelled Breckinridge.
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I got them from Mrs. Oakshot on Brixton Road.
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Stop asking me again.
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The small man looked scared and stepped back.
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Holmes grabbed my arm and whispered, That man knows something.
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Let us follow him and find out more about this goose.
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He may lead us to the jewel's path.
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The small man walked fast.
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He turned right, then left, always looking around.
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We followed from behind.
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He did not see us as he made his way into a quiet street.
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Then Holmes walked up and tapped the man on the shoulder.
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Sir?
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He said kindly.
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We can help you.
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Come with us.
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We know about the goose you are seeking.
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The man Holmes spoke to at the market was called Breckenridge.
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He was not happy and shouted again.
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He said he did not want to talk about any more geese.
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Holmes did not get angry.
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He kept calm and quiet.
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He tried to ask again about the goose with a small black mark, but the man shouted louder this time: Then a small man with sad eyes came near.
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He looked around and said, Please sir.
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Tell me where that goose came from.
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It is very important to me.
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The seller became red in the face.
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He lifted his hand and pointed to a table.
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I told you already.
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It came from a woman named Mrs. Oakshot on Brixton Road.
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Go talk to her.
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He yelled.
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The small man looked very scared.
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He stepped backwards and turned to leave.
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His hands were cold and he was shaking a little.
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Holmes saw the small man and whispered to me, That man knows something, Watson.
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I think he is hiding a part of the story.
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We must follow him now.
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The small man walked down the street with his hands in his coat.
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He looked behind him again and again.
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Holmes and I followed quietly without a sound.
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He turned left, than right.
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He passed by shops and lamps.
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His walk was fast, and he looked worried the whole time.
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Homes moved closer through the snowy road.
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Then Holmes touched his arm and said, Do not worry, friend.
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We can help you.
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You are looking for a goose and we may know where it came from.
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The man looked shocked.
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He pulled his coat tighter and said, Who are you?
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Holmes answered, "No." I am Sherlock Holmes.
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I want to talk about that goose you need.
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The man's eyes opened wide.
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He said nothing and just stared at Holmes.
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"Come with us," said Holmes.
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"We have a warm place and maybe some answers, too." The man nodded slowly.
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He followed us without speaking.
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We walked through the cold street back to Holmes' home.
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Snow still fell on our hats and coats.
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Inside, Holmes gave him a chair near the fire.
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The man sat down and put out his hands to feel the heat.
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Holmes asked: What is your name, sir?
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The man answered in a low voice, John Ryder.
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Holmes looked at him kindly.
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I know you are worried.
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But we must speak about the blue jewel and that goose.
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Holmes opened a box and took out the shiny stone.
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The man gasped.
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"That's it," he said.
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He was shaking and looked like he wanted to cry at any moment.
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Ryder looked down at the shiny stone.
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He was shaking.
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Home stayed quiet.
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He waited for Ryder to talk.
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The room was warm, but the man looked very cold and scared.
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Then Ryder said, Yes, I took the jewel.
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I was scared.
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I did not mean it at first.
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I just wanted to hide it.
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I thought the goose was a safe place to put it.
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I work at the hotel.
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Ryder said.
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I saw the stone in the room.
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I took it and told the police it was the plumber.
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I was afraid and did not want to go to jail.
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Holmes looked at Ryder and spoke in a calm voice.
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You used the goose to carry the stone.
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But how did the wrong goose get away?
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That is the mystery now.
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"I went to my sister's house," Ryder said.
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Her name is Mrs. Oakeshott.
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She had many geese.
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I put the stone into one of her birds.
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But later two geese were mixed.
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One goose was given to Breckenridge by mistake.
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And now, that goose is gone.
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Ryder said.
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I looked everywhere but could not find it.
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I thought it was lost forever.
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Holmes nodded and said, So you tried to make John Horner look like the thief.
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But you are the one who took the stone, That could send an innocent man to jail.
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Ryder began to cry.
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I was scared.
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The stone was so big and pretty, I could not stop myself.
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But then it was gone, and I did not know what to do anymore.
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I will leave London.
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Ryder said, "I will go far away.
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I learned my lesson.
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"Just please do not send me to the police.
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I am not strong enough for jail." Ryder sat by the fire and began to speak.
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His hands moved as he talked.
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He said.
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I was afraid.
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I did a bad thing, but I was weak.
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I did not want to hurt anyone.
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He said he worked at the big hotel and saw the jewel in a ladies room.
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His mind felt full of fear and greed.
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He took the stone and left the room quickly.
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Ryder told Holmes he ran to his sister's house after the crime.
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He thought a goose was a safe place to hide the jewel.
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He picked one and put it inside the bird.
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He said later the wrong goose was taken from the group.
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Ryder had no idea which one it was.
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He looked everywhere in fear.
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But the goose was already gone.
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Ryder cried while he talked.
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Each day I looked at the shops.
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I talked to sellers.
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but I could not say too much.
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I did not want the police to find me.
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Then I saw the ad in the paper about a lost hat and goose.
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I knew I had made a mistake," said Ryder.
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But I could not tell anyone.
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I had too much fear.
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Holmes listened without anger.
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When Ryder stopped talking, Holmes said, You made a mistake, but you told the truth now.
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That means something good.
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Ryder looked at homes.
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So, will you call the police?
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Holmes stood up and walked near the fire.
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He said.
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No rider.
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You are scared and broken already.
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Holmes spoke softly.
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I will not send you to jail.
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But you must leave London.
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Go and make a good life.
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and let the innocent man be free at last.
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Tears ran down Ryder's face.
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He said, "I'm not going to be a man." Thank you.
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I will go far away.
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I will never forget this.
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Holmes nodded, and the door was opened for Ryder to leave.
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When the room was quiet again, Holmes turned to me.
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There is no need to call the police.
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Ryder will not do wrong again.
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He's too shaken by this case.
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And now, said Holmes, the blue jewel will be given back.
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and I will speak to the police.
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they must set Horner free.
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He did nothing wrong.
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After Ryder left, Holmes sat back in his chair.
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The room was warm.
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But he looked deep in thought.
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"This case began with a simple goose and a black hat," he said.
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But inside the goose was a very big secret.
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Holmes added.
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A stone so rare it could put a man in jail or free another from a big mistake he did not make.
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"Every small clue mattered," Holmes said.
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A hat, a tag, a market name.
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Each small thing helped us find the truth and save a man who did nothing wrong.
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Holmes picked up the hat again and turned it slowly.
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"This old hat told me many things," he said.
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from the dust to the hair.
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Each part gave a clear message.
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The man was poor, older, and sad, Holmes said.
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It also told me he was once rich and proud.
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So the hat was not just cloth.
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It was a piece of his life story.
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I nodded slowly.
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So, a cooked bird, a hat, and some snow all helped stop a big crime, I said.
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Holmes smiled.
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Yes, Watson.
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That is the power of small things.
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Holmes stood and walked to the window.
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Outside, snow was falling again.
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"This jewel was lost in a silly way," he said.
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but it almost ruined a man's whole life.
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Ryder was weak and full of fear.
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But at last, he told the truth, Holmes said.
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He may not go to jail, but I hope he now understands the danger of greed.
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I looked at the blue stone.
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It still shone bright in the soft light.
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"It is small," I said.
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But it caused so much worry.
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Holmes nodded.
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That is the truth, Watson.
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And think about Horner.
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Holmes said.
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He was in jail and had no idea why.
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He did nothing wrong, but no one cared until the goose showed us the truth.
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People often miss things that seem too small, Holmes went on.
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But in this case, Each little part helped.
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from the broken hat to the bar on the goose.
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In the end, the goose gave more than food.
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It gave us answers.
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Holmes said with a smile.
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and showed us again how strong small signs can truly be.
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Why This Sherlock Holmes Clip Is Perfect for English Speaking Practice
This video isn’t just a fun story—it’s a goldmine for english speaking practice. The dialogue mixes everyday phrases (“I went to visit my friend”) with descriptive language (“a shiny blue stone”), making it ideal for building fluency. The slow, clear delivery matches B1 level, so you can follow along without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, the narrative structure (setting, problem, mystery) keeps you engaged, which is key for staying motivated while practicing with YouTube.
Breaking Down Natural English Phrases
Let’s look at 3 lines that sound like real speech:
- “He looked at me and smiled quietly.” This simple sentence uses a natural word order (subject + action + description) and common verbs, making it easy to mimic. The adverb “quietly” adds detail without complexity.
- “It is not just a diamond.” The phrase “not just” is a conversational way to emphasize importance—native speakers use it all the time. Notice how Holmes pauses before “just” to build tension, which you can practice in your shadowing routine.
- “No brush touched it in weeks.” This passive construction (“touched it”) is common in storytelling. It focuses on the hat, not the person, which feels natural when describing objects. The short phrase “in weeks” is a casual way to say “for several weeks.”
A Simple Shadowing Routine for This Video
Use a shadowing app or just your phone to try this: 1. Watch the video once to understand the story. 2. Pause after 2-3 sentences, then repeat them out loud, copying the tone and speed. 3. Record yourself and compare it to the original—note where your intonation or rhythm differs. 4. Focus on tricky phrases like “the blue jewel that was taken” until they flow smoothly. This shadow speak method trains your mouth to move like a native and improves your listening skills at the same time. For extra practice, use shadowspeaks techniques: mimic the speaker’s pauses and stress on words like “amazing” or “serious” to sound more natural.
Learning English with YouTube doesn’t have to be hard—this Sherlock Holmes clip makes it fun and effective. Start small, practice daily, and you’ll notice your speaking confidence grow in no time.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was taken · being pushed · was pushed |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | one who took · man who did |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was shouting · was shaking · was falling |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | may be · may tell · may lead |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.