Materiały przygotowawcze

MATERIAŁY PRZYGOTOWAWCZE DLA KL. IV 

EDYCJA JESIENNA 2025

OPOWIADANIE DLA KL. IV 

Aunt Meggy and the Magic Story

Tom is in the garden. He looks at the road. He waits. “Where is she?” he asks.

His favourite aunt Meggy is coming today.

Aunt Meggy is sporty and very funny. She always smiles. And she loves books.

Suddenly Tom can see a red bike on the road.

“There she is!” he shouts. Aunt Meggy gets off the bike and Tom runs to her.

His parents come out of the house.

“Hello, Meggy,” they say. They hug her.

They all go into the house for dinner.

After dinner, Aunt Meggy takes a book out of her bag. “It’s for you,” she says to Tom.

“Wow! Thanks a lot!” exclaims Tom.

He opens the book. There is a picture of a big tree and a house on the top of it.

“It’s a story about a magic tree house and two children: Annie and Jack. They live in a small town called Frog Creek and …”

“And what?”

“Do you want me to read the book to you?” asks Aunt Meggy.

“Yes! Great!” exclaims Tom.

They sit down on the sofa, and Aunt Meggy starts to read.

*

“Help! A monster!” shouts Annie.

“Yeah, sure,” says Jack. “A real monster here, in Frog Creek.”

“Run, Jack!” shouts Annie. She runs into the woods.

“Ugh….” Jack doesn’t like this.

His sister Annie is only seven years old. She likes to play pretend.

Jack is nine years old. He likes real things.

 “Come on, Annie! It’s time to go home!”

But Annie disappears in the woods.

Jack waits for his sister and is angry with her.

Then he hears, “Jack! Jack! Come here!”

 “Eh, this better be important,” he says and goes into the woods.

Annie stands under a big tree. “Look,” she says and points to a rope ladder.

The ladder goes up to the top of the tree. There is a tree house at the top.

“I’m going up,” says Annie.

“No, we don’t know who it belongs to,” says Jack.

“Just for a minute,” says Annie and starts to climb up. She goes into the tree house.

Then Annie looks out of the window. “Books!” she shouts. “The tree house is full of books!”

Oh, wow! Jack loves books. He holds the rope ladder and climbs up.

There are really a lot of books in the house. Books about castles, animals and even about Frog Creek.

Jack takes a book about dinosaurs. In the picture, he sees a big flying creature – a Pteranodon.

“Wow! I want to see a real Pteranodon,” says Jack.

And then, Annie shouts, “A monster!” She points to the window.

“Stop playing,” says Jack.

“No! Look!” shouts Annie.

A big creature flies to the tree house! It has a long head and big wings. It is a real Pteranodon!

Suddenly, the wind blows hard. The tree house starts to spin. Round and round!

Then it stops. It is very quiet now. They are still in the tree house … but not in the same tree!

Jack looks out of the window. There are big green plants, volcanoes and a river – like in the picture. “We are in the past,” he says.

The flying creature stands near the tree and looks up at the children.

“Wow! The Pteranodon!” shouts Annie. “He looks friendly. Let’s go and talk to him.”
And Annie climbs down.

Oh no! She always wants to be friends with animals.

“Come back!” shouts Jack.

But Annie walks to the Pteranodon.

“Hi,” she says. “My name is Annie.”

Jack comes too. The Pteranodon is big but gentle.

“Let’s call him Henry,” says Annie. She touches his wing.

The Pteranodon moves his head and looks at the children kindly.

“Look! He likes us,” says Annie. “Let’s go and see more!” And she runs off.

“Wait! Stop!” shouts Jack. And of course, he runs after her.

They walk and look around. Suddenly they hear THUMP THUMP THUMP.

They look back. Oh, no!

They see a big, scary animal.

It has big legs, a long tail and sharp teeth. It is a dinosaur – a T. rex!

“Quick, Annie! Run to the tree house!” shouts Jack.

They run very fast. Suddenly Jack falls down.

But Annie can’t see him. She is ahead. She climbs up to the tree house.

The T. rex is close. It comes to Jack. Jack is very scared.

Then Jack sees Annie. She comes down the rope ladder!

“No, Annie! Go back up the tree!” Jack shouts.

Annie talks to the Pteranodon and points at Jack.

The Pteranodon flies up and then lands close to Jack. He looks at Jack with friendly eyes.

’He wants to help,’ thinks Jack.

Jack jumps on its back. They fly up into the sky! Jack feels happy and free.

The T. rex can’t get him.

The Pteranodon flies to the tree with Jack.

“Thank you, Henry,” says Jack and jumps off. He climbs up the ladder fast.

“Hurry! Hurry!” Annie shouts from the tree house.

The T. rex hits the tree!

‘Quick! Make a wish!’ shouts Annie.

“I want to go back to Frog Creek!” shouts Jack.

But nothing happens.

“We need the book!” shouts Annie.

“Of course!” exclaims Jack. He takes a book about Frog Creek and opens it.

“I want to go back home,” he says.

Suddenly, the wind blows. The tree house starts to spin. Then it stops.

They can see their neighbour far away. He gets out of the car with his big dog.

“Phew! We are back in Frog Creek,” says Jack. “People won’t believe our story.”

“So let’s not tell anyone,” says Annie. “Can we come back here tomorrow?”

“Sure,” says Jack.

Then they laugh and run home.

*

“That’s the end,” says Aunt Meggy.

“Great! I like the book,” says Tom. “But I have one question. Why does the Pteranodon come before the children go to the past?”

Aunt Meggy smiles.

“You are very smart, Tom!” she exclaims. “The Pteranodon comes first to help the children. It wants to show them the way to the past.”

Suddenly they hear TWEET-TWEET, BEEP-BEEP. There is a small bird outside the window. It has a small head, very big green eyes and silver wings.

“Look!” exclaims Tom. “What a strange bird!”

“Yes,” says Aunt Meggy, “very strange.”

“Can the bird take us to the future?”

“Maybe,” says Aunt Meggy and smiles.

∞ The end ∞

[Materiał własny; zawiera zaadaptowane fragmenty ‘Dinosaurs Before Dark’, Mary Pope Osborne; wyd:Random House, Inc. (USA) / Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto]

Słowniczek (kolejność słów i wyrażeń zgodna z tekstem)
Zaleca się posłuchać wymowy nowych słów, korzystając np. ze słownika  https://www.diki.pl/

Zauważ, że często, kiedy mówimy o jednej osobie (3 os. l. poj.), wówczas przy nazwie czynności pojawia się końcówka –s (lub –es)
np. say – mówić; he says – on mówi   love – uwielbiać;  she loves books – ona uwielbia książki

garden – ogród
road – droga
look (at) – patrzeć (na)
wait (for) – czekać (na)
where – gdzie
say – mówić, powiedzieć
favourite – ulubiony
aunt – ciotka
(she) is coming today – przyjeżdża dzisiaj
sporty – wysportowany
funny – zabawny
always – zawsze
smile – uśmiechać się
suddenly – nagle
There she is! – Oto ona!
shout – krzyczeć
get off (the bike) – zsiąść z (roweru)
run – biec
parents – rodzice
hug – ściskać, przytulać
go into (the house) – wejść do (domu)
for dinner – na obiad / kolację
take … out of (a bag) – wyjąć (coś) z (torby)
Thanks a lot! – dzięki wielkie!
open – otworzyć
picture – obrazek
tree house – domek na drzewie
live (in) – mieszkać (w)
town – miasteczko
called Frog Creek – o nazwie Frog Creek
Do you want me to …? –  czy chcesz, żebym …?
read (a book) to (somebody) – czytać (książkę) komuś
monster – potwór
woods – las
ugh – uch… (wyraz niezadowolenia)
(she) is only seven years old – ma tylko siedem lat
play pretend – bawić się w udawanie
real things – prawdziwe rzeczy
disappear – znikać
be angry (with) – być złym (na)
hear – słyszeć
Come here! – chodź tutaj!
This better be… – niech to lepiej będzie…
important – ważne
under – pod
point (to) – wskazywać (na)
rope ladder – drabina sznurowa
top (of the tree) – wierzchołek (drzewa)
we don’t know – nie wiemy
who – kto oraz tutaj: do kogo
belong to – należeć do
climb up – wspinać się
climb down – schodzić
look out of (the window) – wyglądać przez (okno)
full (of) – pełen (czegoś)
hold – trzymać
castle – zamek
even – nawet
fly – lecieć; flying – latający; (it ) flies – leci
creature – stworzenie
Pteranodon – duży latający gad prehistoryczny (na konkursie wystarczy rozpoznać nazwę, nie trzeba znać dokładnej pisowni)
want to see – chcieć zobaczyć
wing – skrzydło
wind blows – wiatr wieje
hard – mocno, silnie
spin (round and round) – kręcić się (w kółko)
quiet – cichy, spokojny
the same – to samo, takie samo
plant – roślina
volcano – wulkan
river – rzeka
past – przeszłość
look friendly  – wyglądać przyjaźnie
Let’s talk to him – porozmawiajmy z nim
be friends with – przyjaźnić się z
gentle – łagodny
touch – dotykać
move – poruszać, przesuwać
kindly – życzliwie
run off – odbiec, pobiec (gdzieś dalej)
THUMP THUMP THUMP – tup tup tup
scary – straszny
tail – ogon
sharp teeth – ostre zęby
T.rex – tyranozaur
fall down – upaść
(She) can’t see him – nie widzi go
ahead – z przodu
close – blisko
jump on (its back) – wskoczyć na (jego grzbiet);  jump off – zeskoczyć
fly up – polecieć w górę / unieść się
(into) the sky – (w) przestworza, niebo
feel happy and free – czuć się szczęśliwym i wolnym
get – dostać
hurry – spieszyć się
hit (the tree) – uderzyć (w drzewo)
make a wish – pomyśleć / wypowiedzieć życzenie
nothing happens – nic się nie wydarza
need – potrzebować
neighbour – sąsiad
far away – daleko
get out of (the car) – wysiadać z (samochodu)
Phew! – uff! (wyraz ulgi)
believe – wierzyć
People won’t believe  – ludzie nie uwierzą
our – nasz, nasza
Let’s not tell – nie mówmy
anyone – tutaj: nikomu
come back – wrócić
laugh – śmiać się
question – pytanie
before – zanim, wcześniej
smart – mądry, bystry
show – pokazać
strange – dziwny
future – przyszłość
silver – srebrny
maybe – być może

SENTENCJE DLA KL. IV

1. Books open doors to new adventures – Książki otwierają drzwi do nowych przygód.
Agnes Roy

2. A day without a book is like a garden without flowers – Dzień bez książki jest jak ogród bez kwiatów.
Anonymous

3. Nature and books belong to the eyes that see them – Przyroda i książki istnieją dla tych oczu (dosł. należą do tych oczu), które je widzą.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

4. Sometimes one smile is worth more than a million words – Czasem jeden uśmiech jest wart więcej niż milion słów.
Victor Borge

5. The only way to have a friend is to be one – Jedyny sposób, aby mieć przyjaciela, to być przyjacielem.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

6. Every expert was once a beginner – Każdy ekspert był kiedyś początkującym
Helen Hayes

7. Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower – Jesień to druga wiosna, gdy każdy liść jest kwiatem.
Albert Camus

8. After every storm, the sun will shine – Po każdej burzy zaświeci słońce.
William R. Alger

PIOSENKI DLA KL. IV

Podane linki odsyłają do nagrań  z dodanym zapisem słów piosenek oraz do ich tłumaczenia. Proszę zwrócić uwagę na to, że tłumaczenie na portalu tekstowo.pl jest amatorskie, więc mogą zdarzyć się pewne niedociągnięcia.

1. Sing-along with Johnny to Sky Full of Stars | Sing 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cusA8wYBZKU&list=RDcusA8wYBZKU&start_radio=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLiVLpxu15g

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,taron_egerton,a_sky_full_of_stars.html

2. Beautiful Sunday – Daniel Boone | Don Petok Vocal | DJ Judaz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=631PLQd7y5s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToS8x_xCs4k  Reggae Version

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,daniel_o_donnell_1,beautiful_sunday.html

3. Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCGH8eU-_lA

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,george_harrison,here_comes_the_sun.html

4. Do You Want To Know A Secret – The Beatles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dunVvmZtDzs

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,the_beatles,do_you_want_to_know_a_secret_.html

 

MATERIAŁY PRZYGOTOWAWCZE DLA KL. V i VI 

EDYCJA JESIENNA 2025

OPOWIADANIE DLA KL. V i VI 

Kate’s Gateway to Adventure

“Are you going to Kate’s tomorrow?” asked Jane.

“Yes, she invited me. At last!” exclaimed Paula.

“That’s great. I’m going too,” answered Jane. “I’m so excited. Let’s not be late. I don’t want to miss anything.”

“What do you do there? Why does everybody love going to her house?”

“You’ll see,” Jane said with a smile.

In this town called Bumbletown, life was usually quiet and a little boring. But then, Kate arrived – a smiling, red-haired girl with freckles. More and more kids started coming to her house. After that, they always talked about interesting things.

Then Daniel, their classmate, came up to them. “Hi, girls. Are you going to Kate’s tomorrow?”

“Of course,” answered Jane.

“What are we going to do there?” asked Paula.

“We’re going to read a book,” said Daniel.

“Phew… only reading a book?” Paula didn’t like reading much.

“But it is not normal reading. You will see,” Daniel explained to Paula.

“Oh, and don’t forget your T-shirts or summer dresses.”

“What? Summer dresses in late autumn?” she asked with a laugh.

But Paula took her summer clothes with her.

The next day she came into Kate’s large room, full of books. The shelves reached up to the ceiling. Many boys and girls were there. They sat on cushions on the floor around a big table. On the table, there was a large globe. Four cats sat around it. Their green eyes looked bright in the light.

“I think everybody is here and we can start,” said Kate. Her voice sounded a little magical. Everyone felt warm inside.

She switched on the globe. The room filled with a soft golden light.

“Wow! What a wonderful globe!” somebody exclaimed.

Kate smiled. “I’ll show you the place where today’s story happens.”

She took a small stick. “Excuse me, Charlie,” she said to one of the cats. “Can you move a little?”

The cat moved and everybody could see the whole globe.

Kate pointed at a spot. “This is Muscat, the capital of Oman.”

The light shone on Oman, a country by the sea.

“I know!” exclaimed Daniel. “It’s in Asia, on the Arabian Peninsula.”

“That’s right,” said Kate. “It’s usually very hot there. People wear light clothes, and there are deserts and mountains.”

Then Kate opened the book and started to read aloud:

“Now I’m in Oman. I didn’t want to come here…”

She stopped. At that moment, the room became very hot. The air felt heavy, like desert air.

“Wait a minute,” somebody said.

“Of course. You can change your clothes,” said Kate. She took off her thick sweater.

There was a lot of noise as the children went out one by one and came back wearing T-shirts or summer dresses. When everyone sat down again, the four cats came close to Kate. She started to read again in her magical voice.

*

Now I’m in Oman. I didn’t want to come here.

“I was happy back home in England,” I told my mum. “No friends, and nothing to do in Oman!”

My sister Sarah was angry too, but Dad got a job in Muscat, so we had to move.

We arrived at night. It was very hot. I was already fed up with the heat after just one hour. Men wore long white clothes – thobes – and little hats.

A driver took us to our new house. It was big and white, with a garden. Inside, the air conditioning was on. I went to bed quickly.

The next morning, I had breakfast with my mum and sister. Everything tasted different, it tasted of cinnamon, rose and orange.

“I have lots of things to do today,” said Mum. “You can help me or you can go to the swimming pool across the road.”

We chose the swimming pool, of course. Soon we were at the pool. “You can come here often,” Mum said. “It’s better than the sea when it’s hot.”

There were children at the pool. Two dark-haired twins, about thirteen, and a younger blonde girl with a pink face.

“You see, Jamie,” Mum said noisily, “you can make new friends here in Muscat.” And then she left to do her things.

I went red. The children looked at us. The blonde girl swam nearer.

“Hi, I’m Ruth. I’m from Australia,” she said. “Those two are my friends. They’re from Lebanon. He’s called Taymour and she’s called Nadine.”

She pointed at the boy and the girl. “They speak Arabic, English and French. I’m learning Arabic, but I wasn’t keen on it at first. What are your names?”

We told her. Taymour and Nadine swam nearer.

“Do you like it here in Oman?” I asked.

“Yes, in the winter it’s nice,” said Taymour. “We can stay by the sea all weekend.”

“You can swim with dolphins,” said Ruth.

“But now, in the summer, it’s too hot. Nothing much happens,” said Taymour.

But he was wrong. Very wrong.

“Can you come to my house this afternoon?” Taymour asked me quietly. “We can play on my computer. Ask your mum.”

After lunch I asked her.

“Well, I’m going to the shops with Sarah,” Mum said. “So yes, you can go. But be back by four o’clock, Jamie. Don’t be late!”

At Taymour’s house, we played on his computer. Then his mum phoned him.

 “Don’t forget, Taymour. You must water Tom’s garden today,” she said.

“Come on, Jamie,” said Taymour. “You can help. Tom is our neighbour. He comes from Scotland, and he goes back there every summer. We must water the flowers in his garden every day when he isn’t here.”

We went to the garden. Soon he sprayed me with water from the hose and I chased him with a bucket of water. We ran up and down the garden for a time. We were both wet now, and we couldn’t stop laughing.

“Stop. I’m tired,” I said at last. “I need to sit down.”

There were two old garden chairs near the door to Tom’s flat, out of the hot sun. Taymour and I went and sat down on them. After five minutes, we heard two men in the flat on the first floor above our heads.

“Nobody can hear us, George. The man downstairs is in Scotland. Nothing happens here in the summer,” said one of the men.

I looked at Taymour, but said nothing. I wanted to hear the two men.

“When is she arriving, Martin?” asked the other man.

“This weekend. From London to Muscat.”

“How long is she in Oman for?” asked the other man.

 “Ten days. Then they want to take her back home. But she’s not going back. They’re never going to see her again – not in England, not here!”

“When we finish here, I’m taking the money and I’m going to have a nice, long, expensive holiday.”

“I’m going to buy a house by the sea – a big, expensive house!”

“Of course! But let’s go in now. It’s very hot out here. I need a cold drink.”

The door upstairs opened and then closed.

We got up and walked out of the garden very quietly.

“Did you hear that?” Taymour whispered. “They’re going to kill a woman! Perhaps someone famous!”

“I know. It’s terrible. They’re going to kill a woman when she arrives here in Muscat. Her family isn’t going to see her again,” I said.

“What can we do? Shall we go to the police and tell them about the two men?” Taymour asked.

“Yes. But will the police believe us? We need to find out who she is first,” I said.

“Let’s tell Nadine and Ruth. Maybe they can help.”

“OK,” I said. “Let’s all meet tomorrow morning.”

The next morning, we told Ruth and Nadine everything.

“Hitmen in Muscat? I can’t believe it!” exclaimed Ruth. “But this woman is in danger. We must save her.”

“What do we know?” I asked. “A woman is coming from England this weekend. She’s staying here for ten days. And then… she won’t go back. They’re going to kill her!”

“Well, which famous women are coming to Muscat this weekend?” Nadine asked. “Let’s check the Internet and the Oman Times newspaper.” (…)

But we found nothing.

Later, at the pool, Ruth ran to us, excited.

“I asked my parents. The Minister for Culture and the Arts is arriving from England on Friday! There’s an art exhibition – she’s coming for that.”

“So she’s the mystery woman,” I said.

“We must protect her,” said Taymour.

That evening we waited to tell the twins’ mum. She came home – but with a neighbour carrying her bags.

“Kids, this is Mr Williams,” she said. “He lives in the flat over Tom’s. He kindly helped me.”

“I’m happy to help a neighbour.” He smiled. “Bye, kids,” he said and left.

When their mum went inside, we spoke in quiet voices.

“He’s one of them!” whispered Taymour.

“Mr Hitman is now Mr Nice Neighbour,” I said.

“We can’t tell the adults. They won’t believe us, and we won’t be able to stop the killers in time,” Ruth sighed.

“You’re right,” said Nadine. “I know! Let’s go and speak to the minister. We can tell her about the killers.”

“There’s a party for the Sultan and other important people on Saturday. They can meet and talk, and see the pictures then. Of course, the minister is going to be at that party,” said Ruth.

“Can we talk to her there? Where’s the party?” I asked.

“It’s at one of the big hotels,” said Ruth. “There is an exhibition of Omani and British paintings.”

That evening Taymour and I took a taxi to the hotel. The party started at 7.30, but we arrived at 6.30. There were many security guards at the door of the hotel. One of them said something in Arabic to Taymour and he answered. The man nodded his head and we walked in.

“What did you say to the guard?” I asked Taymour.

“I told him our dad is down by the sea with the car and we’re staying at the hotel.”

We sat near the entrance. More and more guests arrived. Soon there was a long queue of important guests.

At last, the minister came – Mrs Summers, just as we saw on the Internet.

“Mrs Summers!” shouted Taymour.

“Minister Summers!” I called.

The guards stopped us, but the minister walked over.

“We overheard two men,” I said quickly. “They’re going to kill you!”

“Kill me?” she asked.

“They said, ‘A famous woman from England will stay in Oman for ten days. But she’ll never go back home.’”

“Did they say my name?” she asked.

“No,” we said.

“How are they going to kill me? Did they say?”

“No,” I answered.

“They didn’t say ‘kill’ but they said, ‘She’s not going back to England,’” Taymour explained.

“That’s true,” said the minister. “I’m currently visiting Oman for the art exhibition, and then I’m flying to China. But I’m not here for ten days. I’m leaving tomorrow morning. So, you see, your story isn’t right. You made a mistake, boys.”

“Kids!” exclaimed the security guard, and he laughed.

“Thank you. You wanted to help, but be careful,” the minister said with a smile. “When you overhear a conversation, you can easily make a mistake. Now it’s time for me to go. Good night, boys.”

And she walked away.

Outside, the guards put us in a taxi. Before we got in, they told us, “Never come back to this hotel again!”

“Why were we wrong?” asked Taymour.

I didn’t have an answer.

The next morning I sat unhappily at home. Why were we wrong? Who are the men going to kill?

On the table lay yesterday’s newspaper. I read about the art exhibition:

“The most expensive picture is a painting of a woman in a black dress. The exhibition is on for ten days, then the pictures go back to London.”

I remembered the words: “She’s not going back to London. They’re never going to see her again.”

Of course! Not a woman – a painting of a woman!

I ran to the pool. Sarah, Nadine and Taymour were there.

“It’s a painting!” I cried.

“First, hitmen. Now, thieves. We don’t want to make a second mistake,” said Sarah.

Suddenly we heard Ruth. She ran over to us. Her face was pink and hot.

“It’s a painting!” she cried. “Thieves stole it last night – the most expensive one!”

“Do you think it’s in Mr Williams’ flat?” asked Nadine.

“I saw him drive away an hour ago,” said Taymour. “Let’s go to Tom’s garden.”

It was quiet. We looked up at the flat.

“Let’s climb up,” said Nadine.

“I’ll do it. I’m the tallest,” I said.

Soon I was on the balcony. I looked inside – chairs, a table, a TV. But there was no painting. I tried the door – it opened. My heart beat fast.

In the back room, I saw a sat nav on the table. I switched it on. It showed many places: ‘the hotel’, ‘my flat’… and ‘home’.

Home? It wasn’t in Muscat. It was in the mountains.

I wrote the name of the place on my arm and climbed down.

“Look,” I told the others.

“My mum has a sat nav. Let’s check,” said Nadine. She ran home and came back with it.

We put in the information.

“It’s only thirty or forty minutes from Muscat,” said Taymour.

“My parents want to drive to the mountains this weekend. We can go to this place,” said Sarah.

“Can we come too?” asked Nadine and Ruth at the same time.

“Of course. It’s a big car,” said Sarah.

The next morning, Taymour, Nadine and Ruth came with us. We got into the car with Sarah and our parents.

“We’re going to the museum first, then the mountains,” said my dad, holding the sat nav.

I showed him the place which we called ‘Ruth’s place.’

“Is that your favourite place, Ruth?” he asked.

“Yes,” said Sarah quickly.

“OK, we’ll look at it,” Dad said.

The museum was interesting for my parents, but we wanted to go to Ruth’s place. Finally Dad said, “OK. Here we go. Ruth’s place!”

We drove into the mountains. After thirty minutes we saw a small building.

“There it is!” cried Ruth.

We stopped and looked. The building was old, but it had electricity and air conditioning.

“Strange… why does an old house need that?” asked my dad.

We told our parents everything about the two men, the exhibition and the painting. Dad broke the lock and we went inside. There was a big box – and inside it, lying under a cloth, was the missing painting!

“Phone the police,” Mum said.

Dad put his hand in his pocket – but his phone wasn’t there. He ran back to the car, but it wasn’t there either.

“What happened? I had it earlier,” he said.

“Maybe it’s at home,” Mum said. “Take my phone.”

“Dad, Mum, look! A car’s coming!” cried Sarah suddenly.

Far away, a black car appeared. It came quickly up the road.

“It’s the thieves!” shouted Taymour.

“Into the car, quick!” shouted Dad.

We drove fast, with the black car behind us. Dad looked for a police station on the sat nav. Finally we reached one.

“Run inside!” Mum cried. We hurried to the door. The black car stopped nearby. A man got out. He was an Omani police officer – but not in a usual blue police car! He had a phone in his hand. My dad walked over to him. The officer spoke in Arabic. My dad didn’t understand.

Then Taymour ran over to help. “The museum people gave him your phone. He followed us, but you drove too fast,” he said.

Taymour told the officer about the thieves and the painting. Soon the police understood and went back to the mountains with Dad.

A young officer drove us home. Our parents were angry, but then they smiled and congratulated us on finding the picture. “Good work, kids!” they exclaimed.

Three hours later Dad came back.

“The police have the painting. They caught Mr Williams and his friend. Tomorrow we’ll tell them the story from the beginning.”

That was only a week ago. I thought, “It’s boring here!” But in the end, it was the most exciting week of my life.

*

“That’s it,” said Kate and closed the book.

The golden light slowly disappeared.

Then the door opened and a man came in with a big tray. He was Kate’s dad.

“Help yourselves to some cookies,” he said.

The cookies were not like normal cookies. They tasted of cinnamon, rose and orange.

Suddenly the globe moved by itself. It turned very slowly, and one of the other countries lit up.

“Did you see that?” whispered Paula.

Kate smiled but didn’t answer. She only looked at the globe, her eyes shining.

Everyone knew: the next adventure was already waiting.

∞ The end ∞

[Materiał własny; zawiera zaadaptowane fragmenty “Mystery in Muscat”, Julie Till; wyd. OUP

Słowniczek Słowa i wyrażenia są ułożone w kolejności występowania w tekście (nie alfabetycznie)

Zaleca się posłuchać wymowy nowych słów, np. w słowniku  https://www.diki.pl/

Uwaga:
Wiele czasowników tworzy czas przeszły przez dodanie końcówki -ed (np. invite – zaprosić → invited – zaprosił, zaprosiła). W takich przypadkach w słowniczku podana jest tylko forma podstawowa. Tłumaczone są formy czasu przeszłego tylko tych czasowników, których nie da się utworzyć według tej reguły.

gateway – brama, wejście
adventure – przygoda
be going to – 1. iść, wybierać się 2. zamierzać
to Kate’s – do Kate (w domyśle: do jej domu)
invite – zapraszać
at last – wreszcie, nareszcie
exclaim – wykrzyknąć, zawołać
say – powiedzieć; czas przeszły: said
excited – podekscytowany
Let’s not (do) – nie róbmy (np. let’s not go – nie idźmy, let’s not shout – nie krzyczmy)
be late – spóźnić się
miss – przegapić, opuścić
say – powiedzieć; czas przeszły: said
boring – nudny
arrive – przybyć
red-haired – rudowłosy
freckles – piegi
classmate – kolega/koleżanka z klasy
didn’t – słówko przeczące w czasie przeszłym (używane z formą podstawową czasownika)
will – słówko pomocnicze do tworzenia czasu przyszłego; won’t= will not – przeczenie
explain (to somebody) – wyjaśniać (komuś)
forget – zapomnieć
summer dress – letnia sukienka
take – wziąć, zabrać; czas przeszły: took
shelves – półki (l.mn. od shelf)
reach – 1. sięgać  2. dotrzeć
ceiling – sufit
sit – siedzieć; czas przeszły: sat
cushion – poduszka ozdobna (np. na sofę, fotel)
globe – globus
look bright – błyszczeć, wyglądać jasno
sound – brzmieć
magical – magiczny
feel – czuć (się); czas przeszły: felt
switch on – włączyć
fill (with) – wypełnić (czymś)
stick – patyk, kijek
excuse me – przepraszam (gdy chcemy zwrócić czyjąś uwagę, zapytać o coś)
move – 1. przesunąć (się) 2. przeprowadzić (się)
spot – miejsce
capital – stolica
shine – świecić; czas przeszły: shone
peninsula – półwysep
desert – pustynia
mountain – góra
aloud – na głos
become –stać się; czas przeszły: became
heavy – ciężki
change – zmienić
take off – zdjąć
thick – gruby
go out – wyjść; czas przeszły: went out
again – znowu, ponownie
get – dostać; czas przeszły: got
job – praca
have to – musieć; czas przeszły: had to
already – już 
be fed up (with something) – mieć dość (czegoś); w sensie negatywnym
heat – gorąco, upał
wear – nosić (ubranie); czas przeszły: wore
thobe – tradycyjna arabska długa szata męska (słowo niewymagane w konkursie)
air conditioning – klimatyzacja
everything – wszystko
taste – smakować
choose – wybrać; czas przeszły: chose
twins – bliźnięta
make new friends – poznawać nowych przyjaciół; zawierać nowe przyjaźnie
leave – wyjść, opuścić; czas przeszły: left
swim nearer – podpłynąć bliżej; czas przeszły: swam nearer
be not keen (on someting) – nie przepadać (za czymś)
stay – 1. przebywać  2. zostawać
be wrong – mylić się
water – 1. podlać  2. woda
neighbour – sąsiad
spray – spryskiwać
chase – gonić, ścigać
bucket – wiadro
run – biec; czas przeszły: ran
both – obaj, oboje
wet – mokry
flat – mieszkanie
hear – usłyszeć; czas przeszły: heard
expensive – drogi
did – słówko pomocnicze w pytaniach w czasie przeszłym (z formą podstawową czasownika)
whisper – szeptać
kill – zabić
perhaps – być może
famous – sławny
Shall we go? – może pójdziemy?
believe – uwierzyć, wierzyć
find out – dowiedzieć się
hitmen – płatni zabójcy (l.mn. od hitman)
in danger – w niebezpieczeństwie
save – ratować, ocalić
check – sprawdzić
find – znaleźć; czas przeszły: found
art exhibition – wystawa sztuki
protect – chronić
twins’ mum – mama bliźniąt
carry – nieść
speak – mówić; czas przeszły: spoke
adult – dorosły; adults – dorośli
be able to – móc, być w stanie (coś zrobić)
thieves – złodzieje; l.mn. od  thief
sigh – westchnąć
important – ważny
security guard – ochroniarz
nod – kiwnąć głową
entrance – wejście
guest – gość
queue (of) – kolejka (np. ludzi, samochodów)
see – widzieć; czas przeszły: saw
overhear – podsłuchać; czas przeszły: overheard
currently – aktualnie, obecnie
make a mistake – popełnić błąd; czas przeszły: made a mistake
put – włożyć, umieścić; czas przeszły: put
get into/in (a car) – wsiąść do (samochodu)
lie – leżeć; czas przeszły: lay; lying – leżący
newspaper – gazeta
read – czytać; czas przeszły: read (inna wymowa)
remember – pamiętać
steal – kraść; czas przeszły: stole
drive; drive away – jechać (samochodem), odjechać; czas przeszły: drove
beat fast – bić (np. serce); czas przeszły: beat
sat nav – nawigacja samochodowa (GPS)
write – pisać; czas przeszły: wrote
thirty – trzydzieści
forty – czterdzieści
building – budynek
break – złamać, zepsuć; czas przeszły: broke
lock – zamek (do drzwi)
cloth – szmatka, tkanina
missing – zgubiony, utracony
suddenly – nagle
far away – daleko, w oddali
appear – pojawić się
nearby – w pobliżu
get out (of a car) – wysiąść (z samochodu)
understand – rozumieć; czas przeszły: understood
give – dać; czas przeszły: gave
follow (somebody) – podążać (za kimś)
angry – zły, rozzłoszczony
congratulate (somebody) on (something) – gratulować (komuś czegoś)
catch – łapać; czas przeszły: caught
a week ago – tydzień temu
think – myśleć; czas przeszły: thought
disappear – zniknąć
tray – taca
Help yourselves (to something) – częstujcie się (czymś);  help yourself (to) –  częstuj się
cookies – ciasteczka
by itself – samo (z siebie)
turn – obrócić
light up – rozświetlać (się); czas przeszły: lit up

 

SENTENCJE DLA KL. V i VI

1. A book is a gift you can open again and again – Książka to prezent, który możesz otwierać wciąż na nowo.
Garrison Keillor

2. Without books, the world loses its colours – Bez książek świat traci swoje kolory.
Anonymous

3. Reading is a passport to countless adventures – Czytanie to paszport do niezliczonych przygód.
Mary Pope Osborne

4. A warm smile is the universal language of kindness – Ciepły uśmiech to uniwersalny język życzliwości
William Arthur Ward

5. Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget – Prawdziwie wspaniałych przyjaciół trudno znaleźć, ciężko od nich odejść i nie sposób zapomnieć.
G. Randolf

6. Stars can’t shine without darkness – Gwiazdy nie mogą świecić bez ciemności.
D.H. Sidebottom

7. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop – Nie ma znaczenia, jak powoli idziesz, dopóki się nie zatrzymujesz.
Konfucjusz

8. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step – Podróż tysiąca mil zaczyna się od jednego kroku.
Lao Tzu

9. If you can’t do great things, do small things in a great way – Jeśli nie możesz robić rzeczy wielkich, rób małe rzeczy w wielki sposób.
Napoleon Hill

PIOSENKI DLA KL.V i VI

Podane linki odsyłają do nagrań  z dodanym zapisem słów piosenek oraz do ich tłumaczenia. Proszę zwrócić uwagę na to, że tłumaczenie na portalu tekstowo.pl jest amatorskie, więc mogą zdarzyć się pewne niedociągnięcia.

1. Mystical Magical – Benson Boone 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8QhB8_0t2g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBTHMUhTiXo

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,benson_boone,mystical_magical.html

2. Return To Sender – Elvis Presley / Elliot James Reay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ml1_SLU6x4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIntU0r-lws

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,elvis_presley,return_to_sender.html

3. Always Remember Us This Way – Lady Gaga   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34CURYS9-2E  remix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4BmJmV2i1o

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,lady_gaga,always_remember_us_this_way.html 

4. Close Your Eyes – KSHMR x Tungevaag

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBpapBz32h0

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,kshmr__tungevaag,close_your_eyes.html 

5. Nice To Each Other – Olivia Dean

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Rhfw1WNBio

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,olivia_dean,nice_to_each_other.html

6. Baby It’s You – Smokie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGfu6_t_Kww

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,smokie,baby_it_s_you.html

MATERIAŁY PRZYGOTOWAWCZE DLA KL. VII i VIII

EDYCJA JESIENNA 2025

OPOWIADANIE DLA KL. VII i VIII 

Lucy and the Mansion Secret

“Hey Mark, what are you reading?” I heard a voice above me.

I was sitting on a bench in front of the school. I looked up and saw Lucy, the girl from the front row in my class.

“A book with different mysterious stories,” I answered. I was happy that at last someone talked to me.

It was my first day at the new school and I didn’t know anyone here. We had just moved with my parents and my sister, because my dad had got a new job.

“Do you like books?” Lucy asked.

“Yes, I do,” I said. “Actually, I’ve loved them since I was a child.”

“Me too,” Lucy nodded. “Especially when the story has a secret or a puzzle to solve.”

“So I guess we both like mysteries,” I said with a smile.

That was the beginning of our friendship. From that day on, we have been meeting to read books together. Most of the time, it’s Lucy who reads aloud.

She has a very unusual talent: she can change the ending of a book – or even whole parts of the story – if she doesn’t like it. I couldn’t believe it the first time it happened. I think it is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.

One afternoon, Lucy and I were sitting in her room, of course full of books, when her mum came in with a tray of fruit. She saw an open book and smiled:

“Oh, are you going to read? I mean, change the story.”

I laughed and said, “I hope so.”

Her mum sat down with us for a while and said:

“Lucy has always had a very unusual talent. Even as a child she used to change the endings of fairy tales. When I was telling her the story of Sleeping Beauty, she said, ‘Why did she need a kiss to wake up? She can wake up by herself, because she has already slept enough and now she wants to go for a walk. And why did a stranger kiss her? I don’t like it when strangers kiss me, even if they are princes.’”

When I heard that Lucy didn’t like kisses even from princes, I couldn’t stop laughing.

Lucy’s mum was also amused and continued:

“And when I was telling her the story of Cinderella, Lucy said, ‘What was wrong with the prince? If he really liked her, why couldn’t he recognise her by her face? Why did he have to look for her by shoe size instead? And why did Cinderella hide who she really was from the prince during the ball? That’s not a good start for a relationship. The prince can just bring her back the shoe, and then they could meet a few more times and fall in love in a normal way.’”

I was shocked. “Unbelievable! Such a mature opinion from a little girl.”

Lucy smiled, and I thought she was a bit proud of herself.

Her mum also smiled and added:

“From then on, I always had to tell her the stories in her own changed versions.”

Then she stood up and said, “I’ll leave you both with your reading.”

When her mum left, Lucy turned to me and said, “OK, Mark, let’s try to be serious now and focus on the book.”

After our fun with fairy tales, we took a short break. We had some fruit, and then Lucy picked up the book.

“I think this story is really interesting,” she said, “but the beginning looks a bit boring.”

Then she started reading aloud:

*

Jim Riley was fourteen and lived in the beautiful city of San Francisco, California. He was short and thin, and he wore glasses. Jim lived with his grandfather.

This was his first year in high school, and he liked it a lot. His favourite subject was science. At weekends, he helped in his uncle’s shop to earn some extra pocket money. Jim’s home was on Telegraph Hill near San Francisco Bay. From his living room, he could see the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay.

Every morning, he walked down Telegraph Hill and met his friends at the bus stop in Washington Square. They went to high school together.

Washington Square was a historic landmark, and people in San Francisco loved going there. It was a lovely park for both children and adults. There were often music and arts festivals there.

Normally, Washington Square had green grass and beautiful flowers. But without rain for a long time, the grass had turned yellow and dry, and the flowers had died.

“Hi, Jim,” said Brian Wilson, Jim’s best friend. He was tall and played basketball on the high school team.

“Hi, Brian. Have you finished your English homework?” asked Jim.

“Yes, but Shakespeare was tough. Oh, look – there’s Susan,” said Brian.

“Hi, guys,” said Susan Hardy, a good friend of both boys and a very good student. She had a part-time job as a babysitter for her neighbours’ children, the Moreno family.

“Are you ready for the maths test?” asked Susan.

“I studied all afternoon yesterday, but I’m not ready,” said Brian.

“Me neither. I didn’t even look at my notes,” said Jim.

The bus came, and they got on. They saw their school friends and started talking. The bus was always crowded, but the ride was fun.

The school day passed quickly. That afternoon, Jim walked slowly up Telegraph Hill. It was foggy. Every day, he passed an old wooden mansion with a big garden and a fence around it.

“What’s inside? Why doesn’t anyone live here?” he often wondered.

He stopped at the gate. What a strange place – nobody seemed to take care of it. Then he looked up at the old mansion, at a window on the second floor – and wait… what?! There was a face behind it. He froze. It was the face of a little girl with long, dark hair. But no one lived in that mansion. Who was it? A ghost?

Jim didn’t believe in ghosts, but who was the girl at the window? She looked down at him. Before he could think more, the face vanished into the fog. Jim hurried home.

“Grandpa!” he cried. “I’ve seen a ghost!”

His grandfather smiled.

Jim told him about the little dark-haired girl in the mansion.

“No one lives in the old Stewart mansion. It’s about a hundred years old. There’s a strange story about it, but I don’t think there are any ghosts.”

“What story? Please tell me!” cried Jim.

“Well, Mr Stewart was a rich but strange man, interested in science. People thought his experiments were mysterious. His wife and daughter died in a strange accident. Then he left San Francisco.”

“I really saw her!” cried Jim.

“Maybe it was your imagination,” Grandpa replied kindly.

The next day, Jim went to help in his uncle’s shop. It was a busy day. A strange man with long hair and a silver earring came in. Customers were usually friendly, but this man was not.

He came to the counter with a few things. “Do you know who the mansion on Lombard Street belongs to?” he asked.

Jim shook his head. “No, I don’t,” he said.

The man paid and left quickly. There was something unsettling about him.

That evening Jim called Brian. “Do you want to see the new sci-fi film at The Big Screen cinema? We can meet at seven o’clock by the park,” said Jim.

“OK. I’ll see you then,” said Brian.

On the way, Jim stopped by the mansion again, but the window was empty this time.

After the cinema, the boys went for ice cream at Pier 39.

Jim told Brian about the face at the window.

“What?” asked Brian. “I want to come with you next week and see her too.”

“That’s great,” said Jim. “It’s a strange place. I’m always a little afraid when I go alone.”

On Monday after school, they met Susan on the bus.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“Can you keep a secret?” asked Jim.

“Why? Do you have a secret?” asked Susan.

“Yes, I do,” said Jim.

He told her about the Stewart mansion and the face at the window.

“Scary!” exclaimed Susan. “Old mansions always have ghosts. Can I come with you?”

“Of course,” said Jim.

“Hey, come on, it’s our stop,” said Brian. “We need to get off here.”

It was 4:30 in the afternoon – cold but sunny. The three friends walked up Telegraph Hill to the Stewart mansion and stopped in front of the old gate.

“What a strange place,” said Susan.

They looked at the window on the second floor but saw nothing.

“Can you smell anything strange?” asked Susan.

They stopped. There was a very bad smell in the air.

“What is it?” asked Brian.

“Like rotten eggs,” said Jim.

“Yes, that’s true. But where’s it coming from?” asked Brian.

Susan and Brian looked at the window again.

“Are you sure you saw a face, Jim?” asked Susan.

“This is a creepy place, but I don’t see any ghosts,” said Brian.

“This smell is terrible,” said Susan. “Let’s go home. It was probably your imagination, Jim.”

“Look!” cried Jim. Near a basement window, yellow smoke was rising into the air.

They felt curious and afraid at the same time.

“Oh, please, let’s go home,” said Susan.

“There’s something strange happening here,” said Brian.

They agreed to leave and went to Jim’s house. They sat in Jim’s room and talked about the mansion. Then Susan suddenly said, “Hey, there’s the big Chinese New Year parade this Saturday. I’m taking the Moreno children.”

“It’s always great fun,” said Jim. “I’m going.”

“Me too,” said Brian.

This was the Year of the Dragon. The Chinese believe that the dragon brings good luck.

The parade takes place on a Saturday night between the 21st January and 19th February. Thousands of people go there every year. There are many beautiful costumes, colourful lanterns, firecrackers and Chinese music. A long paper dragon moves along Grant Avenue.

Jim and Brian took the cable car to the parade. There was a big crowd everywhere. Suddenly, Jim noticed the face of the little dark-haired girl in the crowd.

“Let’s follow her,” said Brian.

It was difficult to move. Then the big paper dragon appeared – and the girl vanished behind it.

“How could anyone disappear so quickly?” asked Jim.

The weekend passed quickly. On Monday, Jim and Brian told Susan about the girl. She wanted to explore the mansion too.

“Let’s go this evening. Bring a torch and wear dark clothes,” said Jim.

At 7 p.m. they met in front of Jim’s house.

When they arrived at the Stewart mansion, everything was dark. It was a foggy, windy night. They climbed the fence and went into the garden.

“I don’t smell anything this time,” said Susan.

“Me neither,” said Jim.

“Let’s look inside,” whispered Susan. “There are windows near the ground. And let’s be very quiet.”

Brian switched on his torch. The three friends looked through a dirty window. There was a small room with an old desk and some chairs.

“This was probably the study,” said Brian.

Susan switched on her torch. “There’s a newspaper on the desk,” she said. “It’s yesterday’s. Look at the headline: ‘Water scarce in San Francisco’.”

“But no one lives here,” said Jim.

They looked inside another window and saw a large room with several pieces of carved furniture. On the wall, there was a big painting of a man, a woman and a little girl.

“Look, that’s probably a painting of the Stewart family,” said Brian.

“Yes, before the mysterious accident,” said Susan.

“And the little girl has long, dark hair. She looks like the girl at the window,” said Jim.

“But we saw her at the parade,” said Brian. “How can she be a ghost?”

“Remember, she disappeared behind the dragon very quickly,” said Jim.

They went to the other side of the mansion. There was a broken window near the bottom of the house. They looked inside. They saw a big dark basement. Jim switched on his torch too. On long tables, they saw test tubes, glass bottles and other lab equipment.

“This looks like our chemistry lab,” said Jim.

“Maybe someone is using it,” said Susan. “But why?”

“Maybe someone is experimenting with something secret,” said Brian.

“I don’t like this place,” said Susan. “It gives me the creeps.”

“Are you scared?” asked Brian.

“No, but I want to come back in the daytime,” she answered.

“OK,” said Jim. “Let’s go then.”

Suddenly – Crash! A loud noise came from upstairs.

“What was that?!” cried Susan.

“We’re not alone here,” whispered Jim.

“Let’s get out of here!” shouted Brian. They ran to the fence. Under the trees, they heard a strange sound from the branches above their heads. They looked up.

“Aaah!” cried Susan. “Bats!”

They climbed over the fence quickly and ran away.

Jim heard a child’s voice in the fog.

“Help! Help!”

It was a cold night. Jim stood in front of the Stewart mansion. There was fog everywhere.

The voice came from inside the mansion. He wanted to help the child, but also to run away.

Suddenly, a hand touched his arm. His heart stopped. He was too scared to turn.

An angry voice behind him said, “What do you want?”

Jim turned around slowly. A big man with long, dark hair and angry eyes stood there. That’s the same man I saw at the supermarket two weeks ago, Jim thought.

The man’s silver tooth shone in the dark. He also wore a silver earring. He looked terrible.

“Well, what do you want here?”

“Noth—nothing…” whispered Jim.

“Stay away. I’m a dangerous man. I eliminate problems, and you’re a problem. Go away now.”

He pushed Jim to the ground and disappeared in the fog.

Jim woke up, frightened. “Phew! It was only a dream,” he thought. The clock showed 3 a.m.

The days passed. Then something unexpected happened. The grass in Washington Square was green again and flowers appeared, but the colour was unusually dark. Everyone was surprised.

“Grandpa, how can the grass and flowers grow with no rain?” asked Jim.

“You’re right, it’s strange,” said Grandpa. “I’ve been interested in science since I was a boy, so I know about fertilisers. There’s an article in today’s paper.”

Jim read :

Some people believe something mysterious is happening in Washington Square. There’s no rain, but the grass and flowers are growing. I don’t believe in magic, but it’s very strange. Who is the magician? Mr Magician, can you bring San Francisco some rain too?

The next morning, a big crowd gathered at the duck pond in Washington Square. Jim, Brian and Susan went there too. They saw some ducks dead and others sick. Lots of fish were dead too.

“This is terrible,” said Susan.

“Someone’s poisoned them,” said Jim.

The following morning, Jim and his grandfather read the news:

Eight ducks and many fish were found dead in Washington Square. Scientists discovered a high quantity of a new chemical. It is similar to Greenex, a fertiliser banned twenty years ago, but more toxic.

The volunteer group Helping Hands is now looking after the sick ducks. The San Francisco Police Department is investigating the case.

“What?!” cried Jim. “This mysterious new chemical is responsible for the dark green grass. I wish I knew who created such a dangerous fertiliser.”

“What irresponsible people,” said Grandpa. “Children play there every day.”

On Friday evening, Susan went to her brother’s football match – San Francisco University vs. Monterey. The stadium was almost full. Suddenly, two women behind her talked about Washington Square. Because of the noise, Susan only caught some words:

“…can’t test anymore… too dangerous…”

“…illegal… experiment… almost finished…”

“…alright… on Lombard Street…”

“Lombard Street! That’s where the Stewart mansion is. There’s a connection between the mansion and Washington Square,” thought Susan.

When the match ended, she called Jim and told him.

“You’re a great detective, Susan. It’s that secret laboratory,” said Jim.

“Let’s tell the police,” Susan suggested.

“Yes. Let’s meet up early tomorrow morning,” agreed Jim.

“OK. I’ll call Brian,” said Susan.

On Saturday morning Jim, Brian and Susan went to Chinatown Police Station.

“Good morning,” Brian said to the policeman at the door. “We want to report something.”

“Come to my office and sit down. I’m Sergeant Chan,” said the officer.

They explained everything to him. He listened with interest and some surprise.

“Why were you at the Stewart mansion?” asked Sergeant Chan.

“I saw the face of a little girl at the window,” said Jim. “I told my friends and we wanted to explore it.”

“Did you see anyone inside this ‘secret lab’?” asked Sergeant Chan.

“No, we didn’t,” said Jim.

“I see,” said Sergeant Chan. “The mansion is near Washington Square. Perhaps you discovered something important. We’ve suspected that the lab exists, but we didn’t know where. I’ll go with some officers to investigate – and I want you to come too. You know where the laboratory is.”

In the police car, there was another officer.

“This is Sergeant Lopez,” said Sergeant Chan.

“Pleased to meet you, sir,” said Jim, Brian and Susan.

“Here’s the plan. We’ll drive to the mansion. Jim, you’ll show us the basement window. Then you must stay outside. Only the police will enter because it’s dangerous. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll wait outside with my friends,” said Jim.

The police car drove up Telegraph Hill and stopped at the Stewart mansion. Jim and his friends got out of the car with Sergeant Chan and Sergeant Lopez. Three more policemen arrived in the second car. The five men followed Jim to the gate. The policemen looked around.

“You go round the back, we’ll go to the front,” said Sergeant Chan to his men.

“Where did you see the laboratory?” he asked Jim.

“By the window,” Jim replied.

Yellow smoke rose from the basement window. There was the same bad smell as before.

“That’s the smell of sulphur,” said Sergeant Chan. “And it’s very strong.”

Sergeant Chan opened the gate and went in with the officers. Jim, Brian and Susan waited outside.

The police broke down the front door and went straight to the basement.

Inside, three people in their twenties were working with test tubes. A man in his forties with long hair and a silver earring stood beside them. In the corner sat a little girl holding a doll.

“San Francisco Police! Don’t move! Put your hands over your heads!” Sergeant Lopez shouted.

The people froze. Their faces showed surprise and anger.

“Oh, no!” cried one of the men. He ran towards another door, but two police officers blocked his way.

Soon the group and the girl were led outside.

When Jim saw the man with the silver earring, his eyes went wide. That’s the man from the supermarket, he thought. Yes – it’s him! Then he saw the little girl with long dark hair. She’s not a ghost. She’s real, he thought.

The girl started to cry. Susan stepped closer, hugged her gently, and said, “You’re safe now.”

And then… “What’s that?” she whispered. The hair slid off the girl’s head.

Susan’s eyes widened. “It’s a wig,” she said quietly.

Now they saw short blonde hair and pale powder on the girl’s face.

Sergeant Lopez knelt beside her. “Why are you dressed like this?” he asked.

The girl hesitated. “She…” – the girl pointed at a tall woman in the group – “told me I could be a famous actress. She told me to practise.”

“Now I see!” said Jim. “The girl in the window made people think she was the same girl from the painting – but as a ghost. That kept them away from the mansion.”

“Except us,” said Brian.

“They used a child in their scam,” said Sergeant Chan, shaking his head.

The girl looked up at Susan. “Did I do something bad?” she asked in a small voice.

“No,” said Susan kindly. “You didn’t know. You can still be an actress – the right way. Start by learning poems by heart. It’s good practice.”

The girl gave a small smile.

When the police cars were ready to leave, Sergeant Chan said to the three friends, “You’ve helped us a lot. I’m very grateful to you three for your help. Those people were doing something dangerous and illegal. We’ve stopped them.”

Sergeant Chan looked serious. “Tomorrow, come to the Police Station with your parents. We’ll ask you some questions and tell you more about the case. Thank you again.”

The next day, the three friends went to talk to Sergeant Chan. After a short investigation, he confirmed their suspicions: the group in the laboratory was trying to make a new fertiliser. At first, it looked effective, but it was highly toxic.

“They already had a buyer for a huge amount of money,” explained Chan. “Now we must close Washington Square for a few weeks. They tested their product there, and our experts need time to clean it.”

“That reminds me of something,” said Jim. “I saw that man with long hair and a silver earring in the shop where I work.”

“I know,” replied Chan. “He saw you watching the mansion and wanted to check if you knew anything. When you didn’t say much, he got nervous and left.”

After talking to the police, Jim, Brian and Susan felt relieved. They were looking forward to relaxing together.

“Pizza for everyone tonight!” exclaimed Jim.

“Great idea,” said Brian.

“Let’s go to Nico’s Pizza Place on Washington Square,” said Susan.

Jim and Brian looked uneasy.

“Don’t worry, I’m only joking,” Susan laughed.

*

“That’s it,” said Lucy and shut the book with a loud snap.

“You’ve changed the ending, right?” I asked.

“Sure,” she smiled playfully. “And not only the ending.”

I guess it has been gripping since she changed the story. But I’m not sure if, when I go back to the original, I’ll still recognise it.

∞ The end ∞

[Materiał własny; zawiera zaadaptowane fragmenty “Mystery in San Francisco”, Gina D. B. Clemen, Black Cat Publishing.]
Słowniczek
Słowa i wyrażenia są ułożone w kolejności występowania w tekście (nie alfabetycznie)
Zaleca się posłuchać wymowy nowych słów, np. w słowniku https://www.diki.pl/

mansion – posiadłość, dworek
hear – heard – heard – słyszeć
voice – głos
bench – ławka
row – rząd (np. krzeseł)
mysterious – tajemniczy; mystery – tajemnica, zagadka
at last – wreszcie
move – 1. przeprowadzić się 2. przesuwać, poruszać
actually – właściwie, w rzeczywistości
since – od (jakiegoś momentu w przeszłości aż do teraz); łączy się zwykle z czasem Present Perfect, aby podkreślić trwanie do chwili obecnej
nod – przytaknąć
especially – szczególnie
a puzzle to solve – zagadka do rozwiązania
both – oboje
aloud – na głos, głośno
unusual – niezwykły, nietypowy
amazing – niesamowity, zadziwiający
tray – taca
used to – wyrażenie używane do określenia czynności powtarzających się lub stanów, które istniały w przeszłości, ale już nie są aktualne
fairy tale – baśń
Sleeping Beauty – Śpiąca Królewna
herself – siebie, sobie, samą siebie (w odniesieniu do “she”)
stranger – obcy, nieznajomy
prince – książę
amused – rozbawiony
Cinderella – Kopciuszek
recognise – rozpoznać
have to – musieć
hide (from somebody) – ukrywać (przed kimś)
ball – bal
relationship – związek, relacja
fall in love (with) – zakochać się (w)
unbelievable – niewiarygodne
mature – dojrzały
proud (of) – dumny (z czegoś / kogoś)
focus on – skupić się na
pick up – podnieść
extra – dodatkowy
pocket money – kieszonkowe
landmark – charakterystyczny obiekt, zabytek
tough – trudny
part-time job – praca w niepełnym wymiarze godzin
neighbours’ children – dzieci sąsiadów
me neither – ja też nie
crowded – zatłoczony
pass – mijać
fence – płot, ogrodzenie
wonder – zastanawiać się
freeze – froze – frozen – 1) znieruchomieć 2) zamarznąć
accident – wypadek
counter – lada (w sklepie)
belong (to somebody) – należeć (do kogoś)
unsettling– niepokojący
get off – wysiąść (np. z autobusu)
smell – zapach, pachnieć, czuć zapach
rotten – zgniły
creepy – przyprawiający o dreszcze, straszny
basement – podziemna kondygnacja budynku
dragon – smok
take place – odbywać się
firecracker – petarda
cable car – kolejka linowa; w San Francisco także tramwaj linowy
appear – pojawić się
disappear – zniknąć
torch – latarka
arrive at / in – przybyć do (arrive at – np. do budynku ; arrive in – np. do miasta, kraju)
switch on – włączyć
headline – nagłówek (w gazecie)
scarce – niewystarczający, rzadki, deficytowy
several – kilka
furniture – meble; a piece of furniture – mebel
carved – rzeźbiony
test tube – probówka
lab (skrót) – laboratorium
equipment – sprzęt, wyposażenie
bat – nietoperz
shine – shone – shone – świecić, błyszczeć
whisper – szeptać
unexpected – niespodziewany
be interested (in something) – interesować się (czymś)
fertiliser – nawóz
gather – gromadzić (się)
pond – staw
poison – otruć, trucizna
quantity – ilość
banned – zakazany
volunteer – ochotnik, wolontariusz, wolontariacki
investigate a case – prowadzić śledztwo w sprawie
responsible (for) – odpowiedzialny (za)
I wish I knew – żałuję, że nie wiem; chciałbym wiedzieć
irresponsible – nieodpowiedzialny
catch – caught – caught – złapać
connection – związek, powiązanie
explain (something to somebody) – wyjaśnić (coś komuś)
everything – wszystko
suspect – podejrzewać, podejrzany
get out of (the car) – wysiąść (z samochodu); get – got – got
sulphur – siarka
break down – 1) zepsuć się 2) sforsować (np. drzwi); break – broke – broken
in their twenties / in his forties – w wieku dwudziestu kilku lat / czterdziestu kilku lat
anger – złość
hug – objąć, przytulić
gently – delikatnie
slide off – zsunąć (się); slide –slid – slid
wig – peruka
hesitate – wahać się
make people think – sprawić, że ludzie myślą
scam – oszustwo
by heart – na pamięć
grateful (to somebody for something) – wdzięczny (komuś za coś)
confirm – potwierdzić
remind (somebody of something /somebody) – przypominać (komuś coś / kogoś)
feel relieved – poczuć ulgę; feel – felt – felt
be looking forward to – czekać na coś z radością / niecierpliwością, nie móc się doczekać
uneasy – zaniepokojony, niespokojny
snap – trzask; trzasnąć
playfully – figlarnie, żartobliwie
gripping – porywający, wciągający, trzymający w napięciu
recognise – rozpoznać

SENTENCJE DLA KL. VII i VIII

1. A book is a device to ignite the imagination – Książka jest narzędziem, które rozpala wyobraźnię.
Alan Bennett

2. Reading is a passport to countless adventures – Czytanie to paszport do niezliczonych przygód.
Mary Pope Osborne

3. The wisdom of books survives a millennium – Mądrość książek przetrwa tysiąclecie.
Anonymous

4. Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors – Spokojne morza nie czynią wprawnych żeglarzy.
African proverb

5. Failure is not the end of everything, but the beginning of a new journey – Porażka nie jest końcem wszystkiego, lecz początkiem nowej podróży
Jade Youssef

6. A good friend is like a four-leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have – Dobry przyjaciel jest jak czterolistna koniczyna: trudno go znaleźć, a szczęściem jest go mieć.
Irish Proverb

7. Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of travelling – Szczęście nie jest stacją, do której przyjeżdżasz, lecz sposobem podróżowania.
Margaret Lee Runbeck

8. Kindness is like snow – it beautifies everything it covers – Życzliwość jest jak śnieg – upiększa wszystko, co przykrywa.
Kahlil Gibran

9. You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have – Kreatywności nie da się wyczerpać. Im więcej jej używasz, tym więcej jej masz.
Maya Angelou

10. Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you – Wspinaj się na górę, aby zobaczyć świat, a nie po to, aby świat mógł zobaczyć ciebie.
David McCullough Jr.

11. On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it – Na ziemi nie ma nieba, ale są jego kawałki.
Jules Renard

PIOSENKI DLA KL.VII i VIIII 

Podane linki odsyłają do nagrań  z dodanym zapisem słów piosenek oraz do ich tłumaczenia. Proszę zwrócić uwagę na to, że tłumaczenie na portalu tekstowo.pl jest amatorskie, więc mogą zdarzyć się pewne niedociągnięcia.

1.  Best Day Of My Life – American Authors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ9KFEJVISo

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,american_authors,best_day_of_my_life.html

2. Have You Ever Seen The Rain – Rod Stewart, Creedence Clearwater Revival,  John Fogerty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsRqATfI17I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHwiAXunIzk

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,john_fogerty,have_you_ever_seen_the_rain.html

3. Fight Song – Rachel Platten

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbxNtPiCBK8

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,rachel_platten,fight_song.html

4. Everything Has Changed – Taylor Swift ft. Ed Sheeran

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GODeRzt5jx8 

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,taylor_swift,everything_has_changed_ft_ed_sheeran.html

5. Little Bird – The Weepies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wox4tA7MCB8

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,the_weepies,little_bird.html

6. Mystical Magical – Benson Boone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8QhB8_0t2g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBTHMUhTiXo

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,benson_boone,mystical_magical.html

7. The Rider | The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim – Paris Paloma

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oemkWt36hvk

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,paris_paloma,the_rider.html

MATERIAŁY PRZYGOTOWAWCZE

DLA  LICEUM i TECHNIKUM KL. I-II oraz SZKÓŁ BRANŻOWYCH KL. I-III

EDYCJA JESIENNA 2025

OPOWIADANIE
DLA LICEUM i TECHNIKUM KL. I-II oraz SZKÓŁ BRANŻOWYCH KL. I-III

Echoes of the Retrieved Reformation

I rushed onto the platform at the very last moment and just caught the train. I was going to Gloucester to see my girlfriend Polly, and I didn’t want to be late and disappoint her.

I entered the first compartment I found, where a boy and a girl were sitting, both about my age.

“Is it taken?” I asked, pointing at the seat by the window.
“No, go ahead,” they said politely.

I sat down and closed my eyes for a while. I could still see in my mind what had happened barely an hour earlier. The look in the boy’s eyes kept coming back to me – first full of fear, then of relief and gratitude. I tried to convince myself that I had done the right thing and hadn’t behaved in a cowardly way. I remembered how it had happened: I was running out of school after classes to catch the train when the headmaster called me back to his office.

 “Was it him?” he asked, pointing at a scared boy. The headmaster knew that I had been on duty at that time and had witnessed the incident with the broken window. I recognised the boy and was about to confirm it. But at that moment, one look at him was enough to show me how different he was from ordinary hooligans and troublemakers.
“No, it wasn’t him,” I replied firmly.
“Are you sure?” the headmaster asked.
“Absolutely,” I said – lying to his face.

Then I rushed home, took my backpack, and grabbed my favourite book of O. Henry’s short stories. I wanted to read it on the train, even if I had already read it three times.

As I sat on the train, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between the boy and the girl in the compartment.

“I’m really grateful to you,” said the girl softly. “I’m so glad that you’ve changed your mind and finally agreed.”
“Oh, come on, Annabel,” the boy replied. “What wouldn’t I do for you? I’ve even learned to like children for you. I’ve been getting used to the idea since you first mentioned it.” He smiled and put his arm around her.
“To be honest, I felt so hurt at first when you didn’t want us to take the girls in,” she continued, her voice softer now. “But you see, my sister is being treated for pneumonia. I think she’ll be in hospital no longer than a month, and then she’ll take them back.”

“And then – freedom,” said the boy, playfully and with a drawl.
“Oh Jimmy,” the girl wagged her finger at him with a mock sternness. “Hearing that, my sister would definitely take exception to it,” she continued. “Anyway, May and Agatha will be delighted to stay with us, especially Agatha after that accident.”

I listened without much attention, but suddenly–

  A flash of recognition: Annabel… Jimmy… May… Agatha. These names reminded me of something I couldn’t quite grasp at first.

“Impossible! Such an astonishing coincidence?!” I cried out involuntarily.

The boy and girl looked at me with surprise and unease. They seemed to have misjudged my sudden words as a kind of mockery.

“Sorry,” I said quickly, and began to explain to them what had caused my spontaneous outburst. “I’ve got a book in my backpack containing, among others, my very favourite short story. And the characters in that story bear exactly the names you’ve just mentioned.”
And by the way, I’m Ben – also a namesake of one of the characters.”

“Really, that’s incredible,” said Jimmy.
“Well, are they at least a little like us?” asked Annabel.

And another spark of recognition flashed in my mind. Yes, Jimmy – the boy on the train, too, was willing to change for the sake of his girl.

And then, nothing in the world could have stopped us from reading the story together.

*

A Retrieved Reformation

In the prison shoe-shop, Jimmy Valentine was busily at work making shoes. A prison officer came into the shop, and led Jimmy to the prison office. There Jimmy was given an important paper. It said that he was free.

Jimmy took the paper without showing much pleasure or interest. He had been sent to prison to stay for four years. He had been there for ten months. But he had expected to stay only three months. Jimmy Valentine had many friends outside the prison. A man with so many friends does not expect to stay in prison long.

“Valentine,” said the chief prison officer, “you’ll go out tomorrow morning. This is your chance. Make a man of yourself. You’re not a bad fellow at heart. Stop breaking safes open, and live a better life.”

“Me?” Jimmy said, in surprise. “I’ve never broken open a safe in my life.”

“Oh, no,” the chief prison officer laughed. “Never. Let’s see. How did you happen to get sent to prison for opening that safe in Springfield? Was it because you didn’t want to tell where you really were? Perhaps because you were with some lady, and you didn’t want to tell her name? Or was it because the judge didn’t like you? You men always have a reason like that. You never go to prison because you broke open a safe.”

“Me?” said Jimmy. His face still showed surprise. “I’ve never been to Springfield in my life.”

“Take him away,” said the chief prison officer. “Get him the clothes he needs for going outside. Bring him here again at seven in the morning. And think about what I said, Valentine.”

At a quarter past seven the next morning, Jimmy stood again in the office. He had on some new clothes that did not fit him, and a pair of new shoes that hurt his feet. These are the usual clothes given to a prisoner when he leaves the prison.

Next they gave him money to pay for his trip on a train to the city near the prison. They gave him five dollars more. The five dollars were supposed to help him become a better man.

Then the chief prison officer put out his hand for a handshake. That was the end of Valentine, Prisoner 9762. Mr. James Valentine walked out into the sunshine. He did not listen to the song of the birds, or look at the green trees, or smell the flowers. He went straight to a restaurant. There he tasted the first sweet joys of being free. He had a good dinner. After that he went to the train station. He gave some money to a blind man who sat there, asking for money, and then he got on the train.

Three hours later he got off the train in a small town. Here he went to the restaurant of Mike Dolan.

Mike Dolan was alone there. After shaking hands, he said, “I’m sorry we couldn’t do it sooner, Jimmy, my boy. But there was that safe in Springfield, too. It wasn’t easy. Feeling all right?”

“Fine,” said Jimmy. “Is my room waiting for me?”

He went up and opened the door of a room at the back of the house. Everything was as he had left it. It was here they had found Jimmy when they took him to prison. There on the floor was a small piece of cloth. It had been torn from the coat of the cop, as Jimmy was fighting to escape.

There was a bed against the wall. Jimmy pulled the bed toward the middle of the room. The wall behind it looked like any wall, but now Jimmy found and opened a small door in it. From this opening he pulled out a dust-covered bag.

He opened this and looked lovingly at the tools for breaking open a safe. No finer tools could be found anywhere. They were complete; everything needed was here. They had been made of a special material, in the necessary sizes and shapes. Jimmy had planned them himself, and he was very proud of them.

It had cost him over nine hundred dollars to have these tools made at a place where they make such things for men who work at the job of safe-breaking.

In half an hour Jimmy went downstairs and through the restaurant. He was now dressed in good clothes that fitted him well. He carried his dusted and cleaned bag.

“Do you have anything planned?” asked Mike Dolan.

“Me?” said Jimmy, as if surprised. “I don’t understand. I work for the New York Famous Bread and Cake Makers Company. And I sell the best bread and cake in the country.”

Mike enjoyed these words so much that Jimmy had to take a drink with him. Jimmy had some milk. He never drank anything stronger.

A week after Valentine, 9762, left the prison, a safe was broken open in Richmond, Indiana. No one knew who did it. Eight hundred dollars were taken.

Two weeks after that, a safe in Logansport was opened. It was a new kind of safe; it had been made, they said, so strong that no one could break it open. But someone did, and took fifteen hundred dollars.

Then a safe in Jefferson City was opened. Five thousand dollars were taken. This loss was a big one.

Ben Price was a cop who worked on such important matters, and now he began to work on this.

He went to Richmond, Indiana, and to Logansport, to see how the safe-breaking had been done in those places. He was heard to say: “I can see that Jim Valentine has been here. He is in business again. Look at the way he opened this one. Everything easy, everything clean. He is the only man who has the tools to do it. And he is the only man who knows how to use tools like this. Yes, I want Mr. Valentine. Next time he goes to prison, he’s going to stay there until his time is finished.”

Ben Price knew how Jimmy worked. Jimmy would go from one city to another far away. He always worked alone. He always left quickly when he was finished. He enjoyed being with nice people. For all these reasons, it was not easy to catch Mr Valentine.

People with safes full of money were glad to hear that Ben Price was at work trying to catch Mr Valentine.

One afternoon Jimmy Valentine and his bag arrived in a small town named Elmore. Jimmy, looking as young as a college boy, walked down the street toward the hotel.

A young lady walked across the street, passed him at the corner, and entered a door. Over the door was the sign, “The Elmore Bank.” Jimmy Valentine looked into her eyes, forgetting at once what he was. He became another man. She looked away, and brighter colour came into her face. Young men like Jimmy did not appear often in Elmore.

Jimmy saw a boy near the bank door, and began to ask questions about the town. After a time the young lady came out and went on her way. She seemed not to see Jimmy as she passed him.

“Isn’t that young lady Polly Simpson?” asked Jimmy with specious guile.

“No,” said the boy. “She’s Annabel Adams. Her father owns this bank.”

Jimmy went to the hotel, where he said his name was Ralph D. Spencer. He got a room there. He told the hotel man he had come to Elmore to go into business. How was the shoe business? Was there already a good shoe-shop?

The man thought that Jimmy’s clothes and manners were fine. He was happy to talk to him.

Yes, Elmore needed a good shoe-shop. There was no shop that sold just shoes. Shoes were sold in the big shops that sold everything. All business in Elmore was good. He hoped Mr Spencer would decide to stay in Elmore. It was a pleasant town to live in, and the people were friendly.

Mr Spencer said he would stay in the town for a few days and learn something about it. No, he said, he himself would carry his bag up to his room. He didn’t want a boy to take it. It was very heavy.

Mr Ralph Spencer remained in Elmore. He started a shoe-shop. Business was good.

He also made many friends. And he was successful with the wish of his heart. He met Annabel Adams. He liked her better every day.

At the end of a year everyone in Elmore liked Mr Ralph Spencer. His shoe-shop was doing very good business. And he and Annabel were going to be married in two weeks. Mr Adams, the small-town banker, liked Spencer. Annabel was very proud of him. He seemed already to belong to the Adams family.

One day Jimmy sat down in his room to write this letter, which he sent to one of his old friends:

Dear Old Pal,

I want you to meet me at Sullivan’s place next week, on the evening of the 10th. I want to give you my tools. I know you’ll be glad to have them. You couldn’t buy them for a thousand dollars. I finished with the old business a year ago. I have a nice shop. I’m living a better life, and I’m going to marry the best girl on earth two weeks from now. It’s the only life—I would never again touch another man’s money. After I marry, I’m going to go further west, where I’ll never see anyone who knew me in my old life. I tell you, she’s a wonderful girl. She trusts me.

Your old friend,

Jimmy.

On the Monday night after Jimmy sent this letter, Ben Price arrived quietly in Elmore. He moved slowly about the town in his quiet way, and he learned all that he wanted to know. Standing inside a shop, he watched Ralph D. Spencer walk by.

“You’re going to marry the banker’s daughter, are you, Jimmy?” said Ben to himself. “I don’t feel sure about that!”

The next morning Jimmy was at the Adams home. He was going to a nearby city that day to buy new clothes for the wedding. He was also going to buy a gift for Annabel. It would be his first trip out of Elmore. It was more than a year now since he had done any safe-breaking.

Most of the Adams family went to the bank together that morning. There were Mr Adams, Annabel, Jimmy, and Annabel’s married sister with her two little girls, aged five and nine. They passed Jimmy’s hotel, and Jimmy ran up to his room and brought along his bag. Then they went to the bank.

All went inside—Jimmy, too, for he was one of the family. Everyone in the bank was glad to see the good-looking, nice young man who was going to marry Annabel. Jimmy put down his bag.

Annabel, laughing, put Jimmy’s hat on her head and picked up the bag. “How do I look?” she asked. “Ralph, how heavy this bag is! It feels full of gold.”

“It’s full of some things I don’t need in my shop,” Jimmy said. “I’m taking them to the city, to the place where they came from. That saves me the cost of sending them. I’m going to be a married man. I must learn to save money.”

The Elmore Bank had a new safe. Mr Adams was very proud of it, and he wanted everyone to see it. It was as large as a small room, and it had a very special door. The door was controlled by a clock. Using the clock, the banker planned the time when the door should open. At other times no one, not even the banker himself, could open it. He explained about it to Mr Spencer. Mr Spencer seemed interested, but he did not seem to understand very easily. The two children, May and Agatha, enjoyed seeing the shining heavy door with all its special parts.

While they were busy like this, Ben Price entered the bank and looked around. He told a young man who worked there that he had not come on business; he was waiting for a man.

Suddenly there was a cry from the women. They had not been watching the children. May, the nine-year-old girl, had playfully but firmly closed the door of the safe. And Agatha was inside.

The old banker tried to open the door. He pulled at it for a moment. “The door can’t be opened,” he cried. “And the clock—I hadn’t started it yet.”

Agatha’s mother cried out again.

“Quiet!” said Mr. Adams, raising a shaking hand. “All be quiet for a moment. Agatha!” he called as loudly as he could. “Listen to me.” They could hear, but not clearly, the sound of the child’s voice. In the darkness inside the safe, she was wild with fear.

“My baby!” her mother cried. “She will die of fear! Open the door! Break it open! Can’t you men do something?”

“There isn’t a man nearer than the city who can open that door,” said Mr Adams, in a shaking voice. “My God! Spencer, what shall we do? That child—she can’t live long in there. There isn’t enough air. And the fear will kill her.”

Agatha’s mother, wild too now, beat on the door with her hands. Annabel turned to Jimmy, her large eyes full of pain, but with some hope, too. A woman thinks that the man she loves can somehow do anything.

“Can’t you do something, Ralph? Try, won’t you?”

He looked at her with a strange soft smile on his lips and in his eyes.

“Annabel,” he said, “give me that flower you are wearing, will you?”

She could not believe that she had really heard him. But she put the flower in his hand. Jimmy took it and put it where he could not lose it. Then he pulled off his coat. With that act, Ralph D. Spencer passed away, and Jimmy Valentine took his place.

“Stand away from the door, all of you,” he commanded.

He put his bag on the table and opened it. From that time on, he seemed not to know that anyone else was near. Quickly he laid the shining, strange tools on the table. The others watched as if they had lost the power to move.

In a minute Jimmy was at work on the door. In ten minutes—faster than he had ever done it before—he had the door open.

Agatha was taken into her mother’s arms.

Jimmy Valentine put on his coat, picked up the flower, and walked toward the front door. As he went, he thought he heard a voice call, “Ralph!” He did not stop.

At the door a big man stood in his way.

“Hello, Ben!” said Jimmy, still with his strange smile. “You’re here at last, are you? Let’s go. I don’t care now.”

And then Ben Price acted rather strangely.

“I guess you’re wrong about this, Mr. Spencer,” he said. “I don’t believe I know you, do I?”

And Ben Price turned and walked slowly down the street.

*

“It’s remarkable,” said Jimmy. He smiled thoughtfully. “I wish I had known this story earlier.”
“Beautiful,” added Annabel. “How a man can change under the power of love.” She looked at the boy tenderly.

“To be precise, Jimmy wasn’t a bad guy at heart from the start, as the prison guard noticed,” said Jimmy from the train.

“Everyone focuses on the transformation, or the love story,” I said. “But I was just as fascinated – maybe even more – by the attitude of the policeman, Ben Price.”

And suddenly, for reasons I couldn’t quite explain, the little scene in the headmaster’s office flashed before my eyes again. It dawned on me that there might have been more behind my choice than I had realized.

We were slowly approaching the station in Gloucester. Just then, a metallic voice came from the loudspeakers above our heads:

“Attention, passengers. Due to unexpected track maintenance, this train will terminate at Elmore. All passengers for Gloucester, please use the replacement bus service.”

The three of us stared at one another in disbelief.

“Elmore?!” we all exclaimed at once.

∞ The end ∞

[Materiał własny; zawiera zaadaptowane opowiadanie “A Retrieved Reformation”, O. Henry, w opracowaniu dydaktycznym: O. Henry’s Short Stories, American English / Kazan Federal University.]

Słowniczek

Słowa i wyrażenia są ułożone w kolejności występowania w tekście (nie alfabetycznie)

Zaleca się posłuchać wymowy nowych słów, np. w słowniku  https://www.diki.pl/

retrieved – odzyskany, przywrócony
reformation – odnowa, przemiana, poprawa
rush – pędzić, spieszyć się
disappoint – rozczarować
be disappointed (with/in sth) – być czymś rozczarowanym (czymś)
compartment – przedział (w pociągu)
Is it taken? – Czy to (miejsce) jest zajęte?
go ahead – śmiało, proszę bardzo
barely – ledwo, z trudem
keep coming back – stale powracać
fear – strach
relief – ulga
gratitude – wdzięczność
convince – przekonać
I had done – zrobiłem (had + past participle podkreśla, że jakaś czynność miała miejsce wcześniej niż inna czynność w przeszłości)
behave – zachowywać się
in a cowardly way – tchórzliwie
be on duty – mieć dyżur
witness – być świadkiem; świadek
recognise – rozpoznać
be about to – mieć właśnie coś zrobić
confirm – potwierdzić
ordinary – zwyczajny
troublemaker – rozrabiaka, awanturnik
firmly – stanowczo
lie to somebody’s face – „kłamać w żywe oczy”; lying – kłamiąc
grab – chwycić
overhear – podsłuchać, usłyszeć przypadkiem
grateful (to sb) – wdzięczny (komuś)
change sb’s mind – zmienić zdanie
get used (to) – przyzwyczaić się (do)
since – od (jakiegoś momentu w przeszłości aż do teraz; łączy się zwykle z czasem Present Perfect, aby podkreślić trwanie do chwili obecnej)
mention – wspomnieć
be treated (for) – być leczonym (na coś)
is being (+ past participle) – podlega teraz jakimś działaniom (np. jest naprawiany)
pneumonia – zapalenie płuc
playfully – żartobliwie
with a drawl – przeciągając głoski
wag – kiwać, machać (np. palcem, ogonem)
mock – udawany, sztuczny
sternness – surowość
take exception (to sth) – poczuć się urażonym (czymś)
attention – uwaga
flash – błysk
recognition – nagłe przypomnienie sobie czegoś, rozpoznanie
remind (sb of sb/sth) – przypominać (komuś coś/kogoś)
grasp – pojąć, uchwycić (znaczenie)
such a/an – taki/taka/takie (z rzeczownikiem)
astonishing – zdumiewający
coincidence – zbieg okoliczności
involuntarily – mimowolnie
unease – niepokój
seem to (have + participle) – sprawiać wrażenie, wydawać się (że coś się wydarzyło)
misjudge – błędnie ocenić
mockery – kpina, szyderstwo
explain (to sb) – wyjaśnić (komuś)
outburst – wybuch (np. emocji)
namesake – imiennik
incredible – niesamowity
spark – iskra
be willing (to) – być gotowym/skłonnym (do czegoś)
for the sake of – ze względu na, dla dobra
shoe shop (także: shoe-shop) – sklep obuwniczy; (dawniej) warsztat, gdzie wyrabia się buty
prison officer – strażnik więzienny
expect – spodziewać się, oczekiwać
Make a man of yourself (arch.) – stań się porządnym człowiekiem
break safes open (arch.) – włamywać się do sejfów
judge – sędzia
fit – pasować, być odpowiedniego rozmiaru
be supposed to – mieć coś zrobić, być zobowiązanym do
handshake – uścisk dłoni
sweet joy (arch.) – słodka radość
blind – niewidomy
get on – wsiąść (np. do pociągu/autobusu)
get off – wysiąść (np. z pociągu, autobusu)
cop (infml) – gliniarz, policjant
dust-covered – pokryty kurzem
tool – narzędzie
be proud (of) – być dumnym (z)
He was heard to say – słyszano, jak powiedział
nice people – tutaj: porządni ludzie
college boy (arch.) – student
pass – przejść, mijać
specious – pozorny, zwodniczy
guile – przebiegłość, podstęp
remain – pozostawać
pal – kumpel, kolega
trust – ufać
beat – bić, uderzać
pass away – umrzeć, przeminąć
command – rozkazać
I don’t (believe), do I?– prawda?
remarkable – niezwykły, wybitny
thoughtfully – w zamyśleniu
I wish I had known – żałuję, że nie znałem / nie wiedziałem
tenderly – czule
to be precise – ściśle mówiąc
focus (on) – skupić się (na)
attitude – postawa, nastawienie
It dawns (on sb) – nagle coś dociera (do kogoś); nagle uświadamia sobie coś
approach – zbliżać się, podejście
loudspeaker – głośnik
due to – z powodu
unexpected – niespodziewany
track – tor kolejowy
maintenance – konserwacja, prace naprawcze
terminate – kończyć (trasę, kurs)
replacement bus service – zastępcza komunikacja autobusowa 
stare (at) – wpatrywać się (w);
in disbelief – z niedowierzaniem
at once – jednocześnie, równocześnie

SENTENCJE
DLA LICEUM i TECHNIKUM KL. I-II oraz SZKÓŁ BRANŻOWYCH KL. I-III

1. Reading is an adventure for the mind – Czytanie to przygoda dla umysłu.
Frank Serafini

2. Once you have read a book you care about, some part of it is always with you – Kiedy przeczytasz ważną dla Ciebie książkę, jakaś jej część na zawsze zostaje z Tobą.
Louis L’Amour

3. There is only one thing that can replace a book: the next book – Jest tylko jedna rzecz, która może zastąpić książkę: następna książka.
Piotr Kowalczyk

4. Failure is not the end of everything, but the beginning of a new journey – Porażka nie jest końcem wszystkiego, lecz początkiem nowej podróży.
Jade Youssef

5. If you can’t do great things, do small things in a great way – Jeśli nie możesz robić wielkich rzeczy, rób małe rzeczy w wielki sposób.
Napoleon Hill

6. The secret of getting ahead is getting started – Sekretem robienia postępów jest po prostu zacząć.
Mark Twain

7. Kindness is like snow – it beautifies everything it covers – Życzliwość jest jak śnieg – upiększa wszystko, co przykrywa.
Kahlil Gibran

8. Why fit in when you were born to stand out? – Po co się dopasowywać, skoro urodziłeś się, by się wyróżniać?
Dr Seuss

9. Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly –
Trzymaj się mocno marzeń, bo jeśli one umierają, życie jest ptakiem ze złamanym skrzydłem, który nie może latać.
Langston Hughes

10. Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light – Szczęście można znaleźć nawet w najciemniejszych czasach, jeśli tylko pamięta się, by zapalić światło.
J.K. Rowling

11. On earth, there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it – Na ziemi nie ma nieba, ale są jego kawałki.
Jules Renard

PIOSENKI 
DLA LICEUM i TECHNIKUM KL. I-II oraz SZKÓŁ BRANŻOWYCH KL. I-III

Podane linki odsyłają do nagrań  z dodanym zapisem słów piosenek oraz do ich tłumaczenia. Proszę zwrócić uwagę na to, że tłumaczenie na portalu tekstowo.pl jest amatorskie, więc mogą zdarzyć się pewne niedociągnięcia.

1. Mystical Magical – Benson Boone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8QhB8_0t2g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBTHMUhTiXo

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,benson_boone,mystical_magical.html

2. Everything Has Changed – Taylor Swift ft. Ed Sheeran

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GODeRzt5jx8

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,taylor_swift,everything_has_changed_ft_ed_sheeran.html

3. I Go To Sleep – THE Kinks I Sia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-Lg2mF1k9c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGhgIeXofNY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icr1P_MzYIs

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,sia,i_go_to_sleep.html

      4. Have You Ever Seen The Rain – Rod Stewart, Creedence Clearwater Revival,  John Fogerty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsRqATfI17I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHwiAXunIzk

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,john_fogerty,have_you_ever_seen_the_rain.html

5. The Chain – Fleetwood Mac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLz_FTDIc1k

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,fleetwood_mac,the_chain.html

6. Someday – OneRepublic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDIY6ybkTh8

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,onerepublic,someday.html

7. The Rider | The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim – Paris Paloma

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oemkWt36hvk

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,paris_paloma,the_rider.html

MATERIAŁY  PRZYGOTOWAWCZE 

DLA  LICEUM KL. III i IV  oraz TECHNIKUM KL. III – V

EDYCJA JESIENNA 2025

OPOWIADANIE 
DLA  LICEUM KL. III i IV oraz TECHNIKUM KL. III – V

Beyond the Cheap Flat

“Luke, come here!” called Tilly, my younger sister, from her desk in front of the computer.

“This better be good this time,” I said, walking over.

“Look, we’ve got a reply to our ad about looking for a flat.”

Spacious, fully furnished 4-bedroom flat with fitted kitchen and contemporary bathroom. Close to the university. Ideal for students. Available immediately. Price: £20 per week. No deposit required.

Contact (private): 07700 900123

“Oh, come on, Tilly,” I answered. “£20 per week for a place like this is either a mistake – someone missed a zero – or a scam.”

My sister had always been rather gullible.

We had only a few days left to find somewhere to live before starting our physics degree – my friend Annie and I. Tilly, who was still in secondary school (she’d be going to a new one here), was going to live with us. I knew it would be tough to study and make ends meet, especially with the high cost of renting in Birmingham.

But as Tilly was not only gullible but also stubborn, she had replied to the email to ask if it was a mistake. The reply had said that the rent really was £20 per week.

“There has to be a catch,” said Annie when she heard about it. “Even a studio flat on the edge of town costs much more.”

“Let’s go and see,” insisted Tilly. “What have we got to lose?”

So we arranged a viewing by text message and went.

“What an elegant neighbourhood! So posh!” exclaimed the girls.

We were just reaching the entrance when I got a text from the owner: “Sorry, something’s come up. The key’s under the doormat. Go in and have a look around.”

We looked at each other in disbelief. Who leaves the key under the doormat these days?

We went in cautiously and looked around the flat.

“Wow. Incredible,” whispered Annie.

We peeked into every room; each one had shelves filled with books. The living room impressed us the most. There were a few carved pieces of furniture, a sofa and soft armchairs. Our eyes were immediately drawn to the massive table in the middle of the room. On it, there was a lit lamp, illuminating an open book. We approached the table as if hypnotised.

Annie picked up the sheet of paper lying next to it and read aloud: “While you’re waiting for me, read this story.”

“Look at the title,” I said. “The Adventure of the Cheap Flat. It looks as though someone left the book open on that story on purpose.”

“Sure,” Tilly said. “Maybe that’s the key – the explanation for why this flat is so cheap?”

“Well, we have to wait anyway. So let’s read,” I decided.

We sat down in the armchairs and began to read.

*

Most of Poirot’s cases usually began with a crime – a murder or a theft. From there, he used logic to reach the solution.

But this case started from something small, almost trivial, which later led to very unusual events.

One evening, I was visiting my old friend Gerald Parker. A few other guests were present. As often happened, Parker began to talk about flats in London. House-hunting was his favourite subject. He was constantly moving – always discovering new places, moving in and then moving out again as soon as he found something better.

We listened politely, and then others joined in with their own stories. Finally, Mrs Robinson, a young bride I had not met before, told hers.

“Talking of flats,” she said, “have you heard of our piece of luck, Mr Parker? We’ve got one at last – in Montagu Mansions.”

“Well,” Parker said, “there are plenty of flats in London, if you can pay the price.”

“Yes, but ours is cheap. Very cheap – only eighty pounds a year!”

Parker nearly dropped his glass. “But Montagu Mansions is near Knightsbridge, isn’t it? A fine building. Surely you don’t mean another place with the same name in some poor part of town?”

“No, it’s the Knightsbridge one. That’s what makes it so amazing.”

Rarely did Parker look so astonished. “It’s a miracle,” he said. “But there must be a catch somewhere. A big premium perhaps?”

“No premium,” Mrs Robinson replied calmly.

“No prem… oh, someone help me!” groaned Parker.

“But we had to buy the furniture,” she added.

“Ah, I knew there was a catch!” Parker exclaimed.

“For fifty pounds. And it’s beautifully furnished.”

Parker threw up his hands. “I give up. The previous tenants must be lunatics with a taste for philanthropy.”

Parker suggested that she postpone signing anything until they knew more.

Mrs Robinson hesitated. A small frown appeared on her forehead. “It is queer, isn’t it? You don’t think the place is haunted? I’ve been getting used to the idea of living there, but it still feels strange,” she admitted.

“I’ve never heard of a haunted flat,” Parker said firmly.

Mrs Robinson continued: “We had been to several agents. Everything they offered was four or five hundred a year, or demanded huge premiums. Then, just as we were leaving, one clerk mentioned this flat at eighty. John thought he must have heard it wrong, because the price was unbelievably low. But the clerk confirmed the price. He said the flat had been on their list for some time and that many people had already gone to see it. Still, it was always available. People got annoyed with being sent there, thinking it had already been let.”

She paused for breath.

“We asked for the address anyway, and went there at once. While we were waiting for the lift, a friend of mine, Elsie Ferguson, came rushing down the stairs. ‘Too late,’ she told me. ‘It’s already let.’ That seemed to finish it, but we thought we might offer a little more, so we went up anyway. And to our surprise, it wasn’t let at all! We saw the maid, then the mistress, and everything was settled at once. They showed us the flat as well as explaining the terms of the agreement. Immediate possession, fifty pounds for the furniture, and we’re moving in tomorrow!”

Parker turned to me. “What do you think, Hastings?”

I laughed. “Obvious, my dear Watson. Your friend must have gone to the wrong flat.”

“Oh, Captain Hastings, how clever of you!” cried Mrs Robinson.

I was secretly pleased, but I wished Poirot had been there. He often underestimated my abilities.

The next morning, I told the story to Poirot as a kind of joke. To my surprise, he was deeply interested.

“A curious story,” he said thoughtfully. “Hastings, the rent of those flats is normally £350. Yet this one is let at only £80. Why?”

“There must be something wrong with it. Perhaps it’s haunted,” I suggested.

Poirot shook his head. “And think of this: her friend said the flat was let, but it wasn’t. Others went to see it, yet it was still available when Mrs Robinson came. Very strange. Did she seem a truthful woman to you?”

“She seemed very genuine,” I said warmly.

Poirot raised his eyebrows. “You always notice beauty more than facts, Hastings. Describe her to me, then.”

“Well, she’s tall and fair, with blue eyes and a very nice complexion. Her hair is a beautiful shade of auburn.”

Poirot gave a little smile. “You always admire auburn hair! Still, let us go to Montagu Mansions. I want to make some inquiries.”

The building was handsome, in excellent repair. A uniformed porter stood at the entrance. Poirot asked him politely:

“Could you tell me if Mr and Mrs Robinson live here?”

“No. 4. Second floor,” the porter said briefly.

“How long have they been here?”

“Six months.”

I was shocked. Only yesterday Mrs Robinson had told us they were moving in tomorrow!

Poirot gave me a sly smile. “Well, Hastings? Do you still believe that delightful women always tell the truth?”

Poirot decided to visit the agents. Soon he returned with news.

“There is a flat available here, No. 8 on the fourth floor. Furnished, ten guineas a week. I have taken it for a month.”

“What? Poirot, this is madness!” I protested.

He waved my words away. “I have money nowadays. Why should I not indulge a whim? Besides, I suspect something interesting will happen here. By the way, Hastings, do you still have your revolver?”

“Yes… somewhere,” I answered, suddenly excited.

“You may need it,” Poirot said calmly. “The idea pleases you, I see. You are always attracted to the spectacular.”

The following day, we settled into our temporary home in Montagu Mansions. Our flat was pleasantly furnished and lay directly above the Robinsons’ – the same position but two floors higher.

On Sunday afternoon, Poirot left the front door ajar. A bang echoed from somewhere below.

“Quick, Hastings, look over the banisters. Is that our new neighbour?”

I leaned over. “Yes, that’s them,” I whispered.

“Good. Now wait.”

About half an hour later, a young woman left the building, dressed in bright clothes. Poirot gave a satisfied sigh.

“Excellent. The master, the mistress and now the maid. The flat should be empty.”

He hurried to the coal-lift at the back of the building.

“So what are we going to do?” I asked nervously.

“We are going to pay a little visit. The bins use this lift every day. Why not us?”

Before I could argue, Poirot stepped into the rough wooden lift and began pulling on the rope. I followed, rather unwillingly.

At the second floor, the door into the Robinsons’ scullery stood open. Poirot beamed.

“Can you see? They never lock these doors during the day. Anyone could enter.”

In a few minutes, he had adjusted the bolt so it could be opened from the lift. Then we returned to our own flat.

The next day Poirot was out all day. When he came back in the evening, he looked excited.

“Hastings, let me tell you a story – a true one. About six months ago, some important naval plans were stolen from an American government office. They showed the position of key harbour defences and were worth a fortune to a foreign power. Suspicion fell on a young Italian employee, Luigi Valdarno, who vanished at the same time. Soon afterwards, he was found shot dead in New York. But the papers were not on him.”

“At that time he had been seen with a young singer named Elsa Hardt. She disappeared at once. The Americans believe she is in fact a dangerous international spy. Recently, one of her suspected contacts travelled to England. So it is quite possible that Elsa Hardt is here now.”

Poirot paused and added: “The description of Elsa Hardt: height 5 foot 7 (inches), blue eyes, auburn hair, fair complexion. No special marks.”

“Similar to Mrs Robinson!” I gasped.

“There is a chance,” said Poirot. “Also, a foreign-looking man was making enquiries about No. 4 this very morning. Hastings, I fear you must give up your beauty sleep. Tonight we’ll keep watch in the flat below – and bring your revolver.”

“Of course!” I exclaimed with enthusiasm.

At midnight, we lowered ourselves in the coal-lift and entered the Robinsons’ empty flat. We sat waiting in the kitchen, the hall door slightly open.

The hours passed slowly. Suddenly, I heard a faint scratching sound. Poirot touched my arm.

“Outside the front door. They are cutting the lock. When I give the word, you hold him from behind. He may have a knife.”

There was a tearing sound. A small circle of light appeared, then vanished. The door opened slowly. A man stepped inside.

“Now!” hissed Poirot.

Together we sprang. Poirot threw a scarf over the intruder’s head while I pinned his arms and twisted a dagger from his hand. Poirot uncovered his eyes but held the scarf tightly over his mouth. I raised my revolver where he could see it.

The man stopped struggling. Poirot whispered rapidly in his ear. The intruder nodded. Then, with us guarding him, he walked quietly downstairs and out into the street.

“There is a taxi waiting round the corner,” Poirot said. “Give me the revolver. We shall not need it now.”

I was astonished when I saw the man’s face. “He’s not Japanese, Poirot. He’s Italian!”

Poirot chuckled. “Very good observation, Hastings. Nothing escapes you!”

We drove to a small house in St John’s Wood. Poirot rang loudly until a man in a dressing gown appeared. After some sharp words, Poirot pushed him aside and we entered.

Inside, a tall woman with reddish hair rushed into the room, clutching a red kimono.

“Where is my husband? Who are you?” she cried.

Poirot bowed. “Madame, one of our number has come all the way from New York to meet you.”

At that moment our Italian prisoner stepped forward. To my horror, he now held my revolver, which Poirot must have left in the cab.

The woman screamed. “Let me out! He will kill me!”

The man’s voice was hoarse: “Who killed Luigi Valdarno?”

Poirot’s calm voice sounded in my ear. “Do not worry, Hastings. He won’t shoot until I give the word.”

The woman’s hand flashed to a black velvet cat which covered the telephone. “They are hidden in here,” she cried.

“The papers!” Poirot exclaimed with satisfaction.

The Italian roared with anger and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened.

“Of course,” said Poirot mildly. “I never allow loaded guns in my presence.”

He turned to the man. “You are lucky. I have saved you from the gallows. And our lady friend will not escape – the police are waiting outside. Now go.”

The man slunk away.

As soon as the Italian had gone, Poirot turned to me with a smile.

“You see, Hastings, it was all very simple. Out of hundreds of people who had applied for No. 4 Montagu Mansions, only the Robinsons were chosen. Why? Their appearance was ordinary. Nothing unusual. Their name, then!”

“But Robinson is the most common name in England!” I cried.

“Exactly, my friend. That was the whole point. Elsa Hardt and her companion came from New York and rented the flat under the false name of Mr and Mrs Robinson. Later they discovered that their enemies were on their track. What could be simpler? They offered the flat at a ridiculously low rent. Out of so many young couples in London, there was sure to be a real Mr and Mrs Robinson sooner or later. When such a couple appeared, the trap was ready. The avenger would find the address, the name, and would strike. And Elsa Hardt would once again escape.” Poirot shook his head. “Ingenious in its simplicity. But dangerous for the real Robinsons.”

A heavy knocking sounded on the door.

“That must be Inspector Japp,” Poirot said. He opened the door just enough to thrust out the velvet cat and utter a piercing, “Meow!”

Japp jumped, then laughed. “It’s only Monsieur Poirot and one of his little jokes. Let us in.”

He entered with another man. “We’ve got them both, safe and sound. But they didn’t have the papers on them.”

“Oh, but they’re here,” Poirot said calmly. “Inside the lining of this cat.”

The American agent, Mr Burt, quickly examined it and drew out the missing documents. He shook Poirot’s hand warmly. “Nice to meet you.”

Later, as we walked back to our own flat, I said:

“Poirot, how on earth did you know this address?”

“My dear Hastings,” Poirot replied, “I had the false Mrs Robinson followed when she left Montagu Mansions. A little foresight is always useful.”

I sighed. “It was an extraordinary case.”

Poirot smiled. “Yes, Hastings. A very unusual case, but in the end quite simple. You only had to use the little grey matter. By the way, you must present me to the real Mrs Robinson – that delightful and truthful woman!”

*

We had barely finished reading when suddenly – there was a loud knock at the door. And then, we heard a cat’s meow.

We froze for a moment.

“Quick, into the wardrobe!” cried Tilly.

“Behind the sofa!” exclaimed Annie.

“Shh,” I whispered, tiptoeing to the peephole. Through it I saw a kind-looking elderly man with a cat in his arms.

“Good afternoon, I’m Martin Readwyn, the owner of the flat,” he said as I opened the door and let him in. He smiled warmly, and I felt an instant liking for him.

“Nice to meet you,” I replied. “I’m Luke, and this is my sister Tilly and my friend Annie,” I added, pointing to the girls emerging from behind the sofa.

“I hope I didn’t startle you,” said Mr Readwyn once we were seated in the living room with tea.

“N-not too much,” said Tilly, her voice still trembling slightly.

We laughed, and I added, “I must admit, it’s quite an unusual way of welcoming new tenants.”

“Ah yes,” the owner nodded. “I’ve been a retired librarian for some years now. Books are my passion. I wish the love of reading wasn’t fading among people.” Mr Readwyn paused for a moment. Then he went on: “By giving you a story whose title might have seemed familiar, I wanted to intrigue you and encourage you to take a first step into reading. Had I simply told you to read, you would surely have taken it as nothing more than the dull advice of an eccentric old man. It’s a little naive story – but just enough to show how a mystery can grow from something small ”

“True, the title intrigued us,” I admitted, “though the only real similarity was the unusually low rent of the flat.”

“I wonder how you knew we don’t read books,” Annie remarked smartly. “Because, in fact, none of us does.”

“No offence – pardon my bluntness,” replied Mr Readwyn, “but I recognised it from the mistakes in your advert. People who read don’t make such errors. Correct spelling is one of the many benefits of reading.” He smiled kindly.

“And why is the rent so low?” I asked.

“You see, I know how hard it is to study diligently and at the same time work to support yourself,” said Mr Readwyn. “When I was at university, my aunt helped me, and I’ve always been grateful to her for that. Recently my aunt passed away, leaving me a large fortune. I am, therefore, a wealthy widower.” Here the old man grew sad and added, “I was married to a wonderful woman – well-read, wise and warm-hearted – but we had no children.”

“We understand,” said Annie. And then, wanting to change the gloomy subject, she asked, “What kind of books do you have in your vast collection?”

At that moment, we saw a spark of joy in Mr Readwyn’s eyes.

We went on talking for a long time – about books, about the delights and challenges of studying, about the values that matter in life. This elderly gentleman truly won our hearts.

At the end of our meeting he added, “In the future, just be careful about other offers. There are plenty of scams, and not every bargain hides good intentions.”

Since that day, we had been really looking forward to meeting Mr Readwyn again and to talking about the books we had begun to read with real passion.

∞ The end ∞

[Materiał własny; zawiera zaadaptowane fragmenty “The Adventure of the Cheap Flat”, Agatha Christie, ze zbioru Poirot Investigates.]

Słowniczek Słowa i wyrażenia są ułożone w kolejności występowania w tekście (nie alfabetycznie)

Zaleca się posłuchać wymowy nowych słów, np. w słowniku  https://www.diki.pl

beyond – poza, ponad
This better be good – to lepiej niech będzie coś ważnego / wartego uwagi
spacious – przestronny
fully furnished – w pełni umeblowany
fitted kitchen – zabudowana kuchnia
contemporary bathroom – nowoczesna łazienka
available – dostępny
deposit – kaucja
required – wymagany
scam – oszustwo
gullible – łatwowierny
degree – tutaj: studia, kierunek studiów (np. a physics degree)
secondary school – szkoła średnia
make ends meet – wiązać koniec z końcem
rent – czynsz
stubborn – uparty
catch – haczyk, ukryta wada
studio flat – kawalerka
edge (of town) – obrzeża (miasta)
arrange – umówić, zorganizować
viewing – oglądanie mieszkania
posh – elegancki, ekskluzywny
entrance – wejście
doormat – wycieraczka
disbelief – niedowierzanie
cautiously – ostrożnie
incredible – niesamowity
peek (into) – zajrzeć (do środka)
a few – kilka
carved – rzeźbiony
furniture – meble
a piece of furniture – mebel
lit – zapalony
illuminate – oświetlać
approach – podejść (do czegoś)
lie – lay – lain – leżeć; lying – leżący
case – sprawa (np. kryminalna)
trivial – błahy
house-hunting – szukanie mieszkania/domu
bride – tutaj: młoda mężatka
Rarely did Parker look … – rzadko Parker wyglądał … (inwersja – wzmocnienie)
so – tak (np. tak zdziwiony)
astonished – zdumiony
premium – odstępne (opłata dodatkowa przy najmie)
groan – jęknąć
previous – poprzedni
tenant – lokator, najemca
lunatic – szaleniec
suggest that sb do sth – zasugerować, żeby ktoś coś zrobił
postpone – odłożyć, przełożyć
sign (a contract) – podpisać (umowę)
hesitate – wahać się
frown – zmarszczyć brwi
queer – dziwny
get used to (+ -ing) – przyzwyczajać się do (robienia czegoś)
clerk – urzędnik, pracownik biura
must have (+ past participle) – musiał (coś zrobić w przeszłości – wniosek)
hear it wrong – źle usłyszeć; hear – heard – heard
unbelievably – niewiarygodnie
confirm – potwierdzić
let (a flat) – wynająć komuś mieszkanie
maid – służąca
mistress – pani domu
settle – ustalić, załatwić
as well as (+ -ing) – jak również
explain (sth to sb) – wyjaśnić (coś komuś)
terms of the agreement – warunki umowy
possession – objęcie w posiadanie (np. mieszkania)
move in – wprowadzić się
I wished he had been – żałowałem, że go nie było
underestimate – nie doceniać
abilities – zdolności
curious – dziwny
thoughtfully – w zamyśleniu
truthful – prawdomówny
genuine – szczery, autentyczny
auburn – kasztanowy (o włosach)
inquiry / enquiry – zapytanie, dochodzenie
handsome (building) – okazały, imponujący (budynek)
sly – przebiegły, chytry
indulge (a whim) – pozwolić sobie (na kaprys)
whim – kaprys, zachcianka
temporary – tymczasowy
ajar (door) – uchylone (drzwi)
bang – huk, trzask
banister – poręcz (na schodach)
that’s them – to oni (lub on/ ona jeśli nie określamy płci)
coal-lift – winda towarowa na węgiel
bin – kubeł na śmieci
unwillingly – niechętnie
scullery – pomieszczenie gospodarcze przy kuchni
beam (with joy) – promieniować (radością)
bolt (on the door) – zasuwka
naval – morski (dotyczący marynarki wojennej)
harbour – port
defences – obrona, umocnienia
suspicion – podejrzenie
suspected – podejrzewany
foot – stopa (30,48 cm)
inch – cal (2,54 cm)
gasp – sapnąć, westchnąć z wrażenia
keep watch – czuwać, pilnować
scratching sound – odgłos drapania
lock – zamek
hiss – syknąć
spring – sprang – sprung – skoczyć
dagger – sztylet
struggle – szamotać się
nod – skinąć głową
chuckle – chichotać, zaśmiać się pod nosem
clutch – ściskać, chwytać
bow – ukłonić się
one of our number – jeden z nas
hoarse – ochrypły
trigger – spust (broni)
mildly – łagodnie
loaded (gun) – naładowana (broń)
gallows – szubienica
slink away– oddalić się po cichu: slink– slunk – slunk
apply (for a flat) – ubiegać się (o mieszkanie)
appearance – wygląd
ordinary – zwyczajny
common (name) – pospolite, częste (nazwisko)
be on sb’s track – być na czyimś tropie
ridiculously – absurdalnie
trap – pułapka
avenger – mściciel
ingenious – pomysłowy
thrust out – wysunąć, wystawić
utter (a sound) – wydać (dźwięk)
piercing (sound) – przeszywający (dźwięk)
lining – podszewka
have sb do sth – sprawić, żeby ktoś coś zrobił, zlecić wykonanie czegoś
foresight – przezorność, przewidywanie
barely – ledwie
freeze – froze – frozen – tutaj: znieruchomieć (ze strachu, zaskoczenia)
tiptoe – chodzić na palcach
peephole – wizjer (w drzwiach)
emerge – wyłonić się
startle – przestraszyć, zaskoczyć
tremble – drżeć
retired – emerytowany
for (some years) – od (kilku lat)
I wish + sb/sth + Past Simple / Past Continuous – chciałbym, żeby (coś było inne teraz)
I wish … wasn’t fading – chciałbym, żeby … nie zanikało, żałuję, że zanika
fade – zanikać, gasnąć
seem – wydawać się
familiar – znajomy
encourage – zachęcać
Had I …, you would have … – Gdybym …, to byś … (inwersja warunkowa)
bluntness – bezpośredniość, szczerość do bólu
recognise – rozpoznać
diligently – pilnie, sumiennie
grateful (to sb for sth) – wdzięczny (komuś za coś)
pass away – umrzeć
wealthy – bogaty
widower – wdowiec
be married (to sb) – być żonatym/zamężną; być w związku małżeńskim (z kimś)
well-read – oczytany
gloomy – ponury
vast – ogromny
spark of joy – iskra radości
bargain – okazja (cenowa)
since (that day) – od (tamtego dnia)
be looking forward to (+ -ing) – czekać na coś z radością / niecierpliwością; nie móc się doczekać

SENTENCJE
DLA  LICEUM KL. III i IV oraz TECHNIKUM KL. III – V

1. Reading is essential to the fullest life – Czytanie jest niezbędne do pełni życia.
Louis L’Amour

2. A book is not an escape from life, but a shortcut to a better one – Książka nie jest ucieczką od życia, lecz drogą na skróty do lepszego.
P. Kowalczyk

3. Once you have read a book you care about, some part of it is always with you – Kiedy przeczytasz książkę ważną dla Ciebie, jakaś jej część na zawsze zostaje z Tobą.
Louis L’Amour

4. Creativity is intelligence having fun – Kreatywność to inteligencja, która się bawi.
Albert Einstein

5. A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle – Świeca nic nie traci, zapalając inną świecę.
James Keller

6. Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow – Radość dzielona jest podwójną radością, a smutek dzielony – połową smutku.
Swedish proverb

7. On earth, there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it – Na ziemi nie ma nieba, ale są jego kawałki.
Jules Renard

8. If you want to test a man’s character, give him power – Jeśli chcesz sprawdzić charakter człowieka, daj mu władzę.
Abraham Lincoln

9. If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there – Jeśli nie wiesz, dokąd zmierzasz, każda droga cię tam zaprowadzi.
Lewis Carroll

10. Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer –
Przyjaciele to ci nieliczni ludzie, którzy pytają, jak się mamy i czekają na naszą odpowiedź.
Ed Cunningham

11. If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door – Jeśli okazja nie puka, zbuduj drzwi.
Milton Berle

PIOSENKI
DLA  LICEUM KL. III i IV oraz TECHNIKUM KL. III – V

Podane linki odsyłają do nagrań  z dodanym zapisem słów piosenek oraz do ich tłumaczenia. Proszę zwrócić uwagę na to, że tłumaczenie na portalu tekstowo.pl jest amatorskie, więc mogą zdarzyć się pewne niedociągnięcia.

1. Wish You The Best – Lewis Capaldi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClZ2_JZALKM

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,lewis_capaldi,wish_you_the_best.html

2. Ordinary – Alex Warren

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byxFUKxhT3s

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,alex_warren,ordinary.html

3. Have You Ever – Brandy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyWdb1rUsd0

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,brandy,have_you_ever.html

4. Day Too Soon – Sia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtYp21G6Mhk

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,sia,day_too_soon.html

5. Never Be The Same Again – Melanie C

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–xrwWZfU78

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z089lQPCtnQ

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,melanie_c,never_be_the_same_again.html

6. Little Bird – The Weepies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wox4tA7MCB8

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,the_weepies,little_bird.html

7. Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else – Benson Boone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfqqglz7jnU

https://www.tekstowo.pl/piosenka,benson_boone,sorry_i_m_here_for_someone_else.html