Comprehension activity
Answer these comprehension questions
Why did Hercule Poirot go to Switzerland? What places did he visit? How did he get to Rochers Neige?
Who was Marrascaud? What was the affaire of Salley about? What meeting was going to take place at Rochers Neiges? Why was Rochers Neiges chosen for the rendezvous? How did Poirot learn about it?
Who did Poirot meet in the funicular? Describe the passengers in the funicular. What did Poirot learn about them from the manager?
What was the staff of the hotel?
How did Poirot make acquaintance with inspector Drouet? What did they talk about?
What incident happened at night at the hotel?
Why did Poirot make inquiries about the waiter of the hotel and what did he learn?
What happened in the Poirot’s room after midnight? Who helped him escape murdering?
Who was found in the unused room of the hotel? How?
How did Hercule Poirot explain the murder to the doctor Lutz? Why?
What did the police discover in the Drouet’s room?
Reconstitute Poirot’s investigation stage by stage and speak about his suspicions and discoveries. What do you think helped him in his investigation?
Grammar
Analyze the use of the verb tenses (simple present, present continuous, present perfect, past simple, past continuous, past perfect) and voices (active/passive) in the following selection, p. 17: « The accomplishment of the fourth Labour of Hercules…” … « Your old friend Lementeuil.”
Rewrite the letter in the indirect speech.
The auxiliary verb ‘should’ can be used in different functions in the sentence (modal verb, future in the past, subjunctive mood, etc). Identify the function of should in the context.
Study the use of the pronoun it in the selection above and find the words it refers to in the context.
Speaking
Retell the story from the part of the inspector Lementeuil.
Role play
Work in pairs. Put yourself in the place of Hercule Poirot and interrogate these people about the crime:
the pretended inspector Drouet;
doctor Lutz;
the inspector Lementeuil.