Read Aloud the Text Content

This audio was created by Woord's Text to Speech service by content creators from all around the world.

Text Content or SSML code:

12. AN URGENT CALL The detective was still in his office when the telephone rang. He answered and a voice at the other end said, “If you are not here soon, there will be a murder!” “Coming right away,” the detective answered. He had had no time to ask for details. The caller just told him the address and had hung up. The detective got his coat and hat in a hurry. He expected to get to the address in less than a quarter of an hour. He steered his car skilfully through back streets to avoid the traffic in the centre of the town. It was quite probable that the whole thing might turn out to be a joke, but he couldn’t take any chance with a man’s life at stake. He overlooked traffic signals and overtook other cars. At length he got there. It was an old building in one of the poorest neighborourhoods. There was no light at the entrance and he had to find his way up with the help of his small lighter. He had reached the second floor when he heard a shot. He rushed to the third floor. The whole place was as black as pitch. Another shot rang out. Evidently it came from that apartment. He threw himself at the door. As it opened abruptly he stumbled over the body of a woman. Without stopping he went into the next room. A man, clatching a revolver in his right hand, lay bleeding on a long bed. There was an unfinished note on one of the bedside tables. It said: “I didn’t expect you so…” 1- Retell the story from the point of view of the detective 2- A friend told me that… 3- Rewrite or retell the story following these key words: No details back streets a joke overtook cars a shot stumbled a note 4- Write the following passage out again, adding, in the spaces indicated by numbers, one word or phrase from each of the lists with the corresponding numbers given below each passage: When Mary (1) (2) me I was, of course, delighted. I had been waiting to get married for ages, although I was not sure whether I could (3) to. However, we (4) on a date for the marriage and (5) to (6) our honeymoon in Spain. Then we had to (7) a house to live in. I (8) her that we (9) only (10) a very small rent. 1. Agreed with, agreed to 2. Marry, get married 3. Offer, afford, pay 4. Agreed, arranged 5. Decided, ordered 6. Pass, spend 7. Find out, discover, find 8. Reminded, remembered 9. Could, had to 10. Give, pay