The Case of the Missing Ring

Episode 2 : Questioning Lila Hummingbird

Recap
In Episode 1, Detective Bossley interviewed Ralph Hummingbird. Ralph is the son of the widow
whose ring has been stolen. Ralph discussed his love for his mother,
Cynthia, and his wife, Lila. He also shared his thoughts about how
his marriage was before children. Ralph longs for an empty nest. He
wants his wife to look at him like Paul looks at Emma. Ralph may
have a jealous side, but he wants to speed up, rather than postpone,
the wedding. Let's find out if Lila has a better motive.

Detective’s Tip
Reread the dialogue from Episode 1 before moving on to this lesson.

Did You Know?

A tag question is when you add a question at the end of a statement for emphasis. As you read the
dialogue, watch for tag questions. Both Lila and Detective Bossley use this style of questioning, don't
they?

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 The Case of the Missing Ring
Episode 2 : Questioning Lila Hummingbird

Fact File
Fill in the missing information. Take a guess!

Suspect #2: LILA

Relationship to widow: Daughter-in-law

Suspected motive: Greed

Location of questioning: ___________________

Alibi: ____________________________________

Pre-Reading Vocabulary
Word Definition Notes / Examples

to see things for to witness something firsthand (hearing it is not

oneself enough)

to put something a to reword something in order to improve the

different way understanding

to go the extra mile to make extra effort

token of a gift or gesture to show that you are thankful

appreciation

to put a lot of to think about a decision or plan for a long time

thought into
something

it’s the thought that the important part is the kindness or caring
counts

to use a hand to need some help

to pay attention to take time to interact with or observe a person or

thing

not a happy camper a person who is not in a good mood

freeloader a person who relies on the money of others all of

the time

to want someone out of to want someone to stop bothering you

one’s hair

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 The Case of the Missing Ring
Episode 2 : Questioning Lila Hummingbird

Dialogue Fill in the blanks with the words from the vocabulary list.

DETECTIVE: % Thanks for offering to show me the crime scene, Lila.

Can you tell me where you were the night the ring
disappeared?

LILA: % I was out buying a birthday gift for my husband. It's

under Cynthia's bed if you don't believe me. I know
from your show you like to _____________ things
for yourself.

DETECTIVE: % That won't be necessary. Tell me about your marriage.

LILA: % I can't complain. We're still together, aren't we?

DETECTIVE: % Let me put this a _____________ way. Does Ralph treat you well?

LILA: % He doesn't exactly go the _____________ mile. I wouldn't mind a

_____________ of appreciation from time to time.

DETECTIVE: % Do you wish he was more like…Paul? 

LILA: % Are you kidding? All Paul does is gawk at Emma. I wish Ralph was more like my
father. A day never went by when he didn't treat my mother to something special.

DETECTIVE: % Do you mean like…jewelry?

LILA: % Money can't buy you love, Detective. It's the _____________ that counts. My
father put a lot of thought into his gifts. They didn't always come in a pretty box.

DETECTIVE: " What's the best gift your father ever gave your mother?

LILA: % A day off from the kids! I could still use a _____________ with the twins even
though they're fully grown.

DETECTIVE: % You mean you wish Ralph would pay more attention to the twins?

LILA: % Emma could use a different shoulder to cry on once in a while. She's not always a
happy camper.

DETECTIVE: % What about Oliver? He needs someone to talk to man-to-man, doesn't he?

LILA: " You took the words out of my mouth, Detective. I'm worried Oliver is going
to be a freeloader forever.

DETECTIVE: % It sounds to me like you want your son out of your _____________ .

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 The Case of the Missing Ring
Episode 2 : Questioning Lila Hummingbird

Vocabulary Review
A) Match each word or phrase on the left to the example that has the same meaning.

1. not a happy camper% % % a. John didn't believe the news reports about his town until he saw
% % % % the damage himself.
2. see things for oneself% % b. My mother was angry when I said I was moving to Mexico. I had
% % % % to explain that it was for a good cause.%
3. put something a different way % c. The baby was crying because she was getting a new tooth.
4. go the extra mile % % % d. She baked cookies to give to the firefighters who helped save her
% % % % house.
5. token of appreciation% % e. The woman with five kids needs help pushing the cart to her car.
6. freeloader% % % f. Not only did he pick up our kids, but he also took them to their
% % % % baseball practice.
7. it's the thought that counts% % g. The postcard was lost in the mail, but it was just nice to know they
% % % % thought of us.
8. she could use a hand% % h. My brother always forgets his wallet when we go out for dinner.
9. pay attention% % % i. I took her older kids out for lunch while the newborn was sleeping.
10. get someone out of one's hair% j. We stopped talking and watched closely as the child showed us her
% % % % dance.

B) Choose the correct response to each statement or question.

1. The teacher is trying to get some work done over lunch.

a. I could use a hand with my homework.
b. Someone should have taken the students out of her hair.
c. No. She didn't pay attention.

2. He doesn't believe that the car is wrecked, does he?

a. He probably needs to see it for himself.
b. Thanks. It's the thought that counts.
c. I could use a hand with the brakes.

%
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 The Case of the Missing Ring
Episode 2 : Questioning Lila Hummingbird

Vocabulary Review – Continued

3. I couldn't have thought of a better gift myself.

a. He gawked at me the whole time.
b. A token of appreciation would be nice.
c. Amy always put a lot of thought into birthday gifts.

4. She seems like a lonely child, don't you think?

a. No one ever pays attention to her.
b. Only if she goes the extra mile.
c. Do I have to pick up after you again?

5. I don't understand what you mean.

a. Yes, he always goes the extra mile.
b. Let me put it in a different way.
c. Meaning you could use a hand.

6. I'm sorry. I was on the phone for two hours trying to get those race tickets for you, but I
couldn’t get through.
a. Not until I see it for myself.
b. Don't worry. It's the thought that counts.
c. Pay attention to the race, please.

C) Unscramble the words and phrases from the vocabulary list. Then write a sentence using
each one.

1. lofreaerde ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. ppyah percma ________________________________________________________________________________
3. keton fo atippecraion __________________________________________________________________________
4. og eth exart lime ______________________________________________________________________________
5. seu a ndah ____________________________________________________________________________________

%
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 The Case of the Missing Ring
Episode 2 : Questioning Lila Hummingbird

Comprehension Questions Tag Questions

Discuss these questions with a partner, or write Turn the following statements into tag
your responses in your notebook. questions.
Example: Money can’t buy you love, can it?
1. How does Lila know the detective likes to see
1. Lila doesn't care about money as much as Ralph
things for himself?
thinks.
2. Which of the following best describes Lila’s
__________________________________________
definition of her marriage? Too good to be true/
2. Lila should share her
A nightmare/ Satisfactory
feelings with Ralph.
3. How does Lila describe her relationship with
money?
4. Describe Lila’s opinion of Paul.
5. What does Lila say she could use a hand with? __________________________________________
6. True or False? Lila wishes Ralph would talk
3. Emma's mother wouldn't steal
man-to-man to Emma’s fiancé. the ring.
7. What fear does Lila have about her son? __________________________________________

4. Oliver won't be a freeloader

forever.
Making Predictions __________________________________________
Discuss these questions with the class or a
partner (or write your responses in a journal
entry for homework).

1. Do you think Lila stole the ring? Why or why not?

№ 3
d ! pisode
ay Tune
2. Do you think Lila is a greedy woman? Explain your E
reason. St ver
3. What do you think Lila looks like? Describe her us p e ct is Oli o to this
The nex
t s
e v ie w the intr
ingbird
.R to the
appearance. Humm r e la tionship
find out
h is e for
4. How do you envision Cynthia's bedroom at e r ie s to ig h t O liver hav
s on m
o w . W hat reas
Hummingbird Manor? Describe how it might look. w id ?
the ring
5. What questions do you think the detective will ask stealing

Lila's son?

%
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 The Case of the Missing Ring
Episode 2 : Questioning Lila Hummingbird

Answer Key
Fact File
Location of questioning: Cynthia's bedroom
Alibi: Shopping for a birthday present

Dialogue: Fill in the Blanks

Detective: Thanks for offering to show me the crime scene, Lila. Can you tell me where you were the night the ring disappeared? 
Lila: I was out buying a birthday gift for my husband. It's under Cynthia's bed if you don't believe me. I know from your show you like
to see things for yourself.
Detective: That won't be necessary. Tell me about your marriage.
Lila: I can't complain. We're still together, aren't we? 
Detective: Let me put this a different way. Does Ralph treat you well?
Lila: He doesn't exactly go the extra mile. I wouldn't mind a token of appreciation from time to time.
Detective: Do you wish he was more like…Paul?
Lila: Are you kidding? All Paul does is gawk at Emma. I wish Ralph was more like my father. A day never went by when he didn't treat
my mother to something special.
Detective: Do you mean like…jewelry?
Lila: Money can't buy you love, Detective. It's the thought that counts. My father put a lot of thought into his gifts. They didn't always
come in a pretty box.
Detective: What's the best gift your father ever gave your mother?
Lila: A day off from the kids! I could still use a hand with the twins even though they're fully grown.
Detective: You mean you wish Ralph would pay more attention to the twins?
Lila: Emma could use a different shoulder to cry on once in a while. She's not always a happy camper.
Detective: What about Oliver? He needs someone to talk to man-to-man, doesn't he?
Lila: You took the words out of my mouth, Detective. I'm worried Oliver is going to be a freeloader forever.
Detective: It sounds to me like you want your son out of your hair.

Vocabulary Review
A) 1. c" 2. a" 3. b " 4. f" 5. d" 6. h" 7. g" 8. e" 9. j" 10. i
B) 1. b " 2. a" 3. c" 4. a" 5. b " 6. b "
C) 1. freeloader" 2. happy camper" 3. token of appreciation 4. go the extra mile" 5. use a hand

Comprehension Questions
1. Lila knows the detective likes to see things for himself because she watched him solve mysteries on TV.
2. Satisfactory.
3. Lila says money can't buy love. It seems her husband has misread her needs.
4. Lila thinks Paul stares at Emma too much and doesn't give her daughter enough space.
5. Lila says she could use a hand with the kids. She wants Ralph to spend more time talking man-to-man with Oliver.
6. False.
7. Lila fears her son will always rely on others for money.

Tag Questions
1. Lila doesn't care about money as much as Ralph thinks, does she?
2. Lila should share her feelings with Ralph, shouldn't she?
3. Emma's mother wouldn't steal the ring, would she?
4. Oliver won't be a freeloader forever, will he?

Spelling Note: This lesson shows the American spelling of the word Jewelry. Most other English-speaking countries spell it this way:
Jewellery.
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