UNAL Extensión

2A
TOPIC: MYSTERY
Activity development:
Introduce the topic:
Discuss the following questions about mysteries:
1. If you could have just one special power, what power would you choose? Why?
2. In many countries people believe in ghosts, spirits, and dragons. Why do you think
these beliefs are so common? What are some beliefs in Colombia?
3. Have you ever felt that you already knew someone the first time you met them?
Have you ever visited a city for the first time and felt you were there before? Have you
ever experienced Déjà Vu?
The mystery story – Reading/Listening activity:
A. You are going to read the first part of a story about a mystery.

Last night I was walking home next to the river Thames, when something strange happened
to me. It was late at night and I’d had a long and difficult day at work. There was a large full
moon in the sky and everything was quiet. I was tired and lonely and I’d just had a few pints
of beer in my local pub, so I decided to stop by the riverside and look at the moon for a while.
I sat on some steps very close to the water’s edge and looked up at the big yellow moon and
wondered if it really was made of cheese. I felt very tired so I closed my eyes and after a few
minutes, I fell asleep.

When I woke up, the moon had moved behind a cloud and it was very dark and cold. The wind
was blowing and an owl hooted in a tree above me. I rubbed my eyes and started to get up,
when suddenly I heard a splash. I looked down at the water and saw something…

Then answer the following comprehension questions:

● What was the man doing before he went to the river?
● What do you think the man saw?
● What tenses does he use to tell the story?
B. Below you will find the continuation of the story. Students must fill in the blanks with
the narrative tenses they reviewed in the previous exercise.

Something terrible and frightening, and unlike anything I’d ever seen before. Something ______
(come out) of the water and moving towards me. Something green and strange and ugly. It ____
(be) a long green arm and it __________ (stretch out) from the water to grab my leg. I was so
scared that I _______ (move). I’d never been so scared in my whole life. The cold green hand
_________ (move) closer and closer when suddenly there was a blue flash and a strange noise
from behind me. Someone _______ (jump) onto the stairs next to me. He _______ (wear)
strange clothes and he _______(have) a crazy look in his eyes. He shouted “Get Back!” and
________ (point) something at the monster in the water. There was a bright flash and the
monster hissed and disappeared.

I looked up at the man. He ____ (look) strange, but kind. “Don’t fall
asleep by the river when there’s a full moon”, he said “The Moon
Goblins will get you.” I’d never heard of moon goblins before. I didn’t
know what to do. “Who… who are you?” I asked him. “You can call
me… The Doctor.” He said. I ______ (try) to think of something else to
say when he turned around and said, “Watch the stars at night, and be
careful of the full moon”. I was trying _____ (understand) what he
______ (mean), when there was another blue flash and I closed my
eyes. When I opened them again, he had gone.

I couldn’t believe what had happened. What on earth _____ (be) Moon
Goblins, and who was the mysterious Doctor? And why had he saved me? I was determined to find
the answers to these strange questions. I _______ (stand up), looked at the moon and quickly
__________ (walk) home.

C. Listen to the following video and check your answers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hza_paZrYw0
Mystery riddles and puzzles:
Read some Murder Mystery Puzzles and Riddles and guess what happened or who did it.
Use the information in the texts to answer the corresponding questions.
#1 - CID Kidnap Mystery Problem
An old man lives alone in a flat. Because of his age, he is not able to move comfortably
and so most of the things have to be delivered to his house.
On Friday while delivering the mail, the postman feels something suspicious in the flat
and tries to look inside through the keyhole and he sees some things thrown on the
floor and some blood on the rug.
A detective arrived on the scene. Outside the flat, he found two bottles of warm milk,
Tuesday’s newspaper, some unopened mails, and some gifts.
The detective immediately knows who the kidnapper is.
Who was the kidnapper?

#2 - Detective Hercule Murder Mystery Puzzle

Detective Hercule Poirot reviewed the information they had on the case so far.
A lady named 'Monica' was found shot and Hercule already had a list of suspects:
Rooney, Torres, David, Messi and Ronaldo.
The killer is a fan of Poirot and challenged him by leaving notes at various places.
- The first was found in a dressing room.
- The second was found in the attic.
- The third was in the vestibule.
- The fourth in an ice-cream room.
- The fifth in the dining room
All of the notes read the same thing, 'The clues are where you find the notes.' But
nothing was found anywhere.
Hercule Poirot thought for a moment and then arrested the killer. Who was the killer?
#3 - Suicide or Murder - Crime Scene Home Picture Puzzle
Based on the clues in the picture, can you identify if it's a murder or a suicide? Explain
your theory in English (by describing what you see)

#4 - Short Story Mystery Puzzle

A Japanese ship was making its way through the Pacific. The captain felt like taking a
bath and went to the bathroom after removing his Rolex watch and gold bracelet.
When he returned from the bathroom, he found that his valuables were missing.
He suspected 5 of his crew members. He called them in and asked all of them what
they had been doing for the last 15 minutes. They replied as follows:
The cook: I was in the fridge room getting meat for cooking.
The Engineer: I was working on the generator engine.
A seaman: I was on the mast correcting the flag which was upside down by mistake.
The Radio officer: I was messaging the company that we will reach the port in the next
two days, that is Friday morning at 11.
The navigation officer: I was taking a nap before my night watch began.

Upon hearing all of them, the captain found out who the thief was. How did he know
that? Who is the thief?
Production: Mystery Stories
Choose one of the prompts (1-10) below and use it to write a mystery story using PAST
SIMPLE and PAST CONTINUOUS. It can be as scary or as strange as you want.

3. As soon as I arrived, I could sense

1. Everyone avoided the big old that something was out of place...
mansion. It was believed to
have...

4. It was a strange night, there

seemed to be a chill in the air…

2. The police had been unable to

find the three friends...
5. One night, I looked out the window
and I saw the neighbour...

8. I was reading a book when I

looked up. There in the window I
saw…

6. Something was drastically wrong!

Every time I picked up the
telephone...

9. Sometimes I had a feeling that my

friend had strange powers. Every time
he was around...

7. I decided to go for an evening

stroll. I walked about three blocks
when I felt it...