E - Abitur - Übung Nr. 1 - GreenButterSolutions

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E - Abitur - Übung Nr. 1

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1. If - clauses. Click on the correct answer. Then scroll down for the next question. Only after having answered each of the 10 tasks press solution.

2. Tenses in context. The following text is from Agatha Christie's novel "The Mysterious Affair at Styles".
Fill in the correct tenses of the verbs in brackets. In some sentences the passive voice is required.
Then go to http://www.publicbookshelf.com:8080/fiction/affair-styles/arrived-events to see whether you've made any mistakes.

I (arrive) at Styles on the 5th of July. I (come) now to the events of the

16th and 17th of that month. For the convenience of the reader I (recapitulate) the

incidents of those days in as exact a manner as possible. They (elicit) subsequently at

the trial by a process of long and tedious cross-examinations.

I (receive) a letter from Evelyn Howard a couple of days after her departure, telling

me she (work) as a nurse at the big hospital in Middlingham, a manufacturing town

some fifteen miles away, and begging me to let her know if Mrs. Inglethorp (show)

any wish to be reconciled.

The only fly in the ointment of my peaceful days (be) Mrs. Cavendish's extraordinary,

and, for my part, unaccountable preference for the society of Dr. Bauerstein. What she

(see) in the man I (can / not / imagine), but she (always /

ask) him up to the house, and often (go) off for long expeditions with him. I

(must / confess) that I (be) quite unable to see his attraction.

The 16th of July (fall) on a Monday. It (be) a day of turmoil. The

famous bazaar (take) place on Saturday, and an entertainment, in connection with

the same charity, at which Mrs. Inglethorp (be) to recite a War poem,

(be) to (hold) that night. We (be) all busy during the morning arranging

and decorating the Hall in the village where it (be) to (take) place. We

(have) a late luncheon and (spend) the afternoon resting in the garden.

I (notice) that John's manner (be) somewhat unusual. He

(seem) very excited and restless.

After tea, Mrs. Inglethorp (go) to (lie) down to (rest)

before her efforts in the evening and I (challenge) Mary Cavendish to a single at

tennis.

About a quarter to seven, Mrs. Inglethorp (call) to us that we (be) late

as supper (be) early that night. We (have) rather a scramble to

(get) ready in time; and before the meal (be) over the motor

(wait) at the door.

The entertainment (be) a great success, Mrs. Inglethorp's recitation receiving

tremendous applause. There (be) also some tableaux in which Cynthia

(take) part. She (not / return) with us, having been asked to a supper party, and to

remain the night with some friends who (act) with her in the tableaux.

The following morning, Mrs. Inglethorp (stay) in bed to breakfast, as she

(be) rather over-tired; but she (appear) in her briskest mood about

12.30, and (sweep) Lawrence and myself off to a luncheon party.

"Such a charming invitation from Mrs. Rolleston. Lady Tadminster's sister, you know. The

Rollestons came over with the Conqueror-one of our oldest families."

Mary (excuse) herself on the plea of an engagement with Dr. Bauerstein.

We (have) a pleasant luncheon, and as we (drive) away Lawrence

(suggest) that we (return) by Tadminster, which (be)

barely a mile out of our way, and (pay) a visit to Cynthia in her dispensary. Mrs.

Inglethorp (reply) that this (be) an excellent idea, but as she

(have) several letters to write she (drop) us there, and we

(come) back with Cynthia in the pony-trap.

We (detain) under suspicion by the hospital porter, until Cynthia

(appear) to vouch for us, looking very cool and sweet in her long white overall. She

(take) us up to her sanctum, and (introduce) us to her fellow dispenser, a rather

awe-inspiring individual, whom Cynthia cheerily (address) as "Nibs."

"What a lot of bottles!" I (exclaim), as my eye (travel) round the small

room. " (you / really / know) what' (be) in them all?"

"Say something original," (groan) Cynthia. "Every single person who

(come) up here (say) that. We (really / think) of bestowing a prize on

the first individual who (not / say): 'What a lot of bottles!' And I

(know) the next thing you (say) (be): 'How many people

(you / poison)?'"

I (plead) guilty with a laugh.

"If you people only (know) how fatally easy it (be) to

(poison) some one by mistake, you (not / joke) about it. Come on, let's have tea. We

(get) all sorts of secret stores in that cupboard. No, Lawrence-that (be)

the poison cupboard. The big cupboard-that (be) right."

We (have) a very cheery tea, and (assist) Cynthia to wash up

afterwards. We (just / put away) the last tea-spoon when a knock

(come) at the door. The countenances of Cynthia and Nibs (suddenly / petrify) into a

stern and forbidding expression.

"Come in," (say) Cynthia, in a sharp professional tone.

A young and rather scared looking nurse (appear) with a bottle which she

(proffer) to Nibs, who (wave) her towards Cynthia with the somewhat

enigmatical remark:

"I' (be) not really here to-day."

Cynthia (take) the bottle and (examine) it with the severity of a judge.

"This (send) up this morning."

"Sister (be) very sorry. She (forget)."

"Sister (read) the rules outside the door."

I (gather) from the little nurse's expression that there (be) not the

least likelihood of her having the hardihood to (retail) this message to the dreaded

"Sister".

"So now it (can / not / do) until to-morrow," (finish) Cynthia.

" (you / think / not) you (can / possibly / let) us (have) it

to-night?"

"Well," (say) Cynthia graciously, "we (be) very busy, but if we

(have) time it (do)."

The little nurse (withdraw), and Cynthia (promptly / take) a jar from

the shelf, (refill) the bottle, and (place) it on the table outside the door.

I (laugh).

"Discipline (must / maintain)?"

"Exactly. Come out on our little balcony. You (can / see) all the outside wards

there."

I (follow) Cynthia and her friend and they (point) out the different

wards to me. Lawrence (remain) behind, but after a few moments Cynthia

(call) to him over her shoulder to (come) and (join) us.

Then she (look) at her watch.

"Nothing more to (do), Nibs?"

"No."

"All right. Then we (can / lock up) and (go)."

I (see) Lawrence in quite a different light that afternoon. Compared to John, he

(be) an astoundingly difficult person to (get) to know. He

(be) the opposite of his brother in almost every respect, being unusually shy and reserved. Yet he

(have) a certain charm of manner, and I (fancy) that, if one really

(know) him well, one (can / have) a deep affection for him. I

(fancy) always that his manner to Cynthia (rather / constrain), and that

she on her side (incline) to (be) shy of him. But they (be)

both gay enough this afternoon, and (chat) together like a couple of children.

As we (drive) through the village, I (remember) that I (want) some

stamps, so accordingly we (pull up) at the post office.

As I (come out) again, I (cannon) into a little man who (just

/ enter). I (draw) aside and (apologise), when suddenly, with a loud

exclamation, he (clasp) me in his arms and (kiss) me warmly.

"Mon ami Hastings!" he (cry). "It (be) indeed mon ami Hastings!"

"Poirot!" I (exclaim).

I (turn) to the pony-trap.

"This (be) a very pleasant meeting for me, Miss Cynthia. This (be) my

old friend, Monsieur Poirot, whom I (not / see) for years."

"Oh, we (know) Monsieur Poirot," (say) Cynthia gaily. "But I

(have) no idea he (be) a friend of yours."

"Yes, indeed," (say) Poirot seriously, "I (know) Mademoiselle Cynthia. It

(be) by the charity of that good Mrs. Inglethorp that I (be) here." Then,

as I (look) at him inquiringly: "Yes, my friend, she (kindly extend)

hospitality to seven of my countrypeople who, alas, (be) refugees from their native

land. We Belgians (always / remember) her with gratitude."

Poirot (be) an extraordinary looking little man. He (be) hardly more than

five feet, four inches, but (carry) himself with great dignity. His head

(be) exactly the shape of an egg, and he (always / perch) it a little on one side. His

moustache (be) very stiff and military. The neatness of his attire (be)

almost incredible, I (believe) a speck of dust (cause) him more pain than

a bullet wound. Yet this quaint dandyfied little man who, I (be) sorry to

(see), now (limp) badly, (be) in his time one of the most celebrated

members of the Belgian police. As a detective, his flair (be) extraordinary, and he

(achieve) triumphs by unravelling some of the most baffling cases of the day.

He (point) out to me the little house inhabited by him and his fellow Belgians, and I

(promise) to (go) and (see) him at an early date. Then he

(raise) his hat with a flourish to Cynthia, and we (drive) away.

"He' (be) a dear little man," (say) Cynthia. "I' (have) no idea

you (know) him."

"You' (entertain) a celebrity unawares," I (reply).

And, for the rest of the way home, I (recite) to them the various exploits and

triumphs of Hercule Poirot.

We (arrive) back in a very cheerful mood. As we (enter) the hall, Mrs.

Inglethorp (come) out of her boudoir. She (look) flushed and upset.

"Oh, it' (be) you," she (say).

" (be) there anything the matter, Aunt Emily?" (ask) Cynthia.

"Certainly not," (say) Mrs. Inglethorp sharply. "What (there / be)?"

Then catching sight of Dorcas, the parlourmaid, going into the dining-room, she (call)

to her to bring some stamps into the boudoir.

"Yes, m'm." The old servant (hesitate), then added diffidently: " (you /

think / not) m'm, you' (better / get) to bed? You' (look) very tired."

"Perhaps you' (be) right, Dorcas-yes-no-not now. I' (have) some

letters I (must / finish) by post-time. (you / light) the fire in my room as I

(tell) you?"

"Yes, m'm."

"Then I' (go) to bed directly after supper."

She (go) into the boudoir again, and Cynthia (stare) after her.

"Goodness gracious! I (wonder) what' (be) up?" she (say)

to Lawrence.

He (not / seem) to (hear) her, for without a word he

(turn) on his heel and (go) out of the house.

I (suggest) a quick game of tennis before supper and, Cynthia agreeing, I

(run) upstairs to (fetch) my racquet.

Mrs. Cavendish (come down) the stairs. It (may / be) my fancy, but

she, too, (look) odd and disturbed.

" (have) a good walk with Dr. Bauerstein?" I (ask), trying to appear as

indifferent as I could.

"I (not / go)," she (reply) abruptly. "Where (be) Mrs.

Inglethorp?"

"In the boudoir."

Her hand (clench) itself on the banisters, then she (seem) to nerve

herself for some encounter, and (go) rapidly past me down the stairs across the hall

to the boudoir, the door of which she (shut) behind her.

As I (run) out to the tennis court a few moments later, I (have) to

(pass) the open boudoir window, and (be) unable to (help)

overhearing the following scrap of dialogue. Mary Cavendish (say) in the voice of a

woman desperately controlling herself:

"Then you (show) it to me?"

To which Mrs. Inglethorp (reply):

"My dear Mary, it (have) nothing to (do) with that matter."

"Then (show) it to me."

"I (tell) you it (be) not what you (imagine). It

(not / concern) you in the least."

To which Mary Cavendish (reply), with a rising bitterness:

"Of course, I (might / know) you (shield) him."

Cynthia (wait) for me, and (greet) me eagerly with:

"I (say)! There' (be) the most awful row! I' (get) it all out

of Dorcas."

"What kind of a row?"

"Between Aunt Emily and him. I (do / hope) she' (find) him out at last!"

" (be / Dorcas) there, then?"

"Of course not. She ' (happen) to (be) near the door'. It

(be) a real old bust-up. I (do / wish) I (know) what it (be)

all about."

I (think) of Mrs. Raikes's gipsy face, and Evelyn Howard's warnings, but wisely

(decide) to (hold) my peace, whilst Cynthia (exhaust) every

possible hypothesis, and cheerfully (hope), "Aunt Emily (send) him away,

and (never / speak) to him again."

I (be) anxious to (get) hold of John, but he (be) nowhere

to (see). Evidently something very momentous (occur) that afternoon. I

(try) to (forget) the few words I (overhear); but, do what

I would, I (can / not / dismiss) them altogether from my mind. What

(be) Mary Cavendish's concern in the matter?

Mr. Inglethorp (be) in the drawing-room when I (come) down to

supper. His face (be) impassive as ever, and the strange unreality of the man struck

me afresh.

Mrs. Inglethorp (come) down last. She (still / look) agitated, and during

the meal there (be) a somewhat constrained silence. Inglethorp (be)

unusually quiet. As a rule, he (surround) his wife with little attentions, placing a

cushion at her back, and altogether playing the part of the devoted husband. Immediately after

supper, Mrs. Inglethorp (retire) to her boudoir again.

" (send) my coffee in here, Mary," she (call). "I' (have) just

five minutes to (catch) the post."

Cynthia and I (go) and (sit) by the open window in the drawing-room.

Mary Cavendish (bring) our coffee to us. She (seem) excited.

" (you young people / want) lights, or (you / enjoy) the twilight?" she

(ask). " (you / take) Mrs. Inglethorp her coffee, Cynthia? I

(pour) it out."

" (not / trouble), Mary," (say) Inglethorp. "I (take) it to

Emily." He (pour) it out, and (go) out of the room carrying it carefully.

Lawrence (follow) him, and Mrs. Cavendish (sit) down by us.

We three (sit) for some time in silence. It (be) a glorious night, hot and

still. Mrs. Cavendish (fan) herself gently with a palm leaf.

"It' (be) almost too hot," she (murmur). "We (have) a

thunderstorm."

Alas, that these harmonious moments (can / never / endure)! My paradise

(rudely / shatter) by the sound of a well known, and heartily disliked, voice in the hall.

"Dr. Bauerstein!" (exclaim) Cynthia. "What a funny time to (come)."

I (glance) jealously at Mary Cavendish, but she (seem) quite

undisturbed, the delicate pallor of her cheeks (not / vary).

In a few moments, Alfred Inglethorp (usher) the doctor in, the latter laughing, and

protesting that he (be) in no fit state for a drawing-room. In truth, he

(present) a sorry spectacle, being literally plastered with mud.

"What (you / do), doctor?" (cry) Mrs. Cavendish.

"I (must / make) my apologies," say) the doctor. "I (not /

really / mean) to (come) in, but Mr. Inglethorp (insist)."

"Well, Bauerstein, you (be) in a plight," (say) John, strolling in from the

hall. " (have) some coffee, and (tell) us what you (be) up

to."

"Thank you, I (will)." He (laugh) rather ruefully, as he

(describe) how he (discover) a very rare species of fern in an inaccessible place, and in

his efforts to (obtain) it (lose) his footing, and (slip)

ignominiously into a neighbouring pond.

"The sun soon (dry) me off," he (add), "but I' (be) afraid

my appearance (be) very disreputable."

At this juncture, Mrs. Inglethorp (call) to Cynthia from the hall, and the girl

(run) out.

"Just (carry) up my despatch-case, (wil)l you, dear? I' (go)

to bed."

The door into the hall (be) a wide one. I (rise) when Cynthia

(do), John (be) close by me. There (be) therefore three

witnesses who (can / swear) that Mrs. Inglethorp (carry) her coffee, as

yet untasted, in her hand.

My evening (be / utterly and entirely / spoil) by the presence of Dr. Bauerstein. It

(seem) to me the man (will / never / go). He (rise) at last,

however, and I (breathe) a sigh of relief.

"I' (walk) down to the village with you," (say) Mr. Inglethorp. "I

(must /see) our agent over those estate accounts." He (turn) to John.

"No one (need / sit) up. I (take) the latch-key."

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