Bedside Lamp English Learning Reader -- The Hound of the Baskervilles

Author: Li Zhengshuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Views on Reading from Famous English Scholars. It's not enough to just learn a few dry English sentences; don't always put the purpose of reading on improving English. Reading is first and foremost about absorbing knowledge, and in the process of absorbing knowledge, the language is naturally absorbed as well. — Xu Guozhang
Using English thinking is an aspiration many English learners hope to achieve, as it is the foundation for expressing thoughts fluently in English. For a Chinese student living in a non-English environment, it is indeed challenging to think partly or entirely in English, but it is not an unattainable goal. From my own experience learning English, I have found that persistent extensive reading is one of the most effective ways to achieve this goal. — He Qixin (Vice President of Beijing Foreign Studies University, Doctoral Supervisor)
For intermediate and advanced English learners, I especially recommend easy English readers. The material should be simple and engaging, and the reading speed should be as fast as possible. The more you read, the better. This is a proven method for learning English.
On a beautiful morning in September, the famous detective Sherlock Holmes received a visit request from a doctor named James Mortimer. At 10:30 a.m., Dr. Mortimer arrived as scheduled, accompanied by a bundle of mysterious manuscripts from the late Charles Baskerville, the Earl of Baskerville. The letter told the story of how Hugo Baskerville, an ancestor of the Baskerville family, had committed misdeeds a hundred years ago and ultimately met his demise at the jaws of the legendary, ferocious Baskerville hound. Since then, the Baskerville family has been shrouded in the shadow of the crimes committed by their ancestor, with successive heirs to the family throne dying in mysterious and terrifying ways.
At first, Holmes was not particularly interested in Dr. Mortimer's story, dismissing it as just an interesting legend. However, as Dr. Mortimer gradually explained the doubts surrounding the cause of death of Sir Charles Baskerville, Holmes decided to get involved in the case. He realized that it was not only about uncovering the true cause of death of the late Earl Charles but also about the safety of Henry Baskerville, the next heir to Baskerville Hall.
Under Holmes's clever arrangement, his loyal partner, Dr. Watson, accompanied Sir Henry back to Baskerville Hall. During their time at Baskerville Hall, Watson encountered a series of strange events—such as the heartbreaking cries of a woman at midnight, the suspicious movements of the butler, Mr. Barrymore, at night, and the fragments of a letter that Sir Charles had not completely burned before his death. These mysteries left him bewildered. Just as he was about to delve deeper into the heart of the matter, he unexpectedly encountered Holmes, who had fallen from the sky.
It turned out that Holmes had deliberately avoided attention to uncover the secret of the legendary, terrifying hound and the tragedy at Baskerville Hall. He had been hiding alone in the remote marshes, enduring storms, solitude, and cold. Meanwhile, the cunning criminal could no longer restrain himself and began to surface, eagerly mistaking the escaped convict Selden, dressed in Sir Henry's clothes, for him and killing him. This further confirmed Holmes's suspicions.
Determined, Holmes used Henry to lure out the real culprit—Stapleton. It turned out that Stapleton, who had just moved to Devon two years ago, was actually Roger Baskerville, the son of the late Earl Charles's younger brother. Many years ago, people had mistakenly believed that the fugitive Roger had died in South America, but in reality, he had not died and had even had a son named Roger, who was Stapleton.
Stapleton knew that if both Charles and Henry were dead, he would inherit the vast wealth of the Baskerville family. Therefore, he used the legend of the Baskerville hound to kill his own relatives without hesitation. He first used the vicious dog to scare to death the elderly and frail Sir Charles, and then tried to have the dog attack Sir Henry. However, Holmes ultimately exposed his scheme, and with the help of Watson and the police, they killed the terrifying hound. Stapleton, in his desperate escape late at night, also perished in the marshes.