Unit 56 AN INVESTIGATION

Listening

Last night at 9.18 the Director of a school was walking from his office to his car when he was attacked from behind. The attacker hit the Director on the head. The police think attacker was a student… may be a girl student! The police  are going to interview every student in the school.
A policeman interviewed the Director at the hospital last night:

Policeman Now, Mr Snow… what can you remember about the attack?
Mr Snow Well, I was working late yesterday evening…
Policeman What time did you leave your office?
Mr Snow About quarter past nine.
Policeman Are you sure?
Mr Snow Oh, yes… I looked at my watch.
Policeman What did you do then?
Mr Snow Well, I locked the door… and I was walking  to my car, when somebody hit me on the head.
Policeman Did you see the attacker?
Mr Snow No, he was wearing a stocking over his head.
Policeman Tell me, Mr Snow… how did you break your leg?
Mr Snow Well, when they were putting me into the ambulance, they dropped me!

Grammar

THE PAST CONTINUOUS in contrast with THE SIMPLE PAST

Reading
It was a lovely day, and the sun was shining. I was walking along the field when I saw a plane. It was flying very low. It was making a strange noise. I knew there was a problem. I came down in the next field, and I heard a crash. I ran to the village and phoned for help.

Past cont.
to say that we were in the middle of an action
I was walking along the field (I was in the field).

to set the scene at the beginning of the story
The sun was shining…

Past Simple
a complete action in the past

I walked across the field (I across it completely)
I ran to the village.

thinking, feeling
I knew there was a problem.

two past simple verbs for one action after another
When I heard the crash, I ran to the village (I heard it and then I ran)

I was walking along the field when I saw a plane.

Questions

When did it happen?
What time did it happen?
Where was the director doing?
Where was he coming from?
Did the attacker hit him?
What do the police think?
Who’s coming to the school later today?
What are they going to do?

Question

Where’s Mr. Snow now?
What’s he doing?
What’s the policeman doing?
What was Mr. Snow doing at nine o’clock yesterday?
What time did he leave his office?
Is he sure?
Ask “Why?”
What did he lock?
When did the attacker hit him?
Did he see the attacker?
Ask “Why not?”
Did Mr. Snow break his arm?
Ask “What?”
Ask “When?”