Learn English through Stories Level 3: The Willing Ghost | Detective | English Listening Practice

The story I will share with you today is “The Willing Ghost” by Robert Wellington.

This mystery story is about a private detective named Richard Boot who is hired by a rich woman named Selena Willing to investigate strange noises in her old mansion. Richard stays at the house and eventually discovers a secret room used by jewel smugglers that includes Selena’s own brothers. Richard helps the police capture the criminals and at the end asks Selena out to dinner.

Questions and Answers:

1. What is the detective’s name?
Richard Boot

2. Who hires Richard to investigate strange noises?
Selena Willing

3. How does Selena inherit her father’s mansion and fortune?
She was his favorite child while her brothers were irresponsible.

4. What exotic but dangerous pets does Selena keep on the grounds?
Old tigers in cages.

5. Where does Richard find the source of the noises in the house?
A secret room behind the fireplace.

6. What illegal activity is taking place in the secret room?
Smuggling and extracting gems from cushions.

7. Who is involved in the smuggling operation?
Selena’s brothers and some Asian criminals.

8. How do the criminals get the gem-filled cushions into the house?
Through a security guard and quietly at night.

9. How does Richard catch the criminals?
By coordinating a police raid of the secret room.

10. Where do most of the smuggled gems originate from?
Mines in Burma.

11. What precious stones are mainly being smuggled?
Rubies and sapphires.

12. How do Richard and Selena feel about her brothers’ involvement?
Sad but the brothers were manipulated.

13. Does Richard develop a personal interest in Selena?
Yes, he asks her on a dinner date.

14. What is Richard’s motivation for taking the case?
Money and an attractive client.

15. How does Richard figure out the secret room’s location?
Recalling historical hiding places.

Timestamps:
0:00:00 Introduction
0:00:16 Chapter one
0:05:33 Chapter two
0:09:56 Chapter three
0:16:32 Chapter four
0:21:09 Chapter five
0:28:27 Chapter six
0:35:14 Chapter seven
0:40:46 Chapter eight
0:44:14 Chapter nine
0:50:20 Chapter ten
0:53:13 Difficult words
0:59:28 Questions

source