Vocabulary, Plot, and Activities in a Museum Theft Story
Vocabulary Related to Crime and Museums
- Alarm: An electric bell that rings when someone enters a room or touches something.
- Alibi: Something that proves you were somewhere else at the time of a crime.
- Cave: A large natural hole under the ground or in the side of a hill.
- Cell: A small room where a prisoner is kept.
- Curator: A person who is in charge of a museum.
- Display: An arrangement of things for people to look at.
- Dummy: A model of a person that is used instead of a real person.
- Gamble: To play games in which you win or lose money.
- Go off: To suddenly make a loud noise (bombs and alarms).
- Grab: To take hold of something in a sudden violent way.
- Hardly: Almost not.
- Hood: A part of a coat or jacket that covers your head; someone whose head is covered in this way is hooded.
- Insure: To pay money to an insurance company so that you will receive money if something bad happens.
- Motor bike: A two-wheeled vehicle with an engine.
- Museum: A building where you can see interesting old things, usually connected with art, science, or history.
- Necklace: A piece of jewelry that is worn around the neck.
- Nod: To move your head up and down as a way of saying ‘yes’.
- Obvious: Clear and easy to notice or understand.
- Pirate: Someone who attacks ships to steal things from them.
- Saw: A tool used for cutting wood by moving it backwards and forwards.
- Screen: The part of a TV or computer that shows pictures.
- Security: Keeping things or people safe from crime.
- Suspect: To think that someone may be guilty of a crime; a person who you think may be guilty is a suspect.
- Theft: The crime of a thief.
- Torch: A small electric lamp that you carry in your hand.
- Treasure: A collection of things like gold and jewels; a big box of treasure is a treasure chest.
- Valuable: Having a high value in money.
- Wax: A hard form of oil used for making models of people.
- Wipe: To use a cloth to clean dirt from something.
- Wreck: To damage a ship so badly that it sinks.
Plot Summary
Paul, the protagonist and narrator, is a student working at Repsom Museum during the summer holidays. His colleague is Anna Wain. On the same day Paul starts, the museum receives a valuable diamond necklace on loan from Mrs. Gilbertson, insured for one hundred thousand pounds. A few days later, the necklace is stolen, and Paul becomes the main suspect due to his past involvement in a theft. Determined to prove his innocence, Paul finds the necklace among fake jewels in a pirate display, but realizes no one will believe him, so he devises a plan to catch the thief. At night, disguised as a wax dummy, he waits and sees Derek Halliday take the necklace. Suddenly, Mrs. Gilbertson, armed with a gun, shoots Derek. Paul calls the police, who arrest both of them. It is later revealed that Mrs. Gilbertson, now poor, planned the theft to collect the insurance money and that Derek was her unwilling accomplice.
Character Analysis: Paul
Paul is the main protagonist (character) of the book, and he is also the narrator of the story. He was a student and wanted to earn some money during the summer holidays, so he started working at Repsom Museum. Paul is a skilled and dedicated detective. He uses his intelligence and keen observation to solve difficult cases. Despite many challenges, Paul remains committed to finding the truth and ensuring justice. His determination and bravery make him successful in his investigations.
Comprehension Activities
- What is the Gilbertson necklace locked in? Display case.
- What are the two wax pirates carrying? Treasure chest.
- Who watches the TV screens? The security guard.
- Who owns jewelry shops in different towns? Mr. Hardley.
- What is covering the TV camera on the ceiling? A newspaper.
- Who takes the ticket money when Cora isn’t there? Roger Fox.
- How many visitors are in the museum? 19.
- Who does the Chief Inspector question first? Roger Fox.
- What time did Cora Turner notice the dark TV screen? 11.
- Who was with Linda when the office clock said 11? Cora Turner.
- Who went to the coffee machine and came back just before the alarm went off? Anna.
- Who is too tired to move any of the wax dummies? Miss Wain.
- The wall behind one of the displays needs more paint. Which display is it? The pirate display.
- Where does Paul find the diamond necklace? Treasure chest.
- What display is Anna working on? Railway station.
- How much money does Ian need to pay for the damage to his bike? 2000 pounds.
- Who does Paul sit with at the cafe? Derek Halliday.
- How long has Derek Halliday worked in the museum? A year.
- What did the two older boys buy? 3 packets of cigarettes.