Read the title and the first paragraph of the story below. Before reading the rest, predict what you think must have happened or what the security guard should have done. Write your ideas in the box.
Reading passage: The night of the missing gem
The Metropolitan Museum was in lockdown. Yesterday, the legendary Star of Alderon diamond, the centerpiece of the new Egyptian exhibit, vanished without a trace. Chief Inspector Davies stood by the empty display case, shaking his head. "It's a perfect crime," he muttered. "The alarms didn't go off, the cameras recorded nothing, and the vault door wasn't forced."
Security footage from the night before showed the main guard, Mr. Henderson, taking his late-night break exactly at 2:00 AM. Davies noted, "He should have stayed at his post for another 15 minutes, as protocol dictates. If he had been there, he could have prevented the theft." Henderson insisted he only took a five-minute break, but the time-stamp was clear. "The thief must have known the exact moment he would be absent," Davies concluded. "This might have been an inside job, or perhaps the thief must have studied the security rota meticulously." Experts later confirmed that the thief couldn't have broken the laser grid without specialized equipment, yet the grid was untouched. "They must have deactivated it remotely. It's the only way," said a forensics officer. The police believe they should have reviewed the new security system more thoroughly before installing the diamond. It's clear that better planning should have been in place.
Activity 1: Reading comprehension
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D). You have 3 attempts.
1. What evidence suggests the theft was a "perfect crime"?
2. According to protocol, what should Mr. Henderson have done?
3. What did the Chief Inspector conclude about the thief's knowledge?
4. Why did the forensics officer believe the laser grid was deactivated remotely?
5. What criticism was made about the museum's management?
Attempts left: 3
Activity 2: Past modals match
Drag the correct Past Modal phrase from the box to complete the sentences below. The completed sentence must express the idea described in the brackets [ ]. You have 3 attempts.
MUST HAVE BEEN
SHOULD HAVE STAYED
COULDN'T HAVE BROKEN
MIGHT HAVE BEEN
COULD HAVE PREVENTED
SHOULD HAVE WAITED
MUST HAVE SEEN
1. Mr. Henderson at his post.
[Criticism of a past action/Protocol failure]
2. The thief very quiet to avoid detection.
[Certainty/Logical deduction about a past action]
3. The guard the theft.
[Past possibility that did not happen]
4. The crime an inside job.
[Speculation/Possibility about a past situation]
5. The thief the laser grid without special tools.
[Past impossibility/Negative certainty]
Attempts left: 3
Activity 3: Apply your knowledge
Use a Past Modal to write a sentence for each scenario, reflecting its specific meaning.
Attempts left: 3
Suggested Answers:
1. The thief must have studied the security rota meticulously.
2. The police should have reviewed the new security system more thoroughly.
3. The thief might have entered through the ventilation shaft.
4. I shouldn't have left my post exactly at 2:00 AM.
5. The thief couldn't have used the main entrance because the alarm is working there.