Summary
Victor Lustig was one of the most imaginative criminal masterminds in history. He was born near Prague in 1890 in a middle-class family, where he learned to speak five languages fluently. He soon turned to a life of crime and in the Twenties he emigrated to the USA. In Missouri he used his most famous alias (rich Austrian aristocrat "Count" Victor Lustig) and did one of his jobs. He paid a bank $20,000 for a very old farmhouse and at the same he asked the bank manager to lend him $10,000. They exchanged the envelopes, but the one which Victor handed over was empty; therefore, he went away with both his $22,000 and the bank's $10,000. In 1925 he returned to Europe. In Paris he learned the Eiffel Tower was in poor condition and a few politicians had suggested demolishing it. So, Victor exploited that occasion to sell the Tower. First, he asked a forger to make some false government notepaper. Then, as "Deputy Director General of the Post Office", wrote to five companies which might be interested in buying the Tower. Since the government decision was controversial, he and the businessmen kept the plan secret. The five company directors made their offers; Lustig chose the highest one, took the cash and escaped in Austria. The victim was extremely embarrassed and told nobody what happened. Afterwards he returned in Paris and managed to sell the Eiffel Tower again. But this time the victim denounced all the facts to the police and Victor had to flee to the USA. After many more imaginative crimes and lucky escapes, Lustig was arrested for the last time in 1935 and sent to Alcatraz prison. He died in 1947.

Ex. 11 page 99 (Success)
A- The origins of a thief
B- The "Count" and the bank manager
C- A plan in Paris
D- Explaining the details
E- He does it again
F- Caught at last

Ex. 12 page 99
Nouns: alias, forger, con
Adjectives: controversial
Verbs: hand over, flee

Ex. 13 page 99

1. An alias is a false identity.
2. A con is when someone believes a criminal's lies and give him the money.
3. A person who makes realistic copies of money, documents, etc. is a forger.
4. When something causes arguments, we say it's controversial.
5. To flee is to escape quickly, especially when you are in danger
6. To hand over something is to give it to another person.

Ex. 14 page 99
When you come across new words in a text:

1. Don't panic - often you don't need them to understand the main ideas of the text
2. Decide what part of speech they are
3. Guess their meaning by looking carefully at the context.

Ex. 15 page 99

1. People still talk about Victor today because he committed some fascinating crimes.
2. Victor thought of his plan to sell the Eiffel tower while he was reading a newspaper in Paris.
3. The French businessmen thought Victor worked for the French Post Office.
4. Victor's victim, Poisson, didn't go to the police because he didn't want anyone to know how stupid he had been.
5. Victor sold the Eiffel Tower a second time because it had worked perfectly the first time.
6. The police had arrested Victor many times before 1935.

Ex. 16 page 99
A: I think Victor Lustig was a bad criminal and should be condemned.
B: I don't agree. The people he conned were greedy.
A: However, Victor Lustig has to be condemned because his behaviour is improper toward the honest workers.
B: Planning fascinating crimes is a work too.
A: But it's absolutely a dishonest work. Victor Lustig is a wicked criminal and has to be condemned as soon as possible.
B: The people he conned were also gullible and clumsy. If they had been more careful and sensible, they wouldn't have been conned.
A: It is no excuse. Lustig violated the law and so he had to be condemned.

Ex. 1 page 242 (Grammar)

1. A lot of pollution is caused by heavy traffic.
2. The cakes are baked every morning.
3. The team is chosen by the captain.
4. Dinner is served between 7.30 and 9.00 pm.
5. Olives aren't grown in Britain.
6. English is spoken here.
7. These shoes aren't made in Italy.
8. Where are the meetings held?

Ex. 2 page 243

1. The animals are fed every day at 3.00 pm.
2. The toys are made in China.
3. The towels aren't changed every day.
4. The newspapers are delivered early in the morning.
5. Who are the beds made by?
6. When is the rubbish collected?

Ex. 3 page 243

1. Every Sunday brunch is served here.
2. What languages are spoken in Canada?
3. All passengers are requested to board the plane.
4. The best leather in the world is made in Italy.
5. All animals here are looked after by Dr. Scott.
6. A lot of tea is drunk in the UK.
7. Are Mercedes cars manufactured in Germany?
8. Smoking is not allowed in hospitals!

Ex. 4 page 243

1. The service charge is not included in the bill.
2. The floor is mopped every night.
3. Thousands of new books are published every year.
4. The Sistine Chapel is visited by hundred of tourists every day.
5. Quiz shows are watched by millions of people.
6. Meals are not served in the bedrooms.
7. The front door is locked at midnight.
8. Classical music is played every Thursday.

Ex. 5 page 243

1. Slow down! Speed is checked by radar on this motorway.
2. Oh no! The shop is closed on Monday morning! Well, why don't you try the supermarket?
3. Look! Dogs aren't allowed in this cafe. Let's take Rex home.
4. Mmm. A shop assistant is wanted for weekends. Well, I'm always free Saturday and Sunday, so why not?
5. Gosh. Parking is forbidden! Let's move somewhere else.
6. Let's hurry. Lunch is served from 12.00 am to 3.00 pm and it's already twenty to three.

Ex. 1 page 244

1. Hamlet was written by Shakespeare in 1602.
2. America was discovered in 1492.
3. Last week a man I know was arrested.
4. Rome wasn't built in a day.
5. He was brought to the hospital by car.
6. Was rugby invented in England?
7. This beautiful olive tree was planted by my grandfather 30 years ago.
8. A whale was found on the coast.
9. The prisoner was convict to ten years.
10. My house was broken into while I was on holiday.

Ex. 2 page 245

1. The Euro was introduced in Italy in 2002.
2. Two goals were scored by Arsenal in the first ten minutes.
3. The medieval church was destroyed in the earthquake.
4. The real murderer was never discovered.
5. Hundreds of minks were killed to make that fur coat.
6. Slavery was abolished in the USA in 1865.
7. The safe was opened by experienced robbers.
8. The phone call was made from this phone box.
9. A woman was killed in the accident.

Ex. 3 page 245

1. Manzoni's famous novel The Betrothed was published in 1840-1842.
2. The television was invented in 1925.
3. America was discovered in 1492.
4. The Berlin Wall was pulled down in 1989.
5. Apartheid was banned in South Africa in 1990.
6. Who was the 2004 Olympic woman's 100 metres won by?
7. The moon was last visited my humans in 1972.

Ex. 4 page 245

1. Paul was given a book for his birthday.
2. The children are sent home because the heating didn't work.
3. Many innocent people were killed in the 9/11 attack.
4. The President was asked an awkward question.
5. Many towns in the south of Italy were destroyed by the earthquake.
6. Were the jewels kept in the safe?
7. We were offered hot tea and sandwiches while we were waiting.
8. The prisoners weren't treated badly.
9. My car was repaired in just two days.

Ex. 1 page 254

1. Last year more than a million cars were stolen.
2. Helen has decided to visit China.
3. America was visited by the Vikings.
4. The police have not found the missing dog.
5. More interesting facts are discovered every year.
6. The basketball team is chosen by the captain.
7. The next meeting will be held on 14 December.

Ex. 2 page 254

1. Fifteen people were arrested by the police.
2. Little Jimmy has been found safe and well.
3. Hundreds of trees are planted every year.
4. Most tickets will be sold on the day of the match.
5. The injured people were taken to hospital.
6. A new planet has been discovered.

Ex. 3 page 254

1. The bridge was built in 1996.
2. My sandwich has been eaten by someone!
3. The letter will be delivered tomorrow.
4. Our train has been cancelled.
5. A window was broken in the classroom.
6. Millions of bars of chocolate are eaten every day!

Ex. 4 page 254

1. At the same time of the accident, the car was being driven by an 18-year-old.
2. Good news! Your missing wallet has been found in the gym changing-room.
3. Our new sound system is going to be delivered next week.
4. While our visa details were being checked, we had to wait in an office.
5. At 2.30 Helen phoned to tell me that the play had been cancelled.
6. I would like to assure you that your application is being dealt with.

Ex. 5 page 254

1. A lot of water is wasted.
2. A new law has been introduced.
3. The new sports centre will be opened next week.
4. Three people were injured by a falling tree.
5. My wallet has been stolen!
6. You will be met at the airport.
7. My sister is being taught French.

Ex. 6 page 255

1. The new museum is being opened on Saturday by the mayor.
2. Two men have been arrested.
3. I could see that at the end of the road, cars were being stopped and searched.
4. The teacher discovered that one of project had been copied from the Internet.
5. An ancient tomb has been discovered in the mountains near Athens.

Ex. 7 page 255

1. Her work should have been finished by now.
2. The baby can't have been left alone in the house.
3. The dog must have been left behind when they stopped for petrol.
4. The missing money could have been hidden in the garden.
5. The batteries should have been replaced earlier.
6. The Chinese vase might have been broken by accident.

Ex. 8 page 255

1. All your answers must be written on the answer sheet.
2. My scooter must have been stolen.
3. You could have been hurt by me!
4. He might not have been given the right information.
5. Your project should have been handed in last Friday.
6. The front door needn't have been painted three times.

Ex. 1 page 257

1. George was questioned by the police.
2. A new president has been elected.
3. The damaged stadium is being rebuilt.
4. The mountain road has been closed.
5. Most of this magazine is written by students.
6. My laptop was stolen by a burglar.
7. You will be met at the bus station.
8. Last year the cup was won by United.

Ex. 2 page 257

1. Bob had his bike stolen.
2. I was lent this book by John.
3. I am not allowed to go out after dinner.
4. I was born in Cairo.
5. I was sold the ticket by a friend.
6. We want the truth to be known.
7. When exactly were you born?
8. I was given this ring by my parents.

Ex. 3 page 257

1. Harry was lent the money for his new scooter by his uncle.
2. Jane was given top marks for her short story.
3. Tony has been offered a job in New York.
4. Maria will be told the truth in the end.
5. Sam is being made class president next week.
6. We were sent an invitation to the wedding.

Ex. 4 page 257

1. What did you get given for your birthday?
2. Philip's house got broken into last night.
3. My bicycle got stolen from outside the station.
4. Sally got stung by a wasp yesterday.
5. Jake got stopped by the police because he wasn't wearing his helmet.
6. I got given a fabulous stereo for my birthday.
7. We got told off by the teacher.
8. Ian got made to clean the classroom.