Clay Lane: the Blog

61 29 Apr

by Sir Edward Hamilton Westrow Hulse

Introduction — The Christmas Truce of 1914 was one of the most poignant events in the Great War of 1914-18. The British had poured into Belgium to help drive the German invaders out, and in Flanders the two armies faced each other from trenches only a few hundred yards apart. In a letter to his mother on December 28th that year, Captain Hulse of the Scots Guards told how the spontaneous truce began.

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62 29 Apr

Smile

A ten-out-of-ten smile might be called dazzling or ravishing. But what would you call a smile that was more seven-out-of-ten? Bright, maybe, or fetching. How would you score roguish, disarming, kind or shy? See if you can think of others.

Suggest for each noun an adjective of praise, but moderate praise, and give it a score out of ten.

ISmile. IIDinner. IIIFace. IVExplanation.

Suggestions

Based on an exercise in School Certificate English Practice (1939) by NL Clay.

63 28 Apr

The Making of Mark

by Eusebius of Caesarea

Introduction — Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea from about 313, tells us here how St Mark’s Gospel came to be written. Drawing on testimony going back to the Apostles themselves, he explains that the Gospel should be heard as an echo of the living voice of St Peter, as he preached the good news in Rome.

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64 28 Apr

Zheng He and the Rise of Malacca

by Jawaharlal Nehru

Introduction — Bustling trade hub Malacca, on the Malaysian Peninsula, was a British possession from 1825 to 1957. It was founded in about 1400 by Parameswara, ex-king of Singapura, as a refuge from the empire of Majapahit based in Java. That Malacca held out for more than a century was largely owing to Zheng He, the most celebrated admiral in Chinese history.

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65 27 Apr

Confusables

To what extent are these words synonymous? Illustrate your answer with sentences in which one of these words is suitable, but the other two are not.

IAcknowledge. IIAdmit. IIIRecognise.

For Example

Admit.

John was admitted to hospital last night.

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66 26 Apr

Jill and I

Include yourself in these sentences along with Jill, e.g. Jill went to London → Jill and I went to London.

1 They’ve asked Jill to organise transport.

2 You’ll get your turn after Jill.

3 That’s the man Jill saw in the pharmacy yesterday.

4 Do you want Jill to be there?

5 That’s for Jill to decide.

6 Jill’s the one you’re looking for.

7 Brian said he thought Jill ought to be asked to do it.

8 If you find out, will you let Jill know?

9 Jill will do it, won’t you Jill?

10 You can trust Jill to get it done.

11 Tell him Jill doesn’t like the idea.

12 It’s going to be dark before Jill gets there.

For example:

Jill is delighted with it.

Jill and I are delighted with it.

Let Jill do it.

Let Jill and me do it.

67 24 Apr

Saddled

Use each of the following words in sentences. Try to use your word as a verb in at least one of them.

IPalm. IISaddle. IIIWeed.

Useful Words

Card. Coin. Debt. Garden. List. Responsibility.

68 24 Apr

Russia’s Heroic Stand

from Compton’s Encyclopedia

Introduction — The British Empire held out against the Nazis almost alone for two years. The arrival of the Americans in 1942 was a blessed relief, but it was the Russians (also somewhat late to the party) who bore the brunt of the Nazis’ hatred, and whose sacrifices and determination finally broke the vast German military machine.

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69 22 Apr

Approachable

In the sentence below, it is possible to replace the verb can with other verbs, e.g. must, should, won’t. How does your choice of verb affect the meaning or mood of the sentence? Illustrate your ideas by using the sentence in a little dialogue.

I can talk to him.

Suggestions

Must. Ought to. Shall. Should. Will. Would.

Mustn’t. Oughtn’t to. Shan’t. Shouldn’t. Won’t. Wouldn’t.

Based on an exercise in English Exercises 12-13 (1933) by NL Clay.

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