Such a council can command obedience only by the military force with which they are accompanied, and their government is therefore necessarily military and despotical. Their proper business, however, is that of merchants. It is to sell, upon their masters account, the European goods consigned to them, and to buy in return Indian goods for the European market. It is to sell the one as dear and to buy the other as cheap as possible, and consequently to exclude as much as possible all rivals from the particular market where they keep their shop.
The genius of the administration therefore, so far as concerns the trade of the company, is the same as that of the direction. It tends to make government subservient to the interest of monopoly, and consequently to stunt the natural growth of some parts at least of the surplus produce of the country to what is barely sufficient for answering the demand of the company.*
* That is, the Company ran India in such a way as to gratify their own wishes, but made sure that her commerce and industry were not lively enough to support the ambitions of rivals whether in India or in Europe.
Précis
As European merchants, the Company’s duty was to make profits for European clients; but as governors of India, it was to secure India’s economic and social well-being. The Company chose European profits over India’s welfare, leading them to subdue India by military force, and limit India’s economic growth so that European rivals would not be tempted to challenge their monopoly. (60 / 60 words)
As European merchants, the Company’s duty was to make profits for European clients; but as governors of India, it was to secure India’s economic and social well-being. The Company chose European profits over India’s welfare, leading them to subdue India by military force, and limit India’s economic growth so that European rivals would not be tempted to challenge their monopoly.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, despite, otherwise, since, unless, whereas, whether, who.
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Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Bring. Exact. Good.
2 Can. Cheap. Compose.
3 Carry. One. There.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Produce. 2 Still. 3 Can. 4 Accompany. 5 Return. 6 Market. 7 People. 8 Sort. 9 Interest.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Can. 2. Country. 3. Exact. 4. Still. 5. Even. 6. Keep. 7. Dear.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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