Hereupon the slave fell on his knees before Augustus and supplicated him, and Augustus at first tried to persuade Pollio not to commit so monstrous a deed. Then, when Pollio paid no heed to him the emperor said, “Bring all the rest of the drinking vessels which are of like sort or any others of value that you possess, in order that I may use them,” and when they were brought, he ordered them to be broken. When Pollio saw this, he was vexed, of course; but since he was no longer angry over the one goblet, considering the great number of the others that were ruined, and, on the other hand, could not punish his servant for what Augustus also had done, he held his peace, though much against his will. This is the sort of person Pollio was, who died at this time.
Précis
Augustus remonstrated with Vedius Pollio for inflicting such a cruel punishment on a servant for a mere broken goblet; but finding his host unmoved, he chose another approach. After calling for all Vedius’s prize tableware to be brought in, the Emperor began smashing it himself, piece by piece, and continued doing so until Vedius relented. (55 / 60 words)
Augustus remonstrated with Vedius Pollio for inflicting such a cruel punishment on a servant for a mere broken goblet; but finding his host unmoved, he chose another approach. After calling for all Vedius’s prize tableware to be brought in, the Emperor began smashing it himself, piece by piece, and continued doing so until Vedius relented.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, besides, must, or, otherwise, ought, since, whether.
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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 All. History. Monstrous.
2 Do. Over. Rest.
3 Any. Hereupon. Thing.
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.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
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. Break. 2. Even. 3. General. 4. Hold. 5. Man. 6. Train. 7. Saw. 8. Spring. 9. Order.
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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