By day, London was a sight to see, with gay banners waving from every balcony and housetop, and splendid pageants marching along. By night, it was again a sight to see, with its great bonfires at every corner, and its troops of revellers making merry around them. There was no talk in all England but of the new baby, Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, who lay lapped in silks and satins, unconscious of all this fuss, and not knowing that great lords and ladies were tending him and watching over him — and not caring, either. But there was no talk about the other baby, Tom Canty, lapped in his poor rags, except among the family of paupers whom he had just come to trouble with his presence.
From ‘The Prince and the Pauper’ (1881), by Mark Twain (1835-1910).
Précis
England had welcomed her new prince with processions and street parties by day and by night, and within the palace the infant prince had been unceasingly cosseted and fussed over. What a contrast it was to Tom Canty in his parents’ hut, wrote Twain, wrapped in rags, unnoticed by the public and begrudged by his family. (56 / 60 words)
England had welcomed her new prince with processions and street parties by day and by night, and within the palace the infant prince had been unceasingly cosseted and fussed over. What a contrast it was to Tom Canty in his parents’ hut, wrote Twain, wrapped in rags, unnoticed by the public and begrudged by his family.
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: because, besides, or, otherwise, ought, since, unless, who.
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Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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 Ancient. Another. Have.
2 But. Now. Same.
3 Each. Lady. New.
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.)
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. Keep. 2. Second. 3. Rich. 4. Lap. 5. Long. 6. Just. 7. Watch. 8. Lie. 9. See.
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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