This sore Combat lasted for above half a day, even till Christian was almost quite spent; for you must know that Christian, by reason of his wounds, must needs grow weaker and weaker.
Then Apollyon espying his opportunity, began to gather up close to Christian, and wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall; and with that Christian’s Sword flew out of his hand. Then said Apollyon, “I am sure of thee now”: and with that he had almost pressed him to death, so that Christian began to despair of life: but as God would have it, while Apollyon was fetching of his last blow, thereby to make a full end of this good man, Christian nimbly stretched out his hand for his Sword, and caught it, saying, “Rejoice not against me, O mine Enemy! when I fall I shall arise”;* and with that gave him a deadly thrust, which made him give back, as one that had received his mortal wound: Christian, perceiving that, made at him again, saying, “Nay, in all these things we are more than Conquerors through him that loved us.”* And with that Apollyon spread forth his Dragon’s wings, and sped him away, that Christian for a season saw him no more.
* See Micah 7:8.
* See Romans 8:37.
Précis
Wounded by Apollyon’s darts, Christian grows weaker every moment; sensing it, Apollyon begins to crush the life out of him, knocking his sword from his hand. But even as Apollyon gloats, Christian feels for his sword, grasps the hilt, and deals his enemy a bitter blow, crying words of Scripture. In pain and dismay, the fiend flies away. (58 / 60 words)
Wounded by Apollyon’s darts, Christian grows weaker every moment; sensing it, Apollyon begins to crush the life out of him, knocking his sword from his hand. But even as Apollyon gloats, Christian feels for his sword, grasps the hilt, and deals his enemy a bitter blow, crying words of Scripture. In pain and dismay, the fiend flies away.
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: although, because, besides, despite, if, or, whereas, whether.
Archive
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 Head. Weak. Wind.
2 Fly. Know. While.
3 End. Full. Sure.
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.)
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Thing. 2. Back. 3. Person. 4. God. 5. Hate. 6. Blow. 7. Highway. 8. Love. 9. Till.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
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. See. 2. Saw. 3. Draw. 4. Close. 5. Break. 6. Mine. 7. Season. 8. Fast. 9. Even.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
mrs (8+2)
amorous. emirs. mares. mars. meres. mires. moors. morose.
amours. mores.
