GOODS [are] delivered in Manchester the same day they are received in Liverpool. By canal they were never delivered before the third day. By railway, goods, such as wines and spirits, are not subject to the pilferage which existed on the canals. The saving to manufacturers in the neighbourhood of Manchester, in the carriage of cotton alone, has been £20,000 per annum. Some houses of business save £500 a-year in carriage. Persons now go from Manchester to Liverpool and back in the same day with great ease. Formerly they were generally obliged to be absent the greater part of two days.
The railway is assessed to the parochial rates in all the parishes through which it passes; though only thirty-one miles, it pays between £3,000 and £4,000 per annum in parochial rates. Coal-pits have been sunk, and manufactories established on the line, giving great employment to the poor, thus reducing the number of claimants for parochial relief. The railway pays one-fifth of the poor-rates in the parishes through which it passes.
Abridged
Précis
As well as enabling day trips to Manchester or Liverpool and saving North West business thousands of pounds daily in freight costs, the trains were causing new businesses and jobs to spring up all along the route. Even locals dependent on the parish poor-rate had reason to be grateful, as the railway now contributed a fifth of their funding. (59 / 60 words)
As well as enabling day trips to Manchester or Liverpool and saving North West business thousands of pounds daily in freight costs, the trains were causing new businesses and jobs to spring up all along the route. Even locals dependent on the parish poor-rate had reason to be grateful, as the railway now contributed a fifth of their funding.
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, just, otherwise, ought, until, who.
Archive
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 Convey. Former. Their.
2 Extra. Inside. Place.
3 Numb. Pit. Rate.
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. General. 2. Sink. 3. Occupy. 4. Line. 5. Pass. 6. Subject.
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.
pprs (6+2)
appears. appraise. papers. paupers. pipers. uppers.
apprise. peepers.
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