THAT night, King Alfred seemed to see the travel-stained beggar again, but this time in a bishop’s vestments, with golden rings on his fingers, and carrying a jewelled Gospel book.
He said that he was St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, and told Alfred to rise early in the morning, and wind his great horn three times. By three o’clock in the afternoon five hundred men would have rallied to his banner, and in one week, if he made his stand on Edington hill, he would have all England for his realm.
And so it happened. Three times Alfred blew his great horn, and seemingly from nowhere five hundred warlike men gathered to him.
A week later, the army of the Danish leader Guthrum was driven off in dismay at Edington, and Alfred regained his kingdom. Guthrum was baptized, and the two sworn enemies now spent twelve days together, with Alfred acting as his sponsor, and showering him and his court with presents.
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 Act. Found. His.
2 Better. Loyal. Rise.
3 Carry. Stagger. They.
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 Make. 2 Water. 3 Man. 4 Present. 5 Spend. 6 Hand. 7 Blow. 8 Stand. 9 Back.
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
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
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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