IN regard to his wife,* she was no ordinary woman. Every day she worked just like her husband, and did everything in an ordinary and modest way, and with a pleasant face; and she spoke respectfully to the poor just the same as to the rich; and she always liked to study the Malay language, inquiring diligently what the Malays said for this and that; and she wrote down whatever she saw.
When her husband was going to do anything or buy something, he spoke first to his wife about everthing, and if she approved, it was done. From her behaviour and her diligence it seemed to me just as if it were she that was responsible for the work of her husband, and as if she were her husband’s helper. God has joined them together, and they are suitable for one another, like a king and his counsellor, like a ring and its setting, and like sugar and milk. This ought to be an example for the people of all subsequent ages to follow.
Abridged
This was Olivia, his first wife, Olivia Mariamne Devenish, widow of a surgeon from Madras. She was ten years older than Stamford. She died, to Stamford’s lasting grief, in 1814. Three years later he married Sophia Hull, while he was back in England following a stint as Lieutenant-Governor of Java.
Précis
Abdullah remembered Olivia Raffles as a highly unusual woman, sharing her husband’s scholarly interest in Malay language and culture, and breaking the same social taboos. Raffles used to consult her on every decision, and Abdullah likened wife and husband to a jewel and its setting, recommending their example to every generation to come. (53 / 60 words)
Abdullah remembered Olivia Raffles as a highly unusual woman, sharing her husband’s scholarly interest in Malay language and culture, and breaking the same social taboos. Raffles used to consult her on every decision, and Abdullah likened wife and husband to a jewel and its setting, recommending their example to every generation to come.
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: although, besides, may, must, otherwise, unless, whether, who.
Archive
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
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 Occupation. Seem. Whenever.
2 Rule. Their. Write.
3 Diligence. Helper. Its.
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.)
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.
sg (5+2)
sag. saga. sage. siege. usage.
sago. segue.
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