OF the major European Powers England alone escaped disaster. The sea, which was ever a mystery to Napoleon, saved England. And because of the security given by the sea, England became the greatest and most relentless of his enemies. I have told you how, right at the beginning of his career, Nelson destroyed Napoleon’s fleet in the Battle of the Nile.* On October 21, 1805, Nelson won a greater victory still against the combined French and Spanish fleets off Cape Trafalgar on the south coast of Spain. It was just before this sea battle that Nelson gave his famous signal to his fleet: “England expects that every man will do his duty”. Nelson died in the hour of triumph,* but his victory, proudly cherished by the English people and commemorated in the Nelson column and Trafalgar Square in London, destroyed Napoleon’s dream of invading England.
* That was on August 1st-3rd, 1798, during the French Revolutionary Wars. See The Battle of the Nile. Two years later, Napoleon’s hopes of subduing the Royal Navy received a boost by the re-formation of the League of Armed Neutrality, an alliance of European States piqued by Britain’s dominance at sea, but Nelson defeated a Danish fleet at Copenhagen in 1801 and confirmed the Royal Navy’s supremacy. See ‘Really, I do not see the signal!’.
* Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805), 1st Viscount Nelson, was shot by a French sniper from aboard the Redoubtable. He had however by this time masterminded a brilliant coup, leading 33 ships against 41, and capturing or destroying 22 enemy ships without losing one of his own. The psychological blow was even greater. On Nelson’s preparations for the battle, see Call of Duty.
Précis
Of all the countries of Europe, Nehru observed, only the United Kingdom withstood the onslaught, thanks to her Navy and in particular to Admiral Nelson. Though he lost his life at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, he had masterminded a victory that ensured Britain’s safety, and the Nelson Monument in Trafalgar Square keeps his memory alive to this day. (60 / 60 words)
Of all the countries of Europe, Nehru observed, only the United Kingdom withstood the onslaught, thanks to her Navy and in particular to Admiral Nelson. Though he lost his life at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, he had masterminded a victory that ensured Britain’s safety, and the Nelson Monument in Trafalgar Square keeps his memory alive to this day.
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: about, because, just, must, or, otherwise, since, until.
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 Destroy. Save. Tremble.
2 Invade. Never. Old.
3 Disaster. Enemy. Ever.
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.)
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Campaign. 2 Escape. 3 Coast. 4 Pass. 5 Man. 6 Career. 7 Cover. 8 Cross. 9 Land.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
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. Rush. 2. Name. 3. State. 4. Will. 5. Career. 6. Person. 7. Dream. 8. Cross. 9. End.
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.
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.
srs (10+5)
sears. seers. series. serious. sires. sirs. soars. sores. sours. users.
osiers. sarees. saris. soirees. usurious.
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