ONE morning when she was busy in the Cave, the Woman blessed whoever had kept her baby quiet in the garden so long.
At that, the curtain of the cave bore witness to her hasty bargain, and parted to let the Cat march triumphantly into the cave.
The Woman scolded herself soundly, but that made Baby cry, until the Cat played with him and rubbed him, and he giggled himself to sleep. Then the Woman, unthinking, blessed the Cat again.
At that, the fire bore witness to her bargain, and blew forth a cloud of soot. When it cleared, there was the Cat by the fire. Tight-lipped, the Woman went to make supper.
‘Is that mouse’ inquired the Cat presently ‘part of your meal?’ The Woman screamed; but so expertly did the Cat dispatch the mouse that Woman could not stop herself praising his skill a third time.
At that the milk jug bore witness to her bargain, and cracked at the cat’s very paws.
Précis
Despite her resolve, three words of commendation were forced from Woman by the scheming cat. He played with her baby when Woman was busy, soothed her baby when it cried, and caught a mouse. Woman conceded defeat, but also reminded the cat that her Man had not yet had his say on their bargain. (54 / 60 words)
Despite her resolve, three words of commendation were forced from Woman by the scheming cat. He played with her baby when Woman was busy, soothed her baby when it cried, and caught a mouse. Woman conceded defeat, but also reminded the cat that her Man had not yet had his say on their bargain.
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: about, because, may, otherwise, since, until, whereas, whether.
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 Alike. Cave. Say.
2 He. Jug. Would.
3 Agree. Cold. Shelter.
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.
sps (10+3)
espouse. saps. seeps. sips. soaps. soups. spas. spies. spouse. sups.
asps. espies. sops.
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