I daresay they had stories of this kind which would hardly have been exhausted in the long evenings of a whole December week, Rob Roy being as famous here as ever Robin Hood was in the Forest of Sherwood; he also robbed from the rich, giving to the poor, and defending them from oppression. They tell of his confining the factor* of the Duke of Montrose in one of the islands of Loch Ketterine, after having taken his money from him — the Duke’s rents — in open day, while they were sitting at table. He was a formidable enemy of the Duke, but being a small laird against a greater, was overcome at last, and forced to resign all his lands on the Braes of Loch Lomond, including the caves which we visited, on account of the money he had taken from the Duke and could not repay.
When breakfast was ended the mistress desired the person whom we took to be her husband to ‘return thanks’. He said a short grace, and in a few minutes they all went off to their work. We saw them about the door following one another like a flock of sheep, with the children after, whatever job they were engaged in.
From ‘Recollections of a Tour Made in Scotland, AD 1803’ (1874) by Dorothy Wordsworth (1771-1855).
* A factor in this context is a Scottish term for a land agent or steward.
Précis
Rob Roy, Dorothy explained, was a Scottish Robin Hood, a champion of the poor and scourge of the Duke of Montrose, but at last the Duke had caught up with him and confiscated his estates. When the tale of Rob Roy ended so too did breakfast, and after a brief grace the Macfarlane family went about their working day. (59 / 60 words)
Rob Roy, Dorothy explained, was a Scottish Robin Hood, a champion of the poor and scourge of the Duke of Montrose, but at last the Duke had caught up with him and confiscated his estates. When the tale of Rob Roy ended so too did breakfast, and after a brief grace the Macfarlane family went about their working 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: although, despite, if, just, not, ought, until, whether.
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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 Bring. Hood. Swordsman.
2 Ever. Here. Proof.
3 Below. Mere. Would.
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.)
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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