AS he lay in his bed, Gregory became aware of the indistinct figure of a woman beside him. “My boy, why do you have no respect for me?” she asked. “I don’t even know you, woman”, Gregory complained muzzily.
“You don’t?” his visitor inquired, puzzled. “So why insult me all the time?”
At that, Gregory leapt to his feet. He tried to cry out, but couldn’t; he tried to run, but it was as if he was buried in sand up to his knees.
“Come to my house in Parikia” said the lady, referring to an ancient church on the other side of the island, “and pay your respects to me there”.
It was ten miles away, but Gregory was there by dawn.
He made his sincere apologies in front of Mary’s icon - he instantly recognised his night-time visitor - before returning to Piso Livadi.
To his surprise, Gregory found his little fishing boat bobbing up and down in the harbour. It didn’t have so much as a scratch on it.
Précis
Three fishermen who habitually abused the Virgin Mary looked on as their boats were smashed in a freak storm. One man remained unrepentant, however, so Mary appeared to him and sent him to a church to show her proper respect. He speedily obeyed, and Mary restored their boats, and their livelihood. (51 / 60 words)
Three fishermen who habitually abused the Virgin Mary looked on as their boats were smashed in a freak storm. One man remained unrepentant, however, so Mary appeared to him and sent him to a church to show her proper respect. He speedily obeyed, and Mary restored their boats, and their livelihood.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 45 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, besides, may, not, or, 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 Inquire. Pay. Pick.
2 Chasten. Down. Lady.
3 Figure. Quick. Wind.
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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