“THEY were rich folk” the tortoiseshell cat continued; “but one year, when they went to the seaside, they forgot to provide for my board and lodging, and I had to go into trade again.
“The milkman looked lonely; so I thought it would be only kind to go home with him. But his tastes were low.
“He took skim milk in his tea, and gave me the same. Of course, after that, I could not stay another hour under his roof.
“Now I live with a worker in silver, and I have cream every day; I lick my lips, and think what a happy cat I am to live with such a good man. Where do you live?”
“With a poor widow, in an attic. I never have enough to eat.” And, indeed, the grey cat was thin.
“Why do you stay with her?”
“Because I love her,” said the grey cat.
Précis
The tortoisheshell cat kept looking for a home where he would be treated like a prince. He could not understand why the grey cat stayed in a house where the meals were so small. But the grey cat knew he was better off than his selfish friend, because the grey cat had love. (53 / 60 words)
The tortoisheshell cat kept looking for a home where he would be treated like a prince. He could not understand why the grey cat stayed in a house where the meals were so small. But the grey cat knew he was better off than his selfish friend, because the grey cat had love.
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, although, despite, if, may, or, unless, 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 Another. Fur. Like.
2 Call. Eat. Strip.
3 Deserve. Found. Learn.
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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