The quick-spread ears of the deer caught the last sentence, and a frightened whisper ran along the ranks. “The Truce! Remember the Truce!”
“Peace there, peace!” gurgled Hathi, the wild elephant. “The Truce holds, Bagheera. This is no time to talk of hunting.”
“Who should know better than I?” Bagheera answered, rolling his yellow eyes up-stream. “I am an eater of turtles — a fisher of frogs. Ngaa-yah! Would I could get good from chewing branches!”
“We wish so, very greatly,” bleated a young fawn, who had only been born that spring, and did not at all like it. Wretched as the Jungle People were, even Hathi could not help chuckling; while Mowgli, lying on his elbows in the warm water, laughed aloud, and beat up the scum with his feet.
“Well spoken, little bud-horn,” Bagheera purred. ‘“When the Truce ends that shall be remembered in thy favour,” and he looked keenly through the darkness to make sure of recognising the fawn again.
From ‘The Jungle Book’ (1894) by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936).
Précis
Bagheera’s hints had alarmed the herds of prey. While the Truce held little Mowgli and even the elephant Hathi, presiding judge of the truce, could afford to laugh, but a young fawn reprimanded Bagheera for his ill manners. Bagheera complimented him on his eloquence, and promised (a little chillingly) that he would not forget it when the truce was over. (60 / 60 words)
Bagheera’s hints had alarmed the herds of prey. While the Truce held little Mowgli and even the elephant Hathi, presiding judge of the truce, could afford to laugh, but a young fawn reprimanded Bagheera for his ill manners. Bagheera complimented him on his eloquence, and promised (a little chillingly) that he would not forget it when the truce was over.
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, although, besides, may, ought, since, unless, until.
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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.
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