MRS Fry brought cloth from her husband’s store, and the women were taught to sew. The Governor insisted that there was no precedent for it, and the guards on the walls said that every scrap of cloth would be stolen, but the guards were wrong. The taproom kept by a mercenary guard was done away with, and an order established that no spirituous liquors should be brought into Newgate. The women agreed to keep away from the grating on the street, except when personal friends came; to cease begging; to quit gambling. They were given pay for their labour. A woman was asked for as turnkey, instead of a man. All guards were to be taken from the walls that overlooked the women’s department. The women were to be given mats to sleep on, and blankets to cover them when the weather was cold. The Governor was astonished! He called a council of the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen. They visited the prison, and found for the first time that order had come out of chaos at Newgate.
Mrs Fry’s requests were granted, and this little woman awoke one morning to find herself famous.
Abridged
Précis
A cell was set aside for a schoolroom, and when the women had learnt to sew Fry ensured they were paid for their work. She banned alcohol, and secured female warders, privacy and better bedding for the women, who themselves banned gambling. The Governor invited civic dignitaries to witness the transformation, and the ensuing publicity made Fry a household name. (60 / 60 words)
A cell was set aside for a schoolroom, and when the women had learnt to sew Fry ensured they were paid for their work. She banned alcohol, and secured female warders, privacy and better bedding for the women, who themselves banned gambling. The Governor invited civic dignitaries to witness the transformation, and the ensuing publicity made Fry a household name.
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, because, may, must, ought, since, unless.
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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 Do. Give. Seventh.
2 Explain. Religious. Set.
3 Agree. Keep. Request.
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.)
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Set. 2. Start. 3. Man. 4. Address. 5. Order. 6. Keep. 7. Found.
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?
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