Introduction
It is the eve of the coronation of the King of Ruritania, and his loyal courtiers have discovered him unconscious, drugged by his wicked brother Michael. But it just so happens that Rudolf Rassendyll, a British holidaymaker, is in the capital, and he looks exactly like the King...
FOR a moment or two we were all silent; then Sapt, knitting his bushy grey brows, took his pipe from his mouth and said to me:
“As a man grows old he believes in Fate. Fate sent you here. Fate sends you now to Strelsau.”
I staggered back, murmuring “Good God!”
Fritz looked up with an eager, bewildered gaze.
“Impossible!” I muttered. “I should be known.”
“It’s a risk — against a certainty,” said Sapt. “If you shave, I’ll wager you’ll not be known.* It’s your life, you know, if you’re known — and mine — and Fritz’s here. But, if you don’t go, I swear to you Black Michael will sit tonight on the throne, and the King lie in prison or his grave.”
The clock ticked fifty times, and sixty and seventy times, as I stood in thought. Then I suppose a look came over my face, for old Sapt caught me by the hand, crying: “You’ll go?”
“Yes, I’ll go,” said I, and I turned my eyes on the prostrate figure of the King on the floor.
The king had recently shaved his beard off; Rassendyll had a luxurious moustache.
Précis
When Rudolf Rassendyll went on holiday to Ruritania, he could not have imagined that he would be asked to impersonate the King. But after Prince Michael drugged his brother so that he would miss his own coronation, Rudolf was convinced that to save the King from disgrace and even death, he must take his place in the ceremony. (58 / 60 words)
When Rudolf Rassendyll went on holiday to Ruritania, he could not have imagined that he would be asked to impersonate the King. But after Prince Michael drugged his brother so that he would miss his own coronation, Rudolf was convinced that to save the King from disgrace and even death, he must take his place in the ceremony.
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: because, if, just, may, since, unless, whether, who.
Archive
Word Games
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 Black. Go. Prison.
2 I. Brow. He.
3 Grow. Ill. Turn.
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.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
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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