Introduction
If someone seems dull and awkward, wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson, that may simply be a warning that he is in the wrong company. We should be alert for such signs, and learn to help people find their own company and comfort zone; for forcing everyone to fit the same mould could be disastrous for them and for us.
WE think a man unable and desponding. It is only that he is misplaced. Put him with new companions, and they will find in him excellent qualities, unsuspected accomplishments, and the joy of life. ’Tis a great point in a gallery, how you hang pictures; and not less in society, how you seat your party. The circumstance of circumstance is timing and placing. When a man meets his accurate mate, society begins, and life is delicious.
What happiness they give, — what ties they form! Whilst one man by his manners pins me to the wall, with another I walk among the stars. One man can, by his voice, lead the cheer of a regiment; another will have no following. Nature made us all intelligent of these signs, for our safety and our happiness.
Précis
Ralph Waldo Emerson suggested that those who seem awkward in one social environment might reveal unsuspected depths in another: in the right one, his true colours show, and life becomes delightful. Reading the signs that he is out of place is a vital skill, because finding the right context is key to everyone’s happiness and safety. (56 / 60 words)
Ralph Waldo Emerson suggested that those who seem awkward in one social environment might reveal unsuspected depths in another: in the right one, his true colours show, and life becomes delightful. Reading the signs that he is out of place is a vital skill, because finding the right context is key to everyone’s happiness and safety.
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, just, must, otherwise, ought, unless, until, whereas.
Archive
Word Games
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 Accomplishment. Meet. Sign.
2 How. Less. They.
3 Follow. Make. Unsuspected.
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.)
Opposites Find in Think and Speak
Suggest words or phrases that seem opposite in meaning to each of the words below. We have suggested some possible answers; see if you can find any others.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Variations: 1.instead of opposites, suggest words of similar meaning (synonyms). 2.use a word and its opposite in the same sentence. 3.suggest any 5 opposites formed by adding un-.
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Sign. 2 Point. 3 Can. 4 Picture. 5 Lead. 6 Man. 7 Place. 8 Pin. 9 Follow.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
bsng (5)
abasing. abusing. basing. biasing. busing.
