Introduction
Abba John Colobus (?339-?405), sometimes called John the Dwarf, was a monk and abbot of a monstery in Scetis in western Egypt, on the edge of the desert. Remembered today mostly for an act of remarkable obedience, in this short tale he teaches another important virtue: tact.
ONE night, Abba John went up from Scetis with some of the other brethren;* and as they went, the brother who was their guide missed his way in the dark. The others whispered to Abba John, ‘What shall we do, father? Our brother has lost his way; and if we go on after losing our way we are sure to die.’
The elder replied, ‘But if we tell him, he will be grieved and ashamed. So look, I shall make myself out to be ill, and say I cannot go any further, but must wait here until morning.’ And that is what he did. And the others said, ‘We will not leave either, but sit with you.’ And they sat there until morning, and their brother was not upset.
Scetis is known today as Wadi el Natrun, Egypt. It lies some 60 miles southeast from the coastal city of Alexandria; the modern capital, Cairo, is another 55 miles further to the southeast. Hard to the west of Scetis, Egypt’s Western Desert stretches away into sand and dry, rocky hills.
Précis
The Egyptian monk Abba John was once out walking with his fellow monks when their guide lost his way in the dark. The other monks were angry and frightened, but John calmly feigned illness until the morning light showed the way home. That way, the guide was not shamed, and no one was lost in Egypt’s unforgiving desert. (58 / 60 words)
The Egyptian monk Abba John was once out walking with his fellow monks when their guide lost his way in the dark. The other monks were angry and frightened, but John calmly feigned illness until the morning light showed the way home. That way, the guide was not shamed, and no one was lost in Egypt’s unforgiving desert.
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: although, besides, despite, if, just, or, ought, who.
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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. 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 But. Go. If.
2 Cannot. Here. His.
3 Any. Elder. Until.
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 ()
