Now the people against whom I am contending go upon two assumptions which I take the liberty absolutely to object to. The one is, that the French nation is composed nationally, and in regard to the action of their Government, composed of brigands (laughter) — not of honest men, not of men according to the average of our political acquaintance and historical acquaintance, but men brigands of the worst and the most desperate character (laughter). And at the same time they assume that the great English nation, which has its arm stretched all over the globe, at home is a nation of imbeciles (laughter). There is an idea in the minds of some men that by some sudden, secret, undiscovered method until the catastrophe is developed, like a great explosion — that the French Grovernment could arrange a succession of great trains, an army of soldiers, a vast collection of artillery — that all these could be put into this Tunnel (a laugh) from the French end of it, and although English people were passing every hour (a laugh) — they say that all this could be done, and nobody in England or at Dover would know anything about it, and thus there might be an invasion of this country through the Tunnel.
Abridged
Précis
Bright wondered how opponents of the tunnel could suppose that the French, known across Europe for their civilisation, were fixated on violent invasion, and also that the British, masters of a global empire, were incapable of organising basic self-defence. Long before any army could thread its way through the tunnel, the alarm would be raised and the invasion cut short. (60 / 60 words)
Bright wondered how opponents of the tunnel could suppose that the French, known across Europe for their civilisation, were fixated on violent invasion, and also that the British, masters of a global empire, were incapable of organising basic self-defence. Long before any army could thread its way through the tunnel, the alarm would be raised and the invasion cut short.
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, if, not, or, otherwise, unless.
About the Author
John Bright (1811-1889) was a Victorian statesman who with his close friend Richard Cobden led the campaign to repeal the Corn Laws (1846) and make the UK into a nation committed to international free trade. Born in Rochdale, Bright was employed in his father’s mill making carpets until, two years after the death of his young wife Elizabeth, he entered the Commons as MP for Durham. Later he represented Birmingham, and served in William Gladstone’s cabinet as President of the Board of Trade (1868-1871) and as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1873-1874, 1880-1882). He campaigned vigorously against foreign military interventions (including the Crimean War) and slavery, and in favour of Indian independence and religious liberty. He married Margaret Leatham in 1847.
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 Common. Idea. Person.
2 Arrange. Committee. Develop.
3 Go. Into. Twelve.
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. Country. 2. Like. 3. Arm. 4. Train. 5. Pass. 6. See. 7. Object. 8. Long. 9. Can.
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Thought. 2. Object. 3. Most. 4. End. 5. Hour. 6. Stretch. 7. Nation. 8. Earth. 9. Home.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
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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