Introduction
The Battle of Trafalgar near Spain on October 21st, 1805, in which the victorious Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson was shot and killed, is one of the defining events in British history. Many played a vital part in it, including Captain Robert Moorsom of Whitby in Yorkshire.
AS soon as battle was joined at Trafalgar, Robert Moorsom, captain of HMS Revenge, alarmed his crew by sailing directly towards five enemy ships.
He had few forward-firing cannon, and the broadsides of the enemy tore through Revenge’s rigging and across her deck without reply, while Moorsom strolled among the flying splinters ‘as though walking to church’.
At last, Revenge rammed Aigle, swung around and let off a battery of pristine ‘carronades’, short-range cannon made in Falkirk. Aigle was literally blown away.
Tattered and leaking, Revenge disabled two more ships before reaching the giant Principe de Asturias, and waylaying her for an hour until the battle was won.
The Prince of Wales vowed to lead Nelson’s funeral procession to St Paul’s Cathedral on January 9th, 1806, but Royal protocol forbade it.
The honour of heading the cortège of thirty-two admirals, over a hundred captains, and an escort of 10,000 fighting men, fell to Captain Moorsom of Whitby in Yorkshire.
Précis
Robert Moorsom was captain of HMS Revenge at the Battle of Trafalgar. At great risk to himself and his ship, he held his fire until he could engage five enemy ships at close quarters, taking them out of the battle. He was rewarded with the honour of leading Lord Nelson’s funeral procession. (52 / 60 words)
Robert Moorsom was captain of HMS Revenge at the Battle of Trafalgar. At great risk to himself and his ship, he held his fire until he could engage five enemy ships at close quarters, taking them out of the battle. He was rewarded with the honour of leading Lord Nelson’s funeral procession.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 45 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, if, may, must, or, otherwise, since, 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 Heading. Hundred. Pristine.
2 Away. Deck. Have.
3 Among. Broadside. Direct.
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.)
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 Walk. 2 Swing. 3 Range. 4 Fly. 5 Reply. 6 Lead. 7 Make. 8 Crew. 9 Tear.
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
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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