Introduction
Cuthbert made a habit of walking to outlying villages to preach the Good News. These trips took him away from his monastery in Ripon to some lonely spots over many days, and his trainee companions often found them hard going.
ON the way home after one especially arduous preaching tour on foot, Cuthbert’s young companion was relieved to hear him raise the subject of food. “I have been thinking about that” said the lad anxiously. “It’s a long way back. We brought nothing to eat, and made no inquiries about inns.”
Cuthbert glanced at him. “You must learn to have faith, my boy. Look there,” he added, pointing to an eagle flying above the river. “Even she might feed us, if God wished it.” Presently, they saw the eagle standing on the bank with something at her feet. “Run and see what she has for us” said Cuthbert.
The lad soon came back with a handsome fish. “What!” cried Cuthbert. “Have you not left half for our maidservant?” When this was mended, they continued their journey. Almost at once, they came to a village, where Cuthbert had the fish broiled, and shared it with everyone.
Précis
St Cuthbert and a companion were a long way from their monastery, and the saint’s companion began to worry about food. Cuthbert suggested a far-off eagle might help, and indeed she did, providing a fish. Cuthbert gave half to the eagle for her trouble, and shared out the rest at the next village they came to. (56 / 60 words)
St Cuthbert and a companion were a long way from their monastery, and the saint’s companion began to worry about food. Cuthbert suggested a far-off eagle might help, and indeed she did, providing a fish. Cuthbert gave half to the eagle for her trouble, and shared out the rest at the next village they came to.
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: because, besides, despite, may, must, otherwise, whereas, who.
Archive
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, 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 Come. Nothing. Standing.
2 Foot. Half. Think.
3 Arduous. Faith. Run.
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.)
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.
ths (6+1)
ethos. oaths. these. this. those. thus.
outhouse.
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