Introduction
Hypatia was head of the Philosophical School in Alexandria. She was a very likeable mathematician and astronomer, who numbered pagans, Jews, and several Christian clergymen among her past and present students.
IN 415, the governor of Alexandria, Orestes, imposed new regulations on Jewish dancing festivals. Tensions in the city became strained, as Christians, inconvenienced by the same legislation, were angry with both the governor and the Jews. Then one Christian, named Ammonius, threw a rock at the Governor and wounded him, and was put to death with torture.
The city’s bishop, Cyril, now faced a dilemma. If he supported Ammonius, he encouraged revolt; if he supported Orestes, he condoned the torture of his own flock. He pleaded for a meeting, but Orestes refused, and a completely unfounded rumour started that Hypatia, often to be seen closeted with the governor, was behind his refusal. So a mob of angry Christians pulled Hypatia from her chariot, dragged her into a church, and brutally murdered her.
How Cyril must have despaired at the news; the extinguishing of a bright light of reason beloved by all rightly brought shame on the entire Christian community.
Précis
Hypatia was head of the world-famous Philosophical School in Alexandria. When ill-judged regulations introduced by governor Orestes provoked unrest in the city, Christians unfairy blamed her for souring relations between Orestes and their bishop, Cyril. A mob attacked and murdered her, depriving the city of role-model beloved by Christians and non-Christians alike. (52 / 60 words)
Hypatia was head of the world-famous Philosophical School in Alexandria. When ill-judged regulations introduced by governor Orestes provoked unrest in the city, Christians unfairy blamed her for souring relations between Orestes and their bishop, Cyril. A mob attacked and murdered her, depriving the city of role-model beloved by Christians and non-Christians alike.
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, because, besides, just, or, ought, until, whereas.
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 Mob. Rock. Rumor.
2 Legislation. Reason. Refuse.
3 Flock. Tension. Wind.
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.)
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. Death. 2. Reason. 3. Community. 4. Name. 5. Face. 6. Meeting. 7. Tension. 8. Church. 9. Meet.
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.
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.
mls (10+1)
emails. mails. malaise. males. mauls. meals. miles. milieus. moles. mules.
melees.
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