Introduction
Dionysius, tyrant of the island of Sicily (probably Dionysius I, r. 405-367 BC), was deeply impressed by the bond of trust shared by Pythias and Damon. Given how he came to find out about it, though, it is understandable that they thought three would make a crowd.
LIKE most tyrants, Dionysius of Sicily lived in constant fear of treachery. One day, Pythias fell under his suspicion, and Dionysius sentenced him to death. Pythias requested permission to make his farewells to his family in Greece, promising to come back on the date appointed. Dionysius just laughed at him. However, Damon declared that he trusted Pythias’s word and would even take his place, for he was quite sure that Pythias would come back as promised.
Soon the day came for sentence to be carried out. Pythias was nowhere to be found, so Damon was led to the place of execution, but still no anxiety clouded his face. At that moment, Pythias himself burst through the crowd. He had been captured by pirates, he explained breathlessly, and had only just escaped; he hoped he had made it back in time? Even Dionysius was touched, and granted the two loyal friends his pardon, though they politely declined his request to join their ‘brotherhood’.
Précis
Sentenced to death by the tyrant Dionysius, Pythias asked permission to go home to say his goodbyes, and Damon promised to take his place if Pythias did not return. Delayed by pirates, Pythias made it back with just seconds to spare, and Dionysius pardoned them both. (46 / 60 words)
Sentenced to death by the tyrant Dionysius, Pythias asked permission to go home to say his goodbyes, and Damon promised to take his place if Pythias did not return. Delayed by pirates, Pythias made it back with just seconds to spare, and Dionysius pardoned them both.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 40 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, despite, may, or, ought, unless, whether, 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 Anxiety. Join. Pardon.
2 Capture. Make. Much.
3 Even. Treachery. Word.
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.
sprtd (5+1)
separated. spirited. sported. sprouted. spurted.
aspirated.
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