Introduction
In 587 BC, the Babylonians (from modern Iraq) conquered Judah, and brought many of the nobility of Jerusalem to their own capital. Then in 539 Babylon fell to the Persians, and Daniel found himself serving the Persian King, Cyrus the Great.
IN the days of Cyrus, King of Persia, there was in Babylon a temple to the god Bel, to which the King went daily for worship. Each evening, wine, flour and sheep were set before the idol in its inner sanctuary, and by next day they were gone.
It was a great wonder to Cyrus, but Daniel said the temple priests and their families ate everything themselves. At this the priests were indignant. Bring the offerings, they said loftily, and put the King’s seal upon the doors, and in the night all would be consumed by Bel.
When the seals were broken next day, Cyrus turned angrily to Daniel. The food was gone! But Daniel laughed, and pointed to the floor. Moments before the doors were shut, he had scattered ashes around the altar, and now the footprints of men, women and children, leading from a trap-door beneath the altar, were plain to see.
And a wrathful Cyrus had the whole complex torn down.
Précis
Cyrus, King of Persia, believed that the god Bel consumed vast quantities of food placed in his Temple, but Daniel did not. A test was agreed, and the food was sealed in the temple overnight. By morning the food had duly disappeared, but Daniel used ashes to reveal the footprints of the priests, and Cyrus realised he had been fooled. (60 / 60 words)
Cyrus, King of Persia, believed that the god Bel consumed vast quantities of food placed in his Temple, but Daniel did not. A test was agreed, and the food was sealed in the temple overnight. By morning the food had duly disappeared, but Daniel used ashes to reveal the footprints of the priests, and Cyrus realised he had been fooled.
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: although, besides, just, may, ought, since, unless, whereas.
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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. 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 Its. Laugh. Whole.
2 Angry. Ash. God.
3 Bring. Food. Upon.
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.)
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 ()
