Introduction
Joseph, sold into slavery in Egypt by his envious brothers, has been jailed by his master Potiphar on the malicious testimony of Potiphar’s wife. However, Joseph has become a popular trusty by interpreting troubling dreams on behalf of several inmates, including Pharaoh’s disgraced butler.
PHARAOH confided to his household one day that he had been suffering from perplexing dreams, and his butler, who had been back in favour for two years now, suddenly remembered that he had promised to help Joseph by mentioning him at court.
When Pharaoh heard that an imprisoned Hebrew slave was skilled in the interpretation of dreams, he immediately ordered him to be brought before him. Joseph listened carefully, and then explained that the Pharaoh’s dreams foretold seven years of plenty followed by seven of famine, and urged him to make provision for the famine at once.
Pharaoh could think of no one better qualified for this task than Joseph himself. He invested him with his own ring, and Joseph had the kingdom so well organised that when the famine struck, peoples from all around came to Egypt to receive a handout from Joseph’s bursting granaries.
Among them were Joseph’s brothers, Judah, Reuben and the rest, all except for little Benjamin, the youngest.
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Word Games
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 Imprison. Plenty. Than.
2 Care. Slave. Strike.
3 Court. Hear. Listen.
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. People. 2. Help. 3. Skill. 4. Young. 5. Plenty. 6. Rest. 7. Back. 8. Care. 9. Promise.
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.
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
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.
hs (7+2)
has. his. hoes. hose. house. hues. ohs.
hies. oohs.
