Introduction
Macarius (301-391) was a disciple of St Anthony, the first Christian monk. Here, he does a favour for a friend in need.
THEY say that as Macarius was praying one day, a hyena crept into his desert cave and began to lick his feet.
Finding the monk slow to comprehend, the hyena gently tugged at his tunic and tried to draw him towards the door.
Still puzzled, Macarius followed her until they came to her own cave.
The hyena left him standing outside while she went in and fetched her cubs, which had been blind since birth.
Now understanding her purpose, Macarius prayed over them, and soon was able to return the little cubs to their mother, with their sight restored.
Some time later, Macarius was back at prayer in his desert cave when the hyena entered once more.
This time, she held in her mouth a very large sheepskin, which she dropped at the monk’s feet. Macarius smiled tenderly at her, and gratefully added it to his bedding.
Précis
Back in the 4th century, Macarius was at prayer when a hyena came and persuaded him to follow her home. There he found some little blind cubs, whom he healed, and the grateful mother rewarded the saint with a sheepskin, which she brought to his cell and laid at his feet. (51 / 60 words)
Back in the 4th century, Macarius was at prayer when a hyena came and persuaded him to follow her home. There he found some little blind cubs, whom he healed, and the grateful mother rewarded the saint with a sheepskin, which she brought to his cell and laid at his feet.
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: about, although, because, if, may, ought, since, whether.
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 Comprehend. His. Late.
2 Cave. Restore. Since.
3 Foot. Mouth. Purpose.
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.
ds (15+3)
ads. aides. aids. dies. dis. does. dos. dose. douse. dues. duos. ideas. ids. odes. odious.
adieus. adios. dais.
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