Introduction
Below is a brief overview of the Kings of England from Mary I, who almost let England fall into the hands of Spain, to James I, a Scottish King who inherited the English crown.
LIKE her husband, King Philip II of Spain, Mary I was a Roman Catholic, and ‘Bloody Mary’ restored England’s religious and political ties to Europe with the violence her father had used in breaking them; but the policy was duly reversed by her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn’s daughter, on her accession in 1558.
Elizabeth’s reign was a high-point of culture and adventure, remembered especially for William Shakespeare’s plays, and in 1588, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, an attempt by Philip to seize the English crown. Her forty-four years on the throne helped to define English identity at the transition from the Middle Ages to Modern History.
However, the Protestant Reformation remained a source of grievance and intrigue, and Elizabeth was forced to have her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, beheaded in 1587 for plotting her overthrow. Yet it was Mary’s son James VI of Scotland, Henry VII’s great-great-grandson, who succeeded the childless Elizabeth in 1603, as James I of England.
Précis
Mary I returned England to Roman Catholicism with much bloodshed, but her half-sister Elizabeth restored the Protestant Reformation in defiance of the Armada sent by Mary’s widower Philip of Spain in 1588, and the murderous conspiracies of her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. But Elizabeth had no children, and her cousin Mary’s son succeeded her as James I in 1603. (60 / 60 words)
Mary I returned England to Roman Catholicism with much bloodshed, but her half-sister Elizabeth restored the Protestant Reformation in defiance of the Armada sent by Mary’s widower Philip of Spain in 1588, and the murderous conspiracies of her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. But Elizabeth had no children, and her cousin Mary’s son succeeded her as James I in 1603.
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: about, although, just, may, not, otherwise, ought, whereas.
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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 Great. Middle. They.
2 Intrigue. Restore. Tie.
3 Age. Especial. Yet.
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.)
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Play. 2 Use. 3 Help. 4 Tie. 5 Force. 6 Remain. 7 Age. 8 Source. 9 Remember.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
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 ()
