Introduction
Richard Hannay and Mary Lamington are on the tail of a German spy, who has been posing as an English gentleman named Moxon Ivery during the Great War. The chase has led to a French château, where Mary has uncovered a cache of biological weapons, and now Hannay has surprised the man himself.
“HULLO, Mr Ivery,” I said. “This is an odd place to meet again!”
In his amazement he fell back a step, while his hungry eyes took in my face. There was no mistake about the recognition. I saw something I had seen once before in him, and that was fear. Out went the light and he sprang for the door.
I fired in the dark, but the shot must have been too high. In the same instant I heard him slip on the smooth parquet and the tinkle of glass as the broken window swung open. Hastily I reflected that his car must be at the moat end of the terrace, and that therefore to reach it he must pass outside this very room. Seizing the damaged escritoire, I used it as a ram, and charged the window nearest me. The panes and shutters went with a crash, for I had driven the thing out of its rotten frame.
Précis
In John Buchan’s wartime adventure tale Mr Srandfast, Richard Hannay accosts his mortal enemy, German spy Moxon Ivery, in a French château. Ivery makes a sudden dash for safety, and though Hannay gets off a shot, Ivery eludes him. Anticipating his opponent’s next move, Hannay seizes a hefty piece of furniture and smashes his way quickly out through a window. (60 / 60 words)
In John Buchan’s wartime adventure tale Mr Srandfast, Richard Hannay accosts his mortal enemy, German spy Moxon Ivery, in a French château. Ivery makes a sudden dash for safety, and though Hannay gets off a shot, Ivery eludes him. Anticipating his opponent’s next move, Hannay seizes a hefty piece of furniture and smashes his way quickly out through a window.
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, if, may, not, otherwise, since, unless.
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.
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