Introduction
For some people, ‘trade’ is synonymous with greed and selfishness but Scottish philosopher Adam Smith (1723-1790) did not think so. However greedy or selfish a businessman may be, if he wants to be successful he must spend at least a little time thinking of others, because no one is going to maintain him in comfort out of pity.
NOBODY ever saw a dog make a fair and deliberate exchange of one bone for another with another dog.
A spaniel endeavours by a thousand attractions to engage the attention of its master who is at dinner, when it wants to be fed by him. Man has not time, however, to do this upon every occasion. In civilized society he stands at all times in need of the cooperation and assistance of great multitudes, while his whole life is scarce sufficient to gain the friendship of a few persons. He will be more likely to prevail if he can show them that it is for their own advantage to do for him what he requires of them.
It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages.
Précis
Adam Smith argued that modern manufacturing involves so many people, that in a civilized country we cannot get what we want by relying on our friends to feel sorry for us, like a dog with its master. It is much more convenient to make an exchange, getting what you need by giving someone else what he needs. (57 / 60 words)
Adam Smith argued that modern manufacturing involves so many people, that in a civilized country we cannot get what we want by relying on our friends to feel sorry for us, like a dog with its master. It is much more convenient to make an exchange, getting what you need by giving someone else what he needs.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, if, may, otherwise, since, unless, until, who.
Archive
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 Ever. Fed. Stand.
2 Much. One. Require.
3 Another. Feed. Saw.
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.)
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Show. 2 Gain. 3 Interest. 4 Make. 5 Can. 6 Man. 7 People. 8 Occasion. 9 Dog.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
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 ()
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