Introduction
The Republican Party convention in Chicago, Illinois, on May 16th-18th, 1860, nominated lawyer Abraham Lincoln as candidate for the President of the USA, with Hannibal Hamlin of Maine as his running-mate. Some three years earlier, Lincoln (who had previously represented the city in Congress) had sat for photographer Alexander Hesler in his Chicago studio.
When I was nominated at Chicago, an enterprising fellow thought that a great many people would like to see how Abe Lincoln looked, and, as I had not long before sat for a photograph, the fellow, having seen it, rushed over and bought the negative. He at once got out no end of wood-cuts, and so active was their circulation they were soon selling in all parts of the country. Soon after they reached Springfield I heard a boy crying them for sale on the streets. “Here’s your likeness of Abe Lincoln!” he shouted. “Buy one, price only two shillings! Will look a good deal better when he gets his hair combed!”
Précis
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was nominated for the Presidency of the USA. His face was not well known then, and someone had the bright idea of selling off a snapshot of him to the public. Lincoln himself heard a boy offering them for sale in the street, and promising that the print would look better once Lincoln combed his hair. (60 / 60 words)
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was nominated for the Presidency of the USA. His face was not well known then, and someone had the bright idea of selling off a snapshot of him to the public. Lincoln himself heard a boy offering them for sale in the street, and promising that the print would look better once Lincoln combed his hair.
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: because, despite, if, just, may, must, otherwise, until.
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 After. Circulation. Would.
2 Great. Once. Shilling.
3 Cry. Get. Over.
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.)
Opposites Find in Think and Speak
Suggest words or phrases that seem opposite in meaning to each of the words below. We have suggested some possible answers; see if you can find any others.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Variations: 1.instead of opposites, suggest words of similar meaning (synonyms). 2.use a word and its opposite in the same sentence. 3.suggest any 5 opposites formed by adding in-.
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Well. 2. Saw. 3. Like. 4. Country. 5. Long. 6. See.
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.
sns (5+3)
saunas. sense. sins. sons. suns.
sines. sinuous. sinus.
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