Introduction
In 1801, the job of brakesman at Black Callerton pit was given to a young George Stephenson. It was a very responsible job, as it involved lowering and raising miners in the deep and dangerous mineshaft, but Stephenson felt he had a wider duty to the whole mine.
ON one occasion, Stephenson’s handling of the winding mechanism displeased miner Ned Nelson, who on reaching the top berated him offensively.
This Nelson was a notorious bully, used to getting his own way, so he was taken aback when instead of cowering, Stephenson defended himself honestly.
The argument ended with Nelson demanding a pitched-battle in the Dolly Pit field some days hence, and taking immediate sick-leave to prepare himself.
Stephenson, meanwhile, got on with his daily round, constantly interrupted by awe-struck miners asking him if he really meant to fight Nelson and pledging their support (so long as Nelson was not in earshot).
Unlike his adversary, Stephenson was not a veteran brawler; it was in fact his first and last fight. His only desire was to deal with the pit’s resident bully for the pit’s sake.
He stripped like a professional boxer, and put his opponent down with such cool efficiency that he won Nelson’s respect and friendship ever after.
Précis
When George Stephenson was still a young man, he was the brakesman at Black Callerton pit in Northumberland. The mine’s resident bully, Ned Nelson, found fault with Stephenson’s work, and Stephenson decided it was time to take Nelson down. Despite no experience in fighting, Stephenson won both the fight and Nelson’s respect. (52 / 60 words)
When George Stephenson was still a young man, he was the brakesman at Black Callerton pit in Northumberland. The mine’s resident bully, Ned Nelson, found fault with Stephenson’s work, and Stephenson decided it was time to take Nelson down. Despite no experience in fighting, Stephenson won both the fight and Nelson’s respect.
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: although, because, besides, may, not, whereas, whether, who.
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. 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 Cower. Offensive. Win.
2 After. Friendship. Sick.
3 If. Professional. Unlike.
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.
tb (5+2)
tab. taboo. tub. tuba. tube.
tibia. tibiae.
