Introduction
ONCE upon a time in Athens, there was a man who was in debt, and his creditor was pressing him to repay.
His first response was to ask for an extension on his loan, as (so he said) he could not raise the money.
But his creditor was not to be persuaded, so our man brought out his one and only pig, and offered it for sale.
An interested buyer and asked whether the pig ever had piglets. ‘Piglets?’ replied the man. ‘Why, she litters girl pigs every year for sacrifice at the Mysteries of Eleusis, and boy pigs every four years for the Panathenaic Games.’
Seeing the buyer was dumbfounded at this revelation, the debtor pursued his advantage. ‘That’s nothing. Dionysius doesn’t care for pigs, so on his feast she’ll give you baby goats.’
Which goes to show that some people won’t hesitate to swear to the most frightful lies to get what they want.
Précis
People will say anything to get what they want. One man, who was forced by his debts to put his only pig up for sale, claimed that for any given festival, the pig could produce whatever sacrificial pigs were required. Or, if the god didn’t like pigs, goats. (48 / 60 words)
People will say anything to get what they want. One man, who was forced by his debts to put his only pig up for sale, claimed that for any given festival, the pig could produce whatever sacrificial pigs were required. Or, if the god didn’t like pigs, goats.
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, besides, must, not, otherwise, ought, until, whether.
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.
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 Out. Person. Why.
2 Boy. Much. Piglet.
3 Feast. Go. Only.
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.)
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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