Introduction
In this Aesop’s Fable, a gloating fir tree and a prickly (in every sense) bramble bush get themselves into a silly argument, which ends with a sobering reminder for the fir.
IN the heat of a quarrel with a bramble bush, a fir tree began singing her own praises. “Shapely is what I am, and tall in perfect proportion; straight up I go, and the very clouds are my neighbours. Yet I am also the joist of the roof, and the keel of the ship. How, prickle-bush, can you compare with such a tree?”
“Take comfort in remembering that” the bramble retorted “when they come to fell you with axe and saw. How you will wish then that you were a bramble!”
And the moral of that is, that a celebrity has more glory than lesser lights, but must also run more risks.
Précis
During a heated argument with a bramble, a fir tree enumerated all the ways in which she was superior, in beauty and in usefulness to man. The bramble however simply reminded her that to be useful in house or ship building it was first necessary to be felled — something the bramble did not have to worry about. (57 / 60 words)
During a heated argument with a bramble, a fir tree enumerated all the ways in which she was superior, in beauty and in usefulness to man. The bramble however simply reminded her that to be useful in house or ship building it was first necessary to be felled — something the bramble did not have to worry about.
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: because, besides, despite, just, may, must, ought, until.
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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 Her. Keel. Wish.
2 Light. Prickle. Proportion.
3 Go. Have. Tall.
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 im-.
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
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 ()
