Introduction
Théophile Gautier was a French artist, critic and writer whose friends included Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas, and whose many admirers have included TS Eliot and Oscar Wilde. His ‘Ménagerie intime’ (1869) includes fond recollections of the many cats in his life.
WINNING the friendship of a cat is a difficult business. The cat is a philosophical creature, methodical, quiet, tenacious of his habits, fond of order and cleanliness, who does not scatter his affections about indiscriminately.
He is quite ready to be your friend, should you prove worthy, but not your slave. In the midst of his tenderness he maintains free-will, and he will not do for you anything that he deems unreasonable.
But once he has given himself to you, what absolute confidence! what felicity of affection! He makes himself the companion of the hours of your solitude, melancholy, and toil.
Précis
French writer Theophile Gautier said that although gaining the friendship of a cat is a ticklish business, for it has very fixed ways and clear ideas of what it wants, anyone who does so will find that a cat is a faithful companion in good times and bad. (48 / 60 words)
French writer Theophile Gautier said that although gaining the friendship of a cat is a ticklish business, for it has very fixed ways and clear ideas of what it wants, anyone who does so will find that a cat is a faithful companion in good times and bad.
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: besides, despite, if, must, not, otherwise, whereas, whether.
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, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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