Introduction
To ‘cut the Gordian knot’ is to solve an apparently intractable problem simply, by lateral thinking. I’m not sure, however, that Alexander really ‘solved’ the problem at all.
A PEASANT farmer from Phrygia named Gordias was ploughing a field when an eagle came and perched on the yoke of his oxen, a sign, he was told, that he was destined to become a father of kings.
Oddly enough, the nobility of the capital, Telmissus, had just been instructed by an oracle to hand the crown to the next person to arrive in the city on an ox-cart.
So when Gordias rattled into Telmissus on market day, he became King of Phrygia.
His son Midas dedicated their cart to the god Sabazios, and displayed it in the new capital, Gordium, tethered to a pole by a baffling knot.
The knot’s ends were tucked inside so they could not be pulled, and it was said that anyone who could unloose the cart would be king of all the world.
In 333 BC Alexander the Great wintered at Gordium, and like any other tourist, was shown the impossible knot.*
He simply sliced through it with his sword.
Alexander’s visit appears to be a matter of historical record. Gordias and Midas, if not merely legends, lived sometime in the second millennium BC. Midas gave his name to The Midas Touch.
Précis
Prompted by an oracle, the people of Phrygia gave the crown to Gordias, as the next person to enter their capital on an ox-cart. The cart was put on display, secured by an ingenious knot, and world empire was promised to anyone who could untie it. Centuries later, Alexander the Great ‘untied’ it by slicing through it with his sword. (60 / 60 words)
Prompted by an oracle, the people of Phrygia gave the crown to Gordias, as the next person to enter their capital on an ox-cart. The cart was put on display, secured by an ingenious knot, and world empire was promised to anyone who could untie it. Centuries later, Alexander the Great ‘untied’ it by slicing through it with his sword.
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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: although, just, must, not, ought, since, until, whereas.
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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 Destine. King. Name.
2 Dedicate. Oracle. Peasant.
3 Capital. Day. Farmer.
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.)
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Field. 2 Sign. 3 Show. 4 Slice. 5 Arrive. 6 Display. 7 End. 8 Hand. 9 Pull.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
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.
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.
gl (11+3)
See Words
agile. eagle. gala. gale. gaol. gel. glee. glue. goal. guile. ogle.
gal. goalie. igloo.