Introduction
ONCE upon a time, the hare made fun of the tortoise for his horny feet. ‘I would still beat you in a race’ the tortoise replied, ‘fleet of foot though you be.’
‘Words, just words!’ laughed the hare. ‘But by all means put it to the test, and see for yourself.’
‘Who shall mark out the course, and crown the champion?’ inquired the hare, with a touch of complacency. ‘The fox’ suggested the tortoise. ‘She is fair, and very clever.’
The moment all was ready, the tortoise began his glacial progress down the track. The hare however, confident in his speed, settled down for a few minutes’ rest.
When he awoke with a start some time later, he leapt up and sped down the course like the east wind; but on reaching the finishing line, he found to his disgust that the tortoise was already there.
And the moral of that is, that less gifted but more disciplined people often come out on top.
Précis
Nettled by a hare’s banter, a tortoise suggested a race to see which was the faster. The hare was amused, but agreed, and gave the tortoise a generous head-start. But as he waited to stroll to victory, he fell asleep, and by the time he awoke the race was lost, going to show that natural talent is nothing without self-discipline. (60 / 60 words)
Nettled by a hare’s banter, a tortoise suggested a race to see which was the faster. The hare was amused, but agreed, and gave the tortoise a generous head-start. But as he waited to stroll to victory, he fell asleep, and by the time he awoke the race was lost, going to show that natural talent is nothing without self-discipline.
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, because, despite, must, ought, 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, 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.
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 Inquire. Progress. Still.
2 Mean. Race. Wind.
3 Down. Glacial. Person.
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.)
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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