Introduction
After Alaric the Goth’s assault on Rome was successfully turned back, victory games were held in the Roman Colosseum on January 1st, 404. As usual, they quickly descended into savagery.
THE Victory Games began harmlessly enough, but soon the gladiators leapt into the arena. Death was all around, while happy crowds punched the air and shouted themselves hoarse.
Suddenly, a frail old man in a tattered robe ran onto the sandy floor, pushing the giant gladiators apart, pleading with them to stop their madness.
The spectators rose as one man against this self-righteous spoilsport, this enemy of fun, and cheered as sword and stone battered him into the sand.
But in a blink of an eye, the mood changed. Someone had recognised him, as a monk from the Greek east on a pilgrimage, a man even the most thoughtless respected.
One broken body troubled and troubled this generation, as tens of thousands had never troubled the generations before it.
So when Emperor Honorius, a Christian, decreed that gladiators would never step into that arena again, Rome made no protest. Where so many had died before, no man ever died again.
Précis
In 5th century Rome, some pagan customs continued, and one of them was gladiator contests. One day, a monk ran into the Colosseum and tried to stop a fight, but the crowd turned on him and killed him. The shameful event changed public opinion, and soon the Emperor, a Christian, was able to ban the fights forever. (57 / 60 words)
In 5th century Rome, some pagan customs continued, and one of them was gladiator contests. One day, a monk ran into the Colosseum and tried to stop a fight, but the crowd turned on him and killed him. The shameful event changed public opinion, and soon the Emperor, a Christian, was able to ban the fights forever.
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, if, may, since, until, whether.
Archive
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 All. Giant. Robe.
2 Again. Man. Rise.
3 Begin. Ever. Generation.
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.)
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.
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Rise. 2. Stop. 3. Air. 4. Body. 5. East. 6. Thought. 7. Step. 8. Change. 9. Punch.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
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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