Introduction
In 1863, Copenhagen announced the first joint Constitution for Denmark and the Danish King’s duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. Amid rising German nationalism, Prussia demanded the two duchies for the German Confederation, and invaded in February 1864. London hosted a meaningless Conference, and that August the Danes gave in.
GREAT efforts were made to induce Denmark to repeal the obnoxious Act. It is not wonderful that this advice should have been unpalatable to the Danes: it was affixing to their necks the badge of foreign servitude in its most undisguised and offensive form.
The freedom of internal legislation is the embodiment and the symbol of national independence. To receive any kind of legislation at the hands of the foreigner is a degradation; to submit to his dictation the fundamental laws of the country is a more galling ignominy still. But to have to modify such institutions at a moment’s notice, under the most insolent and shameless threats of violence, is an insult to which a people retaining any spark of patriotism can hardly submit except under the most extreme necessity.
It needed the all but open promise of material assistance as a bribe to induce the Danes to give way once again, and to submit even the solemn enactments of their legislature to the insolent dictation of Vienna and Berlin.
By Robert Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (1830-1903)
Précis
Lord Salisbury, recalled how Britain had failed to support Denmark in 1864, when Prussia demanded that they repeal their new constitution for Schleswig-Holstein. Salisbury said that there was no greater indignity that for a foreign power to dictate a nation’s laws, and was ashamed that Britain had allowed Berlin to do so to Copenhagen. (54 / 60 words)
Lord Salisbury, recalled how Britain had failed to support Denmark in 1864, when Prussia demanded that they repeal their new constitution for Schleswig-Holstein. Salisbury said that there was no greater indignity that for a foreign power to dictate a nation’s laws, and was ashamed that Britain had allowed Berlin to do so to Copenhagen.
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: about, because, just, must, ought, since, unless, 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 Have. Patriotism. Still.
2 Independence. Neck. Such.
3 Assistance. Open. Promise.
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.)
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. Person. 2. Extreme. 3. Moment. 4. Promise. 5. People. 6. Country. 7. Advice. 8. Notice. 9. Freedom.
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.
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 ()
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