Introduction
Russian landowner Aleksey Khomyakov (1804-1860) paid a visit to England in 1847. He subsequently sent a letter to a Moscow journal in which he relayed his impressions of England and the English, at a time when relations between the two countries were strained over Afghanistan and Turkey. In 1895, John Birkbeck summarised Khomyakov’s commentary for those who knew no Russian.
ENGLISHMEN were said to be inhospitable to foreigners, but this he [Khomyakov] had found by experience to be anything but true. It was merely that Englishmen did not go out of their way to court foreigners, and this for the reason that they could do without them, whereas some nations, not content with the traditions of their own country, ran after foreigners in order to learn from them, while the German liked foreigners because they came to him as pupils, and the Frenchman because they allowed him to show off before them.
If they were disinclined to talk on the railway, and were sometimes brusque in their manners to strangers, they were more ready than any other nation to help a foreigner if he was really in need of assistance, as he himself had once experienced in Switzerland, when he had run short of money, and an Englishman, whom he had only known for two days, had lent him enough to get back to Russia without any security except his note of hand.
Précis
In a letter to a Moscow magazine, Aleksey Khomyakov recorded his impressions of Victorian England gathered on a visit in 1847. He acknowledged that the English could seem standoffish, but he had found them generous and helpful, and if they felt no need to venerate foreigners, unlike their Continental neighbours they also felt no wish to improve or impress them. (60 / 60 words)
In a letter to a Moscow magazine, Aleksey Khomyakov recorded his impressions of Victorian England gathered on a visit in 1847. He acknowledged that the English could seem standoffish, but he had found them generous and helpful, and if they felt no need to venerate foreigners, unlike their Continental neighbours they also felt no wish to improve or impress them.
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: about, although, because, just, not, unless, whereas, who.
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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