Introduction
Charles Dickens’s Nicholas Nickleby (1839) firmly fixed in the public’s mind the image of the Victorian schoolmaster as a Wackford Squeers, pitilessly exploiting his pupils for labour and feeding them little more than kitchen scraps in return. The poulterer in this little anecdote seems to have fallen easily into this trap, and paid the price.
There is a good story told of a school-master who hit upon a clever expedient for securing the best of a good bargain. Addressing a poulterer who had six fowls exposed for sale in his shop he said, “I always like to give my boys plenty to do at meal-times; just pick me out the three toughest of these fowls will you?”
The poulterer, delighted at the prospect of disposing of the least valuable portion of his stock, did as he was asked, whereupon, the schoolmaster quietly remarked, “Ah, thankyou! I will take the other three, please!”
Précis
A schoolmaster devised a plan to get best meat from his local poulterer. He entered the shop and asked for the three most rubbery chickens on sale, to give to his boys. The poulterer eagerly complied, glad to rid himself of old stock. The teacher thanked him gravely, and then with undiminished politeness ordered the other three chickens instead. (59 / 60 words)
A schoolmaster devised a plan to get best meat from his local poulterer. He entered the shop and asked for the three most rubbery chickens on sale, to give to his boys. The poulterer eagerly complied, glad to rid himself of old stock. The teacher thanked him gravely, and then with undiminished politeness ordered the other three chickens instead.
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, besides, just, must, not, or, unless, who.
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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 Remark. Whereupon. You.
2 Fowl. Plenty. Tough.
3 Ah. Have. Little.
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.)
Opposites Find in Think and Speak
Suggest words or phrases that seem opposite in meaning to each of the words below. We have suggested some possible answers; see if you can find any others.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Variations: 1.instead of opposites, suggest words of similar meaning (synonyms). 2.use a word and its opposite in the same sentence. 3.suggest any 5 opposites formed by adding im-.
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Pick. 2 Address. 3 Shop. 4 Hit.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
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.
bl (8)
able. bail. bale. belie. bile. blue. boil. bole.
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