Introduction
As a young man, James Howell (?1594-1666) had toured extensively abroad and studied several foreign languages. In 1642, his lavish tastes landed him in the Fleet prison for debt, and there he began to write professionally; that same year, he published a handbook on travel, in which he made a little digression on the subject of the tales travellers tell on their return.
EVERY one knows the tale of him who reported he had seen a cabbage, under whose leaves a regiment of soldiers were sheltered from a shower of rain.
Such another was the Spanish traveller, who was so habituated to hyperbolise and relate wonders, that he became ridiculous in all companies, so that he was forced at last to give order to his man, when he fell into any excess this way, and report anything improbable, he should pull him by the sleeve.
The master falling into his wonted hyperboles, spoke of a church in China that was ten thousand yards long;* his man, standing behind, and pulling him by the sleeve, made him stop suddenly. The company asking, “I pray sir, how broad might that church be?” he replied: “But a yard broad; and you may thank my man for pulling me by the sleeve, else I had made it foursquare* for you.”
* At almost 186 yards, Winchester Cathedral is the longest intact mediaeval church in England. The Spanish traveller’s mythical Chinese church could have accommodated over 53 Winchester Cathedrals down its length.
* That is, square, the same in width as in length.
Précis
A well-travelled man once asked his servant to tug at his sleeve whenever he exaggerated his tales. He had just fantasised about a Chinese church ten thousand yards long when he felt the warning tug. At once he asserted the church was barely a yard wide — adding that, had he been exaggerating, he would have said it was square. (59 / 60 words)
A well-travelled man once asked his servant to tug at his sleeve whenever he exaggerated his tales. He had just fantasised about a Chinese church ten thousand yards long when he felt the warning tug. At once he asserted the church was barely a yard wide — adding that, had he been exaggerating, he would have said it was square.
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, despite, if, not, or, ought, whereas.
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 Excess. One. Sleeve.
2 So. Spoke. Way.
3 Fall. Man. Regiment.
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.)
Adjectives Find in Think and Speak
For each word below, compose sentences to show that it may be used as an adjective. Adjectives provide extra information about a noun, e.g. a black cat, a round table, the early bird etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Known. 2 Soldierly. 3 Broad. 4 Forceful. 5 Lasting. 6 Orderly. 7 Related. 8 Sudden. 9 Sheltered.
Variations: 1.show whether your adjective can also be used as e.g. a noun, verb or adverb. 2.show whether your adjective can be used in comparisons (e.g. good/better/best). 3.show whether your adjective can be used in attributive position (e.g. a dangerous corner) and also in predicate position (this corner is dangerous).
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Ask. 2 Shower. 3 Leave. 4 Shelter. 5 Fall. 6 Man. 7 Report. 8 Make. 9 Stand.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
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.
rps (7+1)
rapes. raps. reaps. repose. rips. ropes. rupees.
reps.
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