Introduction
A pamphlet published in 1815 sought to satisfy the public’s increasing thirst for information about matters of science. The anonymous authors chose as their overall subject the Quadrupeds of the British Isles, and the traditional enmity between Dog and Cat was noted, of course. But there was also this heartwarming little tale.
A GENTLEMAN, well known to the writer, witnessed a most singular act of kindness in a greyhound towards a cat and her kittens. Twink had long shown a partiality for this cat, and when basking before the fire, would suffer the cat to lie upon her: if Twink was tied up at her kennel, she was generally attended by puss.
The latter having kittened in a barn about thirty yards from the house, brought out her young family, and endeavoured to convey them across the yard, but her progress being arrested by a hollow drain for water, about four feet wide, she exhibited strong symptoms of distress.
These did not pass unobserved by Twink; having attentively considered the situation of poor puss, she walked through the water, and carefully taking up the kittens, in her month, one by one, laid them without injury in a dry place, on the side next the house. The cat now followed, and expressed her gratitude in the most extravagant manner, standing on her hind legs, purring, and licking the face of the greyhound. Twink was not less pleased, and showed her satisfaction much in the same way.
Précis
One day, a greyhound called Twink spotted her special friend, the cat, struggling to get home with her new litter of kittens, thanks to a flooded water channel in the yard. Twink bounded up, and gently carried over each kitten and the mother too, for which she received a flurry of rubs and purrs and licks to warm the heart. (60 / 60 words)
One day, a greyhound called Twink spotted her special friend, the cat, struggling to get home with her new litter of kittens, thanks to a flooded water channel in the yard. Twink bounded up, and gently carried over each kitten and the mother too, for which she received a flurry of rubs and purrs and licks to warm the heart.
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: because, may, must, or, otherwise, since, until, whether.
Archive
Word Games
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.
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 Extravagant. Place. Singular.
2 Bring. Kitten. Poor.
3 Her. She. Suffer.
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 Same. 2 Kindly. 3 Latter. 4 General. 5 Stronger. 6 Express. 7 Singular. 8 Gentlemanly. 9 Wide.
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).
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.
fns (5+1)
fans. faunas. fens. fines. fins.
fauns.
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