Introduction
Victorian environmentalist John Ruskin complained that the Midland Railway had torn up lovely countryside between Derby, Matlock and Buxton just so that ‘every fool in Buxton can be at Bakewell in half-an-hour, and every fool in Bakewell at Buxton’, overlooking the benefits to Derbyshire’s canine population.
THERE is a dog at Derby who often visits Matlock by the railway, going by one train, and returning by another. He never goes farther than Matlock baths, and always returns the same night to Derby, which is his home.
In the Natural History Magazine* a story is told of a Setter dog, who forced his way into an omnibus in the Edgeware Road, much against the consent of the conductor and passengers, as the dog did not belong to either, and who used every means to entice him out, which he constantly resisted in the most surly manner, so much so, that they were in danger of being bitten if they attempted to force him out. These attempts were repeated every time the omnibus stopped, but always without success, till they arrived at the Eagle in the City Road, when, the moment the door was opened, the dog jumped out, and walked off to a neighbouring street which it was afterwards discovered was his home.*
Abridged
“The Magazine of Natural History and Journal of Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology And Meteorology” Vol. 6 (1833), available at The Internet Archive. The magazine was edited by Jane’s husband John Claudius Loudon; the couple met after John enjoyed reading Jane Webb’s science fiction novel The Mummy!, set in the 22nd century, and invited her to lunch.
The story was submitted by a correspondent signing himself ‘Cattus’ who said he was eyewitness to the event.
Précis
Victorian author Jane Loudon related two anecdotes about dogs using public transport all by themselves. One took a regular train from Derby to Matlock and back, whereas another was seen catching a London bus and refusing all attempts to eject him until he reached the stop nearest his master’s house, where he stepped off calmly and trotted home. (58 / 60 words)
Victorian author Jane Loudon related two anecdotes about dogs using public transport all by themselves. One took a regular train from Derby to Matlock and back, whereas another was seen catching a London bus and refusing all attempts to eject him until he reached the stop nearest his master’s house, where he stepped off calmly and trotted home.
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, because, besides, may, must, not, or, unless.
Archive
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.
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 Danger. Repeat. Story.
2 Bite. If. Time.
3 Bath. Never. Till.
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 Successful. 2 Useless. 3 Mean. 4 Natural. 5 Farther. 6 Neighbourly. 7 Far. 8 Same. 9 Forceful.
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).
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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