Vocabulary Task

conjecture	deign	precaurious
circumspection	penetrate	scoop

1.     Tracy’s devotion to Laura was discovered by an astute newspaper who ______ the world with a story captioned TRACY LOVES LAURA.

2.     The “News” charged that the “Mirror” had _____ a hoax on the citizens of New York, and that the dead tiger in their possession was not Tracy’s Tiger.

3.     The rest of the evening was spent in _____ how soon he would return MR. Bennet’s visit.

4.     Mrs Bennet _____ not to make any reply, but, unable to contain herself, began scolding Kitty.

5.     I honour your _____.

6.     I have been the marmots at the Changtang border, tried befriending Tarai bullocks, heard the bullfrog’s Call by Phewa Lake, and flown out of Jufaal’s _____ airstrip.

ARTIST’S INSTRUMENT

The first thing the artist must procure must be a board of fine, close-grained wood, free from knots, to prepare and cut the several parts of his work upon. The best for this cutting-board is beech, sycamore, or pear-tree wood¹; it should be, at the least, one and a-half inch thick, by twelve inches broad, and about eighteen inches in length.

It is preferred even thicker than stated, as continual planing² of the surface to erase the marks of the knife soon reduces its thickness. Let it be squared perfectly every way to allow the T square to work accurately along its edge. As before stated, care must be taken, when the surface has become too much cut up, to have it replaned², or otherwise the knife is apt³ to follow the marks in the board, and cut the paper irregularly upon the underside. The size of board mentioned will be found most useful for all ordinary purposes; should the work be⁴ of very large dimensions, of course another must be procured, proportionally larger. Two or three boards of close-grained deal will also be found of service for cutting obliquely⁵.

Footnotes:

1.     What other trees do you know in English? Write your answer below.

2.     Give other forms of the verb “plane”

3.     Suitable

4.     What kind of structure is used? What do you know about inversion?

5.     Not directly

The Roman Villa

The class of senators to which most of these aristocrats belonged had grown steadily richer as the years of empire increased, building up immense landed properties something like the feudal estates of a later date. These ‘villas’, as they were called, were miniature kingdoms over which their owners had secured absolute power. Their affairs were administered by an agent, probably a favoured slave who had gained his freedom, assisted by a small army of officials. The principal subjects of the landlord would be the small proprietors of farms who paid a rent or did various services in return for their houses, while below these again would be a larger number of actual slaves, employed as household servants, bakers, shoe-makers, shepherds, &c.

The most striking thing about the Roman ‘villa’ was that it was absolutely self-contained. All that was needed for the life of its inhabitants, whether food or clothing, could be grown and manufactured on the estate. The crimes that were committed there would be judged by the master or his agent, and from the former’s decision there would be little hope of appeal. Where the proprietor was harsh or selfish, miserable indeed was the condition of those condemned to live on his ‘villa’.

Questions:

1.     What was the most striking thing about the Roman “villa”?

2.     What were slaves’ jobs?

Herring's Roes1 on Toast

Have rounds of toast buttered and seasoned with salt and pepper, on each piece place 1/2 the soft roe¹ of a herring which has been slightly fried and on the top of this a fried mushroom. Serve very hot.

1.     a group of fish eggs that are found inside a fish, or that are eaten as food

Emperor Nero

Emperor Nero (54-68)   was cruel and profligate¹, guilty of the murder of his half-brother², mother, and wife, and also of the deaths of numberless³ senators and citizens whose wealth he coveted⁴. Because he was an absolute ruler his corrupt officials were able to bribe and oppress his subjects as they wished until he was fortunately assassinated⁵. He was the last of his line, the famous House of Julius to which Augustus had belonged, and the period that followed his death was known as ‘the year of the four Emperors’, because during that time no less than four rivals claimed and struggled for the coveted⁴ honour.

Footnotes:

1.     Wasting money or other things

2.     Who is a half-brother

3.     What other words with –less suffix do you know?

4.     To very much want something that someone else has

Can you find other synonyms for “assassinate”?