A Laconic Answer

By Raul Garcia

A Laconic Answer

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A Laconic Answer by James Baldwin

​Many miles beyond Rome there was a famous country which we call Greece. The people of Greece were not united like the Romans; but instead there were several states, each of which had its own rulers.

Some of the people in the southern part of the country were called Spartans, and they were noted for their simple habits and their bravery. The name of their land was Laconia, and so they were sometimes called Lacons.

One of the strange rules which the Spartans had, was that they should speak briefly, and never use more words than were needed. And so a short answer is often spoken of as being laconic; that is, as being such an answer as a Lacon would be likely to give.

There was in the northern part of Greece a land called Macedon; and this land was at one time ruled over by a war-like king named Philip.

Philip of Macedon wanted to become the master of all Greece. So he raised a great army, and made war upon the other states, until nearly all of them were forced to call him their king. Then he sent a letter to the Spartans in Laconia, and said, "If I go down into your country, I will level your great city to the ground."

In a few days, an answer was brought back to him. When he opened the letter, he found only one word written there.

That word was "IF."

It was as much as to say, "We are not afraid of you so long as the little word 'if' stands in your way."

Multiple Choice

Spartans were known for their bravery and their simple habits

answer choices

true

false

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

State cities are parts of a unified nation

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Spartans were also called Lacons

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Spartans spoke briefly

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Macedonia was

• a land in Greece

• a land in Persia

• a land in the North of Greece

• a land in the North of Sparta

Multiple Choice

King Phillip wanted to be the king of all Greece

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

King Phillip of Macedon spoke briefly.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

"If I go down into your country, I will level your great city to the ground."

was a

• the answer the Spartans gave to the Macedonians

• A letter King Phillip sent to the Spartans

• A letter King Phillip sent to the Athenians

• A letter the Spartan king sent to the Macedonians

Multiple Choice

A laconic answer is

• an answer with few words with no meaning at all

• an answer with many words

• a paragraph

• an answer with few words that tell a lot

Multiple Choice

he answer , "IF" given by the Spartans meant that

• They knew they were going to fight and be defeated

• They were not afraid of the Macedonians

Multiple Select

.

Do you usually speak with brief and exact speech?

• Yes

• No

Open Ended

Create some questions and laconic answers to them. Write three at least.