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A Difficult Problem 1900
A Difficult Problem 1900

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of A Difficult Problem 1900 is here in full — 419 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Difficult Problem 1900
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) A LADY to see you, sir.”
I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.
Is there anything I can do to serve you?”
I asked, rising.
She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Difficult Problem 1900

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of A Difficult Problem 1900 is here in full — 419 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”
Line 2
I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.
/aɪ lʊkt ʌp ənd wɑːz æt wʌns ˌɪmˈprest baɪ ðə ɡreɪs ənd ˈbjuːti ʌv ðə ˈpɜːrsən ðʌs ˌɪntrəˈduːst tuː miː/
Line 3
Is there anything I can do to serve you?”
/ɪz ðer ˈeniθɪŋ aɪ kæn duː tuː sɜːrv juː/
Line 4
I asked, rising.
/aɪ æskt ˈraɪzɪŋ/
Line 5
She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

Anna noun US /ˈænə/

a former copper coin of Pakistan and India

From this reading “By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.””

candor noun US /ˈkændər/

ability to make judgments free from discrimination or dishonesty

From this reading “She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.”

Charles noun US /tʃɑːrlz/

King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)

From this reading “By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.””

impressed adjective US /ˌɪmˈprest/

deeply or markedly affected or influenced

From this reading “I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.”

introduced verb US /ˌɪntrəˈduːst/

past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally

From this reading “I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.”

pointed adjective US /ˈpɔɪntɪd/

having a point

From this reading “She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.”

seated adjective US /ˈsiːtɪd/

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading “She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.”

serve verb US /sɜːrv/

serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading ““Is there anything I can do to serve you?””

All words in this reading · 52

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

AnnanounUS /ˈænə/

a former copper coin of Pakistan and India

From this reading By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “Is there anything I can do to serve you?”

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading I asked, rising.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “Is there anything I can do to serve you?”

candornounUS /ˈkændər/

ability to make judgments free from discrimination or dishonesty

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

castverbUS /kæst/

put or send forth

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

chairnounUS /tʃer/

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

CharlesnounUS /tʃɑːrlz/

King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)

From this reading By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”

child-like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “Is there anything I can do to serve you?”

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

gracenounUS /ɡreɪs/

(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

GreennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

impressedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprest/

deeply or markedly affected or influenced

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

introducedverbUS /ˌɪntrəˈduːst/

past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “Is there anything I can do to serve you?”

Katharine

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”

LADYnounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

pointedadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪntɪd/

having a point

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

risingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪzɪŋ/

advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status

From this reading I asked, rising.

Rohlfs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”

seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”

serveverbUS /sɜːrv/

serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading “Is there anything I can do to serve you?”

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

sirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading “Is there anything I can do to serve you?”

thusadverbUS /ðʌs/

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”

trustnounUS /trʌst/

something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)

From this reading She cast me a child-like look full of trust and candor as she seated herself in the chair I pointed out to her.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading By Anna Katharine Green (Mrs. Charles Rohlfs) “A LADY to see you, sir.”

Chapter 1 of A Difficult Problem 1900 by Anna Katharine Green holds 419 sentences, grouped into 84 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of A Difficult Problem 1900 contain?

Chapter 1 holds 419 sentences of A Difficult Problem 1900, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of A Difficult Problem 1900 by Anna Katharine Green exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 419 sentences, grouped into 84 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of A Difficult Problem 1900?

Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 84 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading A Difficult Problem 1900

Common questions about reading A Difficult Problem 1900 by Anna Katharine Green on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Difficult Problem 1900?

Yes. All 419 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #22807 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Difficult Problem 1900 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #22807, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Difficult Problem 1900 take to read?

About 34 minutes of reading across 84 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Difficult Problem 1900 section by section

How to work through A Difficult Problem 1900 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of A Difficult Problem 1900 to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in A Difficult Problem 1900

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Difficult Problem 1900, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Katharine
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Difficult Problem 1900; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Green
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Difficult Problem 1900; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Charles
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Difficult Problem 1900; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rohlfs
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Difficult Problem 1900; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.