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A First Reader
A First Reader

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of A First Reader is here in full — 690 sentences across 138 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Frank E. (Frank Ellsworth) Spaulding • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for A First Reader
Context Illustration Reading 1/138 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
By Frank E. Spaulding Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.
Catherine T. Bryce Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.
With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.
NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.
INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.
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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 First Reader

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of A First Reader is here in full — 690 sentences across 138 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/138 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
By Frank E. Spaulding Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.
Line 2
Catherine T. Bryce Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.
Line 3
With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.
Line 4
NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.
Line 5
INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

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.

dramatizations noun US /ˌdræmətəˈzeɪʃənz/

plural of “dramatization” — conversion into dramatic form

From this reading “INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Massachusetts noun US /ˌmæsəˈtʃuːsəts/

a state in New England; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading “NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Minneapolis noun US /ˌmɪniˈæpəlɪs/

largest city in Minnesota; located in southeastern Minnesota on the Mississippi river; noted for flour mills; one of the Twin Cities

From this reading “By Frank E. Spaulding Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Primer noun US /ˈpraɪmər/

an introductory textbook

From this reading “INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rhymes noun US /raɪmz/

plural of “rhyme” — correspondence in the sounds of two or more lines (especially final sounds)

From this reading “INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Supervisor noun US /ˈsuːpərvaɪzər/

one who supervises or has charge and direction of

From this reading “NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
surprisingly adverb US /sərˈpraɪzɪŋli/

in a surprising manner

From this reading “INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Webb noun US /web/

English writer and a central member of the Fabian Society (1858-1943)

From this reading “With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

Public Schools noun + noun counted as “public school”

a tuition free school in the United States supported by taxes and controlled by a school board

In this reading “NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.”

2,608 times in 426,211 chapters
valuable assistance adjective + noun

In this reading “NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.”

174 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 67

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.

acknowledgeverbUS /ækˈnɑːlɪdʒ/

declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Aldine

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

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

Pending verification
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
arrangingnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒɪŋ/

the act of arranging and adapting a piece of music

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
assistancenounUS /əˈsɪstəns/

the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AssistantnounUS /əˈsɪstənt/

a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

From this reading Catherine T. Bryce Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
authorsnounUS /ˈɔːθərz/

plural of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BERRYnounUS /ˈberi/

any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Bryce

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

From this reading Catherine T. Bryce Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.

Pending verification
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By Frank E. Spaulding Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CatherinenounUS /ˈkæθərən/

first wife of Henry VIII; Henry VIII's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485-1536)

From this reading Catherine T. Bryce Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
child'snounUS /tʃaɪldz/

possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
continuesverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːz/

third-person singular of “continue” — continue a certain state, condition, or activity

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
delightfuladjectiveUS /dɪˈlaɪtfəl/

greatly pleasing or entertaining

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
desirenounUS /dɪˈzaɪər/

the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dramatizationsnounUS /ˌdræmətəˈzeɪʃənz/

plural of “dramatization” — conversion into dramatic form

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DrawingnounUS /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/

an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EnounUS /iː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body

From this reading By Frank E. Spaulding Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
effortsnounUS /ˈefərts/

plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Ely

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

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

Pending verification
exercisesnounUS /ˈeksərsaɪzəz/

plural of “exercise” — the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
FrankadjectiveUS /fræŋk/

characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion

From this reading By Frank E. Spaulding Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IllustrationsnounUS /ˌɪləˈstreɪʃənz/

plural of “illustration” — artwork that helps make something clear or attractive

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
interestingadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
INTRODUCTIONnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/

the act of beginning something new

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LnounUS /el/

a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Margaret

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

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

Pending verification
MassachusettsnounUS /ˌmæsəˈtʃuːsəts/

a state in New England; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
masternounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Minn

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

From this reading By Frank E. Spaulding Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.

Pending verification
MinneapolisnounUS /ˌmɪniˈæpəlɪs/

largest city in Minnesota; located in southeastern Minnesota on the Mississippi river; noted for flour mills; one of the Twin Cities

From this reading By Frank E. Spaulding Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MRnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NATHANIEL

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

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

Pending verification
NewtonnounUS /ˈnuːtən/

English mathematician and physicist; remembered for developing the calculus and for his law of gravitation and his three laws of motion (1642-1727)

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
obligationnounUS /ˌɑːbləˈɡeɪʃən/

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading By Frank E. Spaulding Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
picturesnounUS /ˈpɪktʃərz/

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
planningnounUS /ˈplænɪŋ/

an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PrimernounUS /ˈpraɪmər/

an introductory textbook

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PublicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
publishersnounUS /ˈpʌblɪʃərz/

plural of “publisher” — a firm in the publishing business

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ReadernounUS /ˈriːdər/

a person who enjoys reading

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
readingnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋ/

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rhymesnounUS /raɪmz/

plural of “rhyme” — correspondence in the sounds of two or more lines (especially final sounds)

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SchoolsnounUS /skuːlz/

plural of “school” — an educational institution

From this reading By Frank E. Spaulding Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Spaulding

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

From this reading By Frank E. Spaulding Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.

Pending verification
storiesnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
successfuladjectiveUS /səkˈsesfəl/

having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SuperintendentnounUS /ˌsuːpərənˈtendənt/

a person who directs and manages an organization

From this reading By Frank E. Spaulding Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SupervisornounUS /ˈsuːpərvaɪzər/

one who supervises or has charge and direction of

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
surprisinglyadverbUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋli/

in a surprising manner

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TnounUS /tiː/

a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading Catherine T. Bryce Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Minneapolis, Minn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
valuableadjectiveUS /ˈvæljəbəl/

having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange

From this reading NATHANIEL L. BERRY, Supervisor of Drawing in the Public Schools of Newton, Massachusetts, for valuable assistance in planning and arranging the illustrations in this book.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WebbnounUS /web/

English writer and a central member of the Fabian Society (1858-1943)

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading INTRODUCTION This First Reader continues the interesting exercises of the Aldine Primer—the rhymes and stories, the dramatizations and pictures—which make the child’s efforts to master the art of reading both delightful and surprisingly successful.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With Illustrations by Margaret Ely Webb The authors and publishers desire to acknowledge their obligation to MR.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of A First Reader by Frank E. (Frank Ellsworth) Spaulding holds 690 sentences, grouped into 138 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 First Reader contain?

Chapter 1 holds 690 sentences of A First Reader, unabridged, divided into 138 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of A First Reader by Frank E. (Frank Ellsworth) Spaulding exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 690 sentences, grouped into 138 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 First Reader?

Work through the 138 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 138 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 First Reader

Common questions about reading A First Reader by Frank E. (Frank Ellsworth) Spaulding on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A First Reader?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A First Reader is used?

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

How long does A First Reader take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A First Reader section by section

How to work through A First Reader section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of A First Reader 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 First Reader

Words and structures a reader meets early in A First Reader, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of A First Reader, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of A First Reader, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of A First Reader, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.