Chapter 1 of A Trace of Memory is here in full — 102 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of A Trace of Memory is here in full — 102 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental. "Let's get out of here fast," I said. "We've probably set off an alarm already." As if in answer, a low chime cut across our talk.
Chapter 1 of A Trace of Memory is here in full — 102 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
a percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned bells that are struck with a hammer; used as an orchestral instrument
From this reading “As if in answer, a low chime cut across our talk.”
occurring or operating at the same time
From this reading “All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.”
a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
From this reading “This is a work of fiction.”
related to or involving literary fiction
From this reading “All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.”
plural of “incident” — a single distinct event
From this reading “All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.”
represented graphically by sketch or design or lines
From this reading “All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.”
restricted to something
From this reading “All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.”
similarity in appearance or external or superficial details
From this reading “All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.”
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.
put in motion or move to act
In this reading “"We've probably set off an alarm already."”
travel across or pass over
In this reading “As if in answer, a low chime cut across our talk.”
move out of or depart from
In this reading “"Let's get out of here fast," I said.”
In this reading “All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This is a work of fiction.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading As if in answer, a low chime cut across our talk.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading "We've probably set off an alarm already."
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading "We've probably set off an alarm already."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "We've probably set off an alarm already."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
react verbally
From this reading As if in answer, a low chime cut across our talk.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As if in answer, a low chime cut across our talk.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
a percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned bells that are struck with a hammer; used as an orchestral instrument
From this reading As if in answer, a low chime cut across our talk.
occurring or operating at the same time
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading As if in answer, a low chime cut across our talk.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading "Let's get out of here fast," I said.
a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
From this reading This is a work of fiction.
related to or involving literary fiction
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Let's get out of here fast," I said.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Let's get out of here fast," I said.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Let's get out of here fast," I said.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As if in answer, a low chime cut across our talk.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
plural of “incident” — a single distinct event
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This is a work of fiction.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Let's get out of here fast," I said.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading As if in answer, a low chime cut across our talk.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This is a work of fiction.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "We've probably set off an alarm already."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading As if in answer, a low chime cut across our talk.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Let's get out of here fast," I said.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
represented graphically by sketch or design or lines
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading "We've probably set off an alarm already."
restricted to something
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
similarity in appearance or external or superficial details
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Let's get out of here fast," I said.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "We've probably set off an alarm already."
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading As if in answer, a low chime cut across our talk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This is a work of fiction.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We've probably set off an alarm already."
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading This is a work of fiction.
Chapter 1 of A Trace of Memory by Keith Laumer holds 102 sentences, grouped into 21 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.
Chapter 1 holds 102 sentences of A Trace of Memory, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of A Trace of Memory by Keith Laumer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 102 sentences, grouped into 21 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.
Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 21 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.
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.
Common questions about reading A Trace of Memory by Keith Laumer on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5506 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51712 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #51712, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 458 minutes of reading across 1102 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through A Trace of Memory section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 19 chapters of A Trace of Memory to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in A Trace of Memory, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
