Chapter 1 of An Experiment in Altruism is here in full — 62 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Chapter 1 of An Experiment in Altruism by Margaret Pollock Sherwood holds 62 sentences, grouped into 13 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 62 sentences of An Experiment in Altruism, unabridged, divided into 13 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of An Experiment in Altruism by Margaret Pollock Sherwood exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 62 sentences, grouped into 13 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 13 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 13 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 An Experiment in Altruism by Margaret Pollock Sherwood on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2299 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #67432 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #67432, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 191 minutes of reading across 460 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through An Experiment in Altruism section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 39 chapters of An Experiment in Altruism 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 An Experiment in Altruism, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of An Experiment in Altruism is here in full — 62 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by. ‘Don’t you understand,’ said the Philosopher, ‘that what you want is _water_?’” “What do you mean by that?” I asked, turning to look at the girl’s face. Her colour was shifting quickly in the cool October air.
Chapter 1 of An Experiment in Altruism is here in full — 62 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/13 · 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, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading ““When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.”
Every word is available to listen to. 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 “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her colour was shifting quickly in the cool October air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked, turning to look at the girl’s face.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I asked, turning to look at the girl’s face.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her colour was shifting quickly in the cool October air.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her colour was shifting quickly in the cool October air.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “What do you mean by that?”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Don’t you understand,’ said the Philosopher, ‘that what you want is _water_?’”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked, turning to look at the girl’s face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked, turning to look at the girl’s face.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her colour was shifting quickly in the cool October air.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I asked, turning to look at the girl’s face.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘Don’t you understand,’ said the Philosopher, ‘that what you want is _water_?’”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked, turning to look at the girl’s face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What do you mean by that?”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her colour was shifting quickly in the cool October air.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her colour was shifting quickly in the cool October air.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her colour was shifting quickly in the cool October air.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I asked, turning to look at the girl’s face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked, turning to look at the girl’s face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Don’t you understand,’ said the Philosopher, ‘that what you want is _water_?’”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Don’t you understand,’ said the Philosopher, ‘that what you want is _water_?’”
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading ‘Don’t you understand,’ said the Philosopher, ‘that what you want is _water_?’”
at the time that
From this reading “When Tantalus,” said Janet, “was standing in the water that he could not reach, and was dying of thirst, a Philosopher came by.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘Don’t you understand,’ said the Philosopher, ‘that what you want is _water_?’”
