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As It Was
As It Was

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of As It Was is here in full — 464 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for As It Was
Context Illustration Reading 1/92 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.
V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.
Leaning back against the rudder bar, Pritchard grinned.
"You forget the passes along the river banks.
They make it four laps."
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

As It Was

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of As It Was is here in full — 464 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/92 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.
Line 2
V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.
/viː tuː læps ərˈaʊnd ðə træk ənd ðen tuː ðə ˈʃaʊərz jeld ɡriːn hɪz ˈfɪŋɡərz ˈdænsɪŋ ˈoʊvər ðə ˈrɑːkət riˈliːs ənd ˈsnæpər ˈbʌtənz/
Line 3
Leaning back against the rudder bar, Pritchard grinned.
Line 4
"You forget the passes along the river banks.
/juː fərˈɡet ðə ˈpæsəz əˈlɔːŋ ðə ˈrɪvər bæŋks/
Line 5
They make it four laps."
/ðeɪ meɪk ɪt fɔːr læps/

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.

Greene noun US /ɡriːn/

English novelist and Catholic (1904-1991)

From this reading “V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.”

laps noun US /læps/

plural of “lap” — the upper side of the thighs of a seated person

From this reading “V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.”

renewing adjective US /rɪˈnuːɪŋ/

tending to impart new life and vigor to

From this reading “Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.”

rocket noun US /ˈrɑːkət/

any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine

From this reading “V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.”

rudder noun US /ˈrʌdər/

a hinged vertical airfoil mounted at the tail of an aircraft and used to make horizontal course changes

From this reading “Leaning back against the rudder bar, Pritchard grinned.”

screams noun US /skriːmz/

plural of “scream” — sharp piercing cry

From this reading “Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.”

snapper noun US /ˈsnæpər/

(football) the person who plays center on the line of scrimmage and snaps the ball to the quarterback

From this reading “V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.”

sporadically adverb US /spərˈædɪkli/

in a sporadic manner

From this reading “Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.”

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.

river banks noun + noun

In this reading “"You forget the passes along the river banks.”

along the river preposition + article + noun counted as “along … river”

In this reading “"You forget the passes along the river banks.”

passes along verb + particle counted as “pass along”

transmit information

In this reading “"You forget the passes along the river banks.”

beyond the mountain preposition + article + noun counted as “beyond … mountain”

In this reading “Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.”

All words in this reading · 53

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.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Leaning back against the rudder bar, Pritchard grinned.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading "You forget the passes along the river banks.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Leaning back against the rudder bar, Pritchard grinned.

banksnounUS /bæŋks/

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading "You forget the passes along the river banks.

barnounUS /bɑːr/

a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter

From this reading Leaning back against the rudder bar, Pritchard grinned.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

buttonsnounUS /ˈbʌtənz/

plural of “button” — a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

dancingnounUS /ˈdænsɪŋ/

taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

death-grips

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

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

fingersnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərz/

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

forgetverbUS /fərˈɡet/

dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading "You forget the passes along the river banks.

fournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading They make it four laps."

GreenenounUS /ɡriːn/

English novelist and Catholic (1904-1991)

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

grinnedverbUS /ɡrɪnd/

inflected form of “grin” — to draw back the lips and reveal the teeth, in a smile, grimace, or snarl

From this reading Leaning back against the rudder bar, Pritchard grinned.

groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/

plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They make it four laps."

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

lapsnounUS /læps/

plural of “lap” — the upper side of the thighs of a seated person

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

LeaningadjectiveUS /ˈliːnɪŋ/

departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

From this reading Leaning back against the rudder bar, Pritchard grinned.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading They make it four laps."

mountainnounUS /ˈmaʊntən/

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

passesnounUS /ˈpæsəz/

plural of “pass” — (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls

From this reading "You forget the passes along the river banks.

Pritchard

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

From this reading Leaning back against the rudder bar, Pritchard grinned.

releaseverbUS /riˈliːs/

release, as from one's grip

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

renewingadjectiveUS /rɪˈnuːɪŋ/

tending to impart new life and vigor to

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading "You forget the passes along the river banks.

rocketnounUS /ˈrɑːkət/

any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

ruddernounUS /ˈrʌdər/

a hinged vertical airfoil mounted at the tail of an aircraft and used to make horizontal course changes

From this reading Leaning back against the rudder bar, Pritchard grinned.

screamsnounUS /skriːmz/

plural of “scream” — sharp piercing cry

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

showersnounUS /ˈʃaʊərz/

plural of “shower” — a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

snappernounUS /ˈsnæpər/

(football) the person who plays center on the line of scrimmage and snaps the ball to the quarterback

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

soundedverbUS /ˈsaʊndɪd/

past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

sporadicallyadverbUS /spərˈædɪkli/

in a sporadic manner

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They make it four laps."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

tracknounUS /træk/

a line or route along which something travels or moves

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

twinnounUS /twɪn/

either of two offspring born at the same time from the same pregnancy

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

TwonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

VnounUS /viː/

a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Then, just as groups were sporadically renewing their death-grips here and there, the twin screams sounded beyond the mountain again.

yelledadjectiveUS /jeld/

in a vehement outcry

From this reading V "Two laps around the track and then to the showers!" yelled Greene, his fingers dancing over the rocket release and snapper buttons.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You forget the passes along the river banks.

Chapter 3 of As It Was by Paul L. Payne holds 464 sentences, grouped into 93 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 3 of As It Was contain?

Chapter 3 holds 464 sentences of As It Was, unabridged, divided into 93 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of As It Was by Paul L. Payne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 464 sentences, grouped into 93 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 3 of As It Was?

Work through the 93 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 93 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 As It Was

Common questions about reading As It Was by Paul L. Payne on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of As It Was?

Yes. All 1416 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #63953 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of As It Was is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #63953, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does As It Was take to read?

About 118 minutes of reading across 284 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read As It Was section by section

How to work through As It Was section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 3 chapters of As It Was 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 As It Was

Words and structures a reader meets early in As It Was, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Cruel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of As It Was; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cosmos
A word that appears in the opening chapter of As It Was; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lived
A word that appears in the opening chapter of As It Was; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Killer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of As It Was; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.