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Benton's Venture
Benton's Venture

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Benton's Venture is here in full — 135 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Chapter 12 of Benton's Venture by Ralph Henry Barbour holds 135 sentences, grouped into 27 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 12 of Benton's Venture contain?

Chapter 12 holds 135 sentences of Benton's Venture, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Benton's Venture by Ralph Henry Barbour exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 135 sentences, grouped into 27 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 12 of Benton's Venture?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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 Benton's Venture

Common questions about reading Benton's Venture by Ralph Henry Barbour on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Benton's Venture?

Yes. All 5144 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #66533 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Benton's Venture is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #66533, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Benton's Venture take to read?

About 428 minutes of reading across 1029 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Benton's Venture section by section

How to work through Benton's Venture section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 29 chapters of Benton's Venture 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 Benton's Venture

Words and structures a reader meets early in Benton's Venture, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Automobile
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Benton's Venture; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Benton
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Benton's Venture; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Smiled
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Benton's Venture; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shook
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Benton's Venture; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for Benton's Venture
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.
He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.
Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.
“Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.
We need all the money we can get.”
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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.

Benton's Venture

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Benton's Venture is here in full — 135 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.
Line 2
He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.
Line 3
Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.
Line 4
“Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.
Line 5
We need all the money we can get.”

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, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.”

Providence noun US /ˈprɑː.və.dəns/

The protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power. (Sự quan phòng, thiên ý phù hộ.)

From this reading “WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.”

Stood verb US /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading “He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.”

All words in this reading · 74

Every word is available to listen to. 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 WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

added

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

all

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

From this reading We need all the money we can get.”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

armed

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

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

attend

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

Audelsville

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

better

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

business

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading We need all the money we can get.”

car

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

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

certain

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

citizens

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

comfortably

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

day

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

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

days

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

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

difference

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

difficulty

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

ENCOUNTERS

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

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

felt

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

fifty-five

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

FRIEND

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

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

get

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

From this reading We need all the money we can get.”

gloomily

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

guess

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

here

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

I'd

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

influential

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

journey

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

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

later

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

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

lose

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

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

made

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

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

make

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

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

Maybe

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

money

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

From this reading We need all the money we can get.”

much

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

need

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

From this reading We need all the money we can get.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

offered

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

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

out

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

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

petition

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

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

pointed

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

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

prominent

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

ProvidencenounUS /ˈprɑː.və.dəns/

The protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power. (Sự quan phòng, thiên ý phù hộ.)

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

secured

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

signatures

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

stay

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

success

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

Tom

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

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

trip

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

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

Two

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

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We need all the money we can get.”

WILLARD

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

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading WILLARD ENCOUNTERS A FRIEND Two days later, Willard, armed with his petition, made the trip to Providence.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading He had secured fifty-five signatures without difficulty, and as they stood for the prominent and influential citizens of Audelsville both he and Tom felt comfortably certain of success.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Willard had offered to let Tom make the journey, but Tom had pointed out that if he did they would lose a day with the car.

wouldn't

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

From this reading “Maybe it wouldn’t make much difference,” he added gloomily, “but I guess I’d better stay here and attend to business.