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Benton's Venture
Benton's Venture

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of Benton's Venture is here in full — 256 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Ralph Henry Barbour • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Benton's Venture
Context Illustration Reading 1/51 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.
Here are the checks.
Rustle ’em right up, will you?”
The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.
“Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.
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.

Benton's Venture

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of Benton's Venture is here in full — 256 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/51 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.
Line 2
Here are the checks.
/hiːr ɑːr ðə tʃeks/
Line 3
Rustle ’em right up, will you?”
/ˈrʌsəl em raɪt ʌp wɪl juː/
Line 4
The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.
Line 5
“Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.
/biː ʃʊr ənd hæv ðem ʌp ðer æt ðə saɪd dɔːr ˌɪnˈsaɪd fɪfˈtiːn ˈmɪnəts sʌn/

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.

Ark noun US /ɑːrk/

(Judaism) sacred chest where the ancient Hebrews kept the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments

From this reading “The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
attired adjective US /əˈtaɪrd/

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading “The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
checks noun US /tʃeks/

plural of “check” — a written order directing a bank to pay money

From this reading “Here are the checks.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
duff noun US /dʌf/

a stiff flour pudding steamed or boiled usually and containing e.g. currants and raisins and citron

From this reading ““J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nattily adverb US /ˈnætəli/

in a natty manner; with smartness

From this reading “The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Rustle verb US /ˈrʌsəl/

make a dry crackling sound

From this reading “Rustle ’em right up, will you?””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
salesman noun US /ˈseɪlzmən/

a man salesperson

From this reading “The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sample noun US /ˈsæmpəl/

a small part of something intended as representative of the whole

From this reading ““J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.”

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.

fifteen minutes noun + noun

In this reading ““Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.”

5,781 times in 426,212 chapters
look at verb + particle

take into consideration for exemplifying purposes

In this reading “The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.”

296,767 times in 426,212 chapters
side door noun + noun

an exterior door at one side of a building

In this reading ““Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.”

2,607 times in 426,212 chapters

All words in this reading · 64

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.

11

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

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

Pending verification
34

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

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

Pending verification
adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Here are the checks.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ArknounUS /ɑːrk/

(Judaism) sacred chest where the ancient Hebrews kept the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
attiredadjectiveUS /əˈtaɪrd/

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading “Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
bitsnounUS /bɪts/

plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
casesnounUS /ˈkeɪsəz/

plural of “case” — an occurrence of something

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
checksnounUS /tʃeks/

plural of “check” — a written order directing a bank to pay money

From this reading Here are the checks.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DONEadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading “Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DUFFnounUS /dʌf/

a stiff flour pudding steamed or boiled usually and containing e.g. currants and raisins and citron

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Dunlop

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

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

Pending verification
emnounUS /em/

a quad with a square body

From this reading Rustle ’em right up, will you?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fifteennounUS /fɪfˈtiːn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one

From this reading “Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
handedadjectiveUS /ˈhændəd/

having or involving the use of hands

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HereadverbUS /hiːr/

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

From this reading Here are the checks.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
I've

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

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

Pending verification
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
insideadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading “Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
JnounUS /dʒeɪ/

a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one second

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
JOBBING

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

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

Pending verification
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading “Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nattilyadverbUS /ˈnætəli/

in a natty manner; with smartness

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
pasteboardnoun

stiff cardboard made by pasting together layers of paper

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading Rustle ’em right up, will you?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RustleverbUS /ˈrʌsəl/

make a dry crackling sound

From this reading Rustle ’em right up, will you?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
salesmannounUS /ˈseɪlzmən/

a man salesperson

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
samplenounUS /ˈsæmpəl/

a small part of something intended as representative of the whole

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
settledadjectiveUS /ˈsetəld/

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading “Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/

someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading “Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.

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 Here are the checks.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading “Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading “Be sure and have them up there at the side door inside fifteen minutes, son.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Toll's

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

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

Pending verification
TomnounUS /tɑːm/

male cat

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
trainverbUS /treɪn/

create by training and teaching

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
travelingnounUS /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/

the act of going from one place to another

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “J. DUFF, JOBBING DONE” “I’ve got two sample cases, son, to go to Dunlop and Toll’s.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Rustle ’em right up, will you?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
watchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/

look attentively

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Rustle ’em right up, will you?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The speaker, a nattily attired traveling salesman who had just arrived on the 11:34 train, handed the two bits of pasteboard to Tom and, with a sharp look at his watch, settled himself in The Ark.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Rustle ’em right up, will you?”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 17 of Benton's Venture by Ralph Henry Barbour holds 256 sentences, grouped into 52 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 17 of Benton's Venture contain?

Chapter 17 holds 256 sentences of Benton's Venture, unabridged, divided into 52 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of Benton's Venture by Ralph Henry Barbour exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 256 sentences, grouped into 52 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 17 of Benton's Venture?

Work through the 52 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 52 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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.