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Beth's wonder-winter
Beth's wonder-winter

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Beth's wonder-winter is here in full — 177 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Marion Ames Taggart • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Beth's wonder-winter
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.
She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.
Beth, small and quiet for her eleven years, answered unexpectedly:
“I didn’t tear it, Aunt Rebecca.
It tore itself--kind of.”
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.

Beth's wonder-winter

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Beth's wonder-winter is here in full — 177 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.
Line 2
She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.
/ʃiː held ʌp ðə əˈkjuːzɪŋ rent tuː ɪkˈspleɪn ðə tʃeɪndʒ ɪn ðə fɔːrm ʌv hɜːr ˈkwestʃən ɪt left noʊ ruːm fɔːr daʊt ðæt ðə ˈeɪprən wɑːz tɔːrn/
Line 3
Beth, small and quiet for her eleven years, answered unexpectedly:
/beθ smɔːl ənd ˈkwaɪət fɔːr hɜːr ɪˈlevən jɪrz ˈænsərd ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/
Line 4
“I didn’t tear it, Aunt Rebecca.
Line 5
It tore itself--kind of.”

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.

accusing adjective US /əˈkjuːzɪŋ/

containing or expressing accusation

From this reading “She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
apron noun US /ˈeɪprən/

a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing

From this reading “WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Beth noun US /beθ/

the 2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet

From this reading “WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Beth's noun US /beθs/

possessive form of “beth” — the 2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mail noun US /meɪl/

the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

From this reading “WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Rebecca noun US /rəˈbekə/

(Old Testament) wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau

From this reading ““I didn’t tear it, Aunt Rebecca.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rent verb US /rent/

let for money

From this reading “She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
unexpectedly adverb US /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/

in a way that was not expected

From this reading “Beth, small and quiet for her eleven years, answered unexpectedly:”

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.

eleven years adjective + noun

In this reading “Beth, small and quiet for her eleven years, answered unexpectedly:”

1,797 times in 225,867 chapters
change in verb + particle

In this reading “She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.”

22,174 times in 225,867 chapters
CAME IN verb + particle counted as “come in”

to come or go into

In this reading “WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.”

147,741 times in 225,867 chapters

All words in this reading · 51

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.

accusingadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːzɪŋ/

containing or expressing accusation

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Beth, small and quiet for her eleven years, answered unexpectedly:

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading Beth, small and quiet for her eleven years, answered unexpectedly:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
apronnounUS /ˈeɪprən/

a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
auntnounUS /ænt/

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BethnounUS /beθ/

the 2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Beth'snounUS /beθs/

possessive form of “beth” — the 2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Bristead

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

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

Pending verification
CAMEverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
demandedverbUS /dɪˈmændəd/

past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
didn't

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

From this reading “I didn’t tear it, Aunt Rebecca.

Pending verification
doubtnounUS /daʊt/

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
elevenadjectiveUS /ɪˈlevən/

being one more than ten

From this reading Beth, small and quiet for her eleven years, answered unexpectedly:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
explainverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪn/

make plain and comprehensible

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
formnounUS /fɔːrm/

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
heldadjectiveUS /held/

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
how

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

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

Pending verification
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I didn’t tear it, Aunt Rebecca.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading It tore itself--kind of.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading It tore itself--kind of.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MAILnounUS /meɪl/

the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading Beth, small and quiet for her eleven years, answered unexpectedly:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RebeccanounUS /rəˈbekə/

(Old Testament) wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau

From this reading “I didn’t tear it, Aunt Rebecca.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rentverbUS /rent/

let for money

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Beth, small and quiet for her eleven years, answered unexpectedly:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tearverbUS /ter/

separate or cause to separate abruptly

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
torenounUS /tɔːr/

commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column

From this reading It tore itself--kind of.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tornadjectiveUS /tɔːrn/

having edges that are jagged from injury

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
unexpectedlyadverbUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/

in a way that was not expected

From this reading Beth, small and quiet for her eleven years, answered unexpectedly:

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 She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading She held up the accusing rent to explain the change in the form of her question; it left no room for doubt that the apron was torn.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WHENconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading Beth, small and quiet for her eleven years, answered unexpectedly:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading WHEN THE MAIL CAME IN “Beth Bristead, did you tear--how did you tear your apron so?” demanded Beth’s aunt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of Beth's wonder-winter by Marion Ames Taggart holds 177 sentences, grouped into 36 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 1 of Beth's wonder-winter contain?

Chapter 1 holds 177 sentences of Beth's wonder-winter, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Beth's wonder-winter by Marion Ames Taggart exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 177 sentences, grouped into 36 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 1 of Beth's wonder-winter?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 1 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading Beth's wonder-winter

Common questions about reading Beth's wonder-winter by Marion Ames Taggart on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Beth's wonder-winter?

Yes. All 5187 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #75689 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Beth's wonder-winter is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #75689, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Beth's wonder-winter take to read?

About 432 minutes of reading across 1038 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Beth's wonder-winter section by section

How to work through Beth's wonder-winter section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 19 chapters of Beth's wonder-winter 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 Beth's wonder-winter

Words and structures a reader meets early in Beth's wonder-winter, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Bristead
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beth's wonder-winter; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Tear--how
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beth's wonder-winter; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Apron
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beth's wonder-winter; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Demanded
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beth's wonder-winter; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.