Chapter 2 of Breaking Point is here in full — 418 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Breaking Point is here in full — 418 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall. "I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel." "Counter-clockwise," said Ives. "You saw him." "I know that," said Hoskins.
Chapter 2 of Breaking Point is here in full — 418 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading “Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.”
United States composer noted for his innovative use of polytonality (1874-1954)
From this reading “"Counter-clockwise," said Ives.”
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading “"I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."”
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading “"I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."”
a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading “Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.”
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading “Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.”
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading “Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.”
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading “"I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."”
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.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Counter-clockwise," said Ives.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "You saw him."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.
by means of hypnotism
From this reading Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.
United States composer noted for his innovative use of polytonality (1874-1954)
From this reading "Counter-clockwise," said Ives.
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading "I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I know that," said Hoskins.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading "I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."
cut with a saw
From this reading "You saw him."
a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading "I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Hoskins had been staring hypnotically at the broken shaft deep in the wall.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading "I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading "I wonder," he said at length, "which way Johnny turned that wheel."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You saw him."
Chapter 2 of Breaking Point by James E. Gunn holds 418 sentences, grouped into 84 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 2 holds 418 sentences of Breaking Point, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Breaking Point by James E. Gunn exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 418 sentences, grouped into 84 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 84 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading Breaking Point by James E. Gunn on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1659 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #21988 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #21988, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 138 minutes of reading across 332 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Breaking Point section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 4 chapters of Breaking Point to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Breaking Point, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
