Broken Barriers

Chapter XI

Chapter 11 of Broken Barriers is here in full — 398 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Meredith Nicholson • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

“I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.

But there are times when I get scared.

I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XI Reading 1/79

Broken Barriers

Chapter XI

Chapter 11 of Broken Barriers is here in full — 398 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/79 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

“I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

Line 2

When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

Line 3

I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.

Line 4

But there are times when I get scared.

/bʌt ðer ɑːr taɪmz wen aɪ ɡet skerd/

Line 5

I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

/aɪ θɔːt ɪt wʊd biː fʌn tuː drɪft əˈlɔːŋ fɔːr əˈwaɪl dʒʌst ˈtraɪɪŋ ˌmaɪˈself aʊt ənd aɪ wɑːz ʃʊr aɪ kʊd stɑːp weˈnevər aɪ pliːzd ənd ˈsetəl ɑːn ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

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.

awhile adverb US /əˈwaɪl/

for a short time

From this reading “I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.”

college noun US /ˈkɑːlɪdʒ/

the body of faculty and students of a college

From this reading “When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.”

drift verb US /drɪft/

be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading “I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.”

grip noun US /ɡrɪp/

the act of grasping

From this reading “When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.”

quit verb US /kwɪt/

put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading “When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.”

scared adjective US /skerd/

made afraid

From this reading “But there are times when I get scared.”

settle verb US /ˈsetəl/

settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground

From this reading “I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.”

test noun US /test/

trying something to find out about it

From this reading “I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.”

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.

drift along verb + particle

In this reading “I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.”

strong grip adjective + noun

In this reading “When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.”

for awhile preposition + adverb

In this reading “I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.”

own way verb + noun

In this reading “I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.”

get scared verb + adjective

In this reading “But there are times when I get scared.”

All words in this reading · 61

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading But there are times when I get scared.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

awhileadverbUS /əˈwaɪl/

for a short time

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

collegenounUS /ˈkɑːlɪdʒ/

the body of faculty and students of a college

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

don't

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

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

driftverbUS /drɪft/

be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

funnounUS /fʌn/

activities that are enjoyable or amusing

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading But there are times when I get scared.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.

gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/

the act of grasping

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.

Irene

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

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.

pleasedadjectiveUS /pliːzd/

experiencing or manifesting pleasure

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

quitverbUS /kwɪt/

put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

scaredadjectiveUS /skerd/

made afraid

From this reading But there are times when I get scared.

self-conceit

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

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

settleverbUS /ˈsetəl/

settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

stopverbUS /stɑːp/

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

strongadjectiveUS /strɔːŋ/

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

testnounUS /test/

trying something to find out about it

From this reading I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading But there are times when I get scared.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading But there are times when I get scared.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.

tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/

hard to endure

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading I was going to test out life--find out everything in my own way.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself.

wheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/

at any time that; every time that

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

wishverbUS /wɪʃ/

hope for; have a wish

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something.

you're

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

From this reading “I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all!

Chapter 11 of Broken Barriers by Meredith Nicholson holds 398 sentences, grouped into 80 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 11 of Broken Barriers contain?

Chapter 11 holds 398 sentences of Broken Barriers, unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of Broken Barriers by Meredith Nicholson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 398 sentences, grouped into 80 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 11 of Broken Barriers?

Work through the 80 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 80 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 11 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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 Broken Barriers

Common questions about reading Broken Barriers by Meredith Nicholson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Broken Barriers?

Yes. All 7625 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #66907 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Broken Barriers is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #66907, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Broken Barriers take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1525 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Broken Barriers section by section

How to work through Broken Barriers section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 19 chapters of Broken Barriers to begin.
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Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Broken Barriers

Words and structures a reader meets early in Broken Barriers, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Train: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Broken Barriers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Through: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Broken Barriers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Night: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Broken Barriers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Grace: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Broken Barriers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XI

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Vocabulary met early in Broken Barriers