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Confessions of an Opera Singer
Confessions of an Opera Singer

Chapter VII

Chapter 7 of Confessions of an Opera Singer is here in full — 95 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Kathleen Howard • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Confessions of an Opera Singer
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.
The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."
Students often ask me "How did you get your first engagement?"
This is how.
I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.
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.

Confessions of an Opera Singer

Chapter VII

Chapter 7 of Confessions of an Opera Singer is here in full — 95 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.
/maɪ fɜːrst ˌɑːpərˈætɪk ˈkɑːntrækt saɪnd baɪ ðə fɜːrst ʌv dɪˈsembər aɪ hæd ˈbroʊkən ðə bæk ʌv ðə ˈdʒɜːrmən dəˈklenʃənz ˌʌndərˈstʊd ə ɡʊd pɑːrt ʌv æn ˈɔːrdəneri ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən ənd hæd ˈpeɪnfəli əˈkwaɪərd θriː ɔːr fɔːr roʊlz ɪn ˈdʒɜːrmən/
Line 2
The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."
/ðə ˈɡædflaɪ ʌv maɪ æmˈbɪʃən bɪˈɡæn tuː ˈtɔːrment miː əˈɡen ənd aɪ dɪˈtɜːrmənd tuː lʊk fɔːr ə dʒɑːb/
Line 3
Students often ask me "How did you get your first engagement?"
Line 4
This is how.
Line 5
I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.
/aɪ went tuː siː ðə best ˈeɪdʒənt ɪn bərˈlɪn her ˈhɑːrdər ə mæn ʌv ðə ˈhaɪəst ˌrepjəˈteɪʃən fɔːr fer ˈdiːlɪŋ huː wɑːz ðə ˈrekəɡnaɪzd hed ʌv hɪz prəˈfeʃən/

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.

Berlin noun US /bərˈlɪn/

capital of Germany located in eastern Germany

From this reading “I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
contract verb US /ˈkɑːntrækt/

enter into a contractual arrangement

From this reading “MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dealing noun US /ˈdiːlɪŋ/

method or manner of conduct in relation to others

From this reading “I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
declensions noun US /dəˈklenʃənz/

plural of “declension” — the inflection of nouns and pronouns and adjectives in Indo-European languages

From this reading “MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gadfly noun US /ˈɡædflaɪ/

a persistently annoying person

From this reading “The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
operatic adjective US /ˌɑːpərˈætɪk/

of or relating to or characteristic of opera

From this reading “MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roles noun US /roʊlz/

plural of “role” — the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group

From this reading “MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
torment noun US /ˈtɔːrment/

unbearable physical pain

From this reading “The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."”

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.

fair dealing adjective + noun

In this reading “I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.”

236 times in 426,211 chapters
ordinary conversation noun + noun

In this reading “MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.”

358 times in 426,211 chapters
highest reputation adjective + noun counted as “high reputation”

In this reading “I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.”

469 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 70

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 MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/

gotten through environmental forces

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
agentnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənt/

an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ambitionnounUS /æmˈbɪʃən/

a cherished desire

From this reading The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
askverbUS /æsk/

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Students often ask me "How did you get your first engagement?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BerlinnounUS /bərˈlɪn/

capital of Germany located in eastern Germany

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CONTRACTverbUS /ˈkɑːntrækt/

enter into a contractual arrangement

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
conversationnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən/

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dealingnounUS /ˈdiːlɪŋ/

method or manner of conduct in relation to others

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/

the last (12th) month of the year

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
declensionsnounUS /dəˈklenʃənz/

plural of “declension” — the inflection of nouns and pronouns and adjectives in Indo-European languages

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜːrmənd/

characterized by great determination

From this reading The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."

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

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

From this reading Students often ask me "How did you get your first engagement?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
engagementnounUS /enˈɡeɪdʒmənt/

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading Students often ask me "How did you get your first engagement?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fairadjectiveUS /fer/

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
fournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gadflynounUS /ˈɡædflaɪ/

a persistently annoying person

From this reading The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GermannounUS /ˈdʒɜːrmən/

a person of German nationality

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Students often ask me "How did you get your first engagement?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

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

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

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HarderadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdər/

comparative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HerrnounUS /her/

a German man; used before the name as a title equivalent to Mr in English

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
highestadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪəst/

superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
How

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

From this reading Students often ask me "How did you get your first engagement?"

Pending verification
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading This is how.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
jobnounUS /dʒɑːb/

the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

From this reading The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading Students often ask me "How did you get your first engagement?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OPERATICadjectiveUS /ˌɑːpərˈætɪk/

of or relating to or characteristic of opera

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ordinarynounUS /ˈɔːrdəneri/

a judge of a probate court

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/

unpleasantly

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
professionnounUS /prəˈfeʃən/

the body of people in a learned occupation

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
recognizedadjectiveUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reputationnounUS /ˌrepjəˈteɪʃən/

the state of being held in high esteem and honor

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rolesnounUS /roʊlz/

plural of “role” — the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SIGNEDadjectiveUS /saɪnd/

having a handwritten signature

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
StudentsnounUS /ˈstuːdənts/

plural of “student” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution

From this reading Students often ask me "How did you get your first engagement?"

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 MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This is how.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tormentnounUS /ˈtɔːrment/

unbearable physical pain

From this reading The gadfly of my ambition began to torment me again, and I determined to look for a "job."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
understoodadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈstʊd/

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading MY FIRST OPERATIC CONTRACT SIGNED By the first of December I had broken the back of the German declensions, understood a good part of an ordinary conversation, and had painfully acquired three or four roles in German.

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 I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading I went to see the best agent in Berlin, Herr Harder, a man of the highest reputation for fair dealing, who was the recognized head of his profession.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Students often ask me "How did you get your first engagement?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Students often ask me "How did you get your first engagement?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 7 of Confessions of an Opera Singer by Kathleen Howard holds 95 sentences, grouped into 19 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 7 of Confessions of an Opera Singer contain?

Chapter 7 holds 95 sentences of Confessions of an Opera Singer, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 7 of Confessions of an Opera Singer by Kathleen Howard exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 95 sentences, grouped into 19 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 7 of Confessions of an Opera Singer?

Work through the 19 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 19 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 7 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 7 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 Confessions of an Opera Singer

Common questions about reading Confessions of an Opera Singer by Kathleen Howard on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Confessions of an Opera Singer?

Yes. All 2568 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32980 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Confessions of an Opera Singer is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #32980, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Confessions of an Opera Singer take to read?

About 214 minutes of reading across 514 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Confessions of an Opera Singer section by section

How to work through Confessions of an Opera Singer section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 23 chapters of Confessions of an Opera Singer 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 Confessions of an Opera Singer

Words and structures a reader meets early in Confessions of an Opera Singer, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Fantastic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confessions of an Opera Singer; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Tales
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confessions of an Opera Singer; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Students'
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confessions of an Opera Singer; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Abroad
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confessions of an Opera Singer; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.