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Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom is here in full — 427 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?
I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."
Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.
While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.
But it's also true -- and I never told her this -- that the thing I love best about the Mansion is:
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom is here in full — 427 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?
/ðə ˈmoʊmənt wɑːz ɑːn miː ənd soʊ aɪ sed wen duː ðeɪ let juː ɡuːlz ɔːf/
Line 2
I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."
Line 3
Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.
Line 4
While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.
Line 5
But it's also true -- and I never told her this -- that the thing I love best about the Mansion is:

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.

banter noun US /ˈbæntər/

light teasing repartee

From this reading “Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.”

gap noun US /ɡæp/

a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures

From this reading “Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.”

ghouls noun US /ɡuːlz/

plural of “ghoul” — someone who takes bodies from graves and sells them for anatomical dissection

From this reading “The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?”

horrifying adjective US /ˈhɔːrəfaɪɪŋ/

provoking horror

From this reading “Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.”

Mansion noun US /ˈmænʃən/

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

From this reading “While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.”

nerve noun US /nɜːrv/

any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body

From this reading “Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.”

reverse verb US /rɪˈvɜːrs/

change to the contrary

From this reading “While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.”

Zombie noun US /ˈzɑːmbi/

a dead body that has been brought back to life by a supernatural force

From this reading “I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."”

All words in this reading · 80

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 I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading But it's also true -- and I never told her this -- that the thing I love best about the Mansion is:

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

Adventurer's

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

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

agenounUS /eɪdʒ/

how long something has existed

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading But it's also true -- and I never told her this -- that the thing I love best about the Mansion is:

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

banternounUS /ˈbæntər/

light teasing repartee

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading But it's also true -- and I never told her this -- that the thing I love best about the Mansion is:

BloodyadjectiveUS /ˈblʌdi/

having or covered with or accompanied by blood

From this reading I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But it's also true -- and I never told her this -- that the thing I love best about the Mansion is:

century-wide

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

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

ClubnounUS /klʌb/

a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."

gapnounUS /ɡæp/

a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

ghoulsnounUS /ɡuːlz/

plural of “ghoul” — someone who takes bodies from graves and sells them for anatomical dissection

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

horrifyingadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəfaɪɪŋ/

provoking horror

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

I'd

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

From this reading I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.

it's

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

From this reading But it's also true -- and I never told her this -- that the thing I love best about the Mansion is:

learningnounUS /ˈlɜːrnɪŋ/

the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

lednounUS /led/

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

Lil

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

From this reading While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.

losingverbUS /ˈluːzɪŋ/

-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."

MansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

From this reading While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.

MarynounUS /ˈmeri/

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

nervenounUS /nɜːrv/

any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading But it's also true -- and I never told her this -- that the thing I love best about the Mansion is:

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

noticedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəst/

being perceived or observed

From this reading While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."

possiblyadverbUS /ˈpɑːsəbli/

by chance

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

processverbUS /ˈprɑːses/

subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

reverseverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrs/

change to the contrary

From this reading While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."

takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.

tellingadjectiveUS /ˈtelɪŋ/

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading But it's also true -- and I never told her this -- that the thing I love best about the Mansion is:

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading But it's also true -- and I never told her this -- that the thing I love best about the Mansion is:

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading But it's also true -- and I never told her this -- that the thing I love best about the Mansion is:

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

WhichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Which led to more horrifying banter, and to my taking her out for a couple at the Adventurer's Club, learning her age in the process and losing my nerve, telling myself that there was nothing we could possibly have to say to each other across a century-wide gap.

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading While I tell Lil that I noticed her first and the Mansion second, the reverse is indeed true.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The moment was on me, and so I said, "When do they let you ghouls off?

ZombienounUS /ˈzɑːmbi/

a dead body that has been brought back to life by a supernatural force

From this reading I'd love to take you out for a Zombie or a Bloody Mary."

Chapter 5 of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow holds 427 sentences, grouped into 86 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 5 of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom contain?

Chapter 5 holds 427 sentences of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, unabridged, divided into 86 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 427 sentences, grouped into 86 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 5 of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom?

Work through the 86 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 86 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom

Common questions about reading Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom?

Yes. All 3817 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #8086 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #8086, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom take to read?

About 318 minutes of reading across 764 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom

Words and structures a reader meets early in Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Magic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Kingdom
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sparkles
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fizzes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.