Chapter 25 of Down the Slope is here in full — 91 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXV
Chapter 25 of Down the Slope is here in full — 91 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly. "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began. "That's correct." "Have you left our employ?" "It amounts to pretty much that."
Chapter 25 of Down the Slope is here in full — 91 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/18 · 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.
plural of “amount” — a quantity of money
From this reading “"It amounts to pretty much that."”
prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult
From this reading “JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.”
make right or correct
From this reading “"That's correct."”
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading “"Have you left our employ?"”
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading “JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.”
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading “JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.”
a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading “JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.”
United States writer of detective novels (1888-1939)
From this reading “"I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
plural of “amount” — a quantity of money
From this reading "It amounts to pretty much that."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
make right or correct
From this reading "That's correct."
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading "Have you left our employ?"
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It amounts to pretty much that."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
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 "Have you left our employ?"
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "It amounts to pretty much that."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Have you left our employ?"
the time that has elapsed
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading "It amounts to pretty much that."
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
express in speech
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's correct."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
precisely as stated
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading JOE'S INTERVIEW Joe Brace had a very good idea of why the superintendent wished to see him, and he entered the office prepared to speak his mind plainly.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
United States writer of detective novels (1888-1939)
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I understand that you have not been working for the past day or two," Mr. Wright began.
Chapter 25 of Down the Slope by James Otis holds 91 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.
Chapter 25 holds 91 sentences of Down the Slope, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 25 of Down the Slope by James Otis exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 91 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.
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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 25 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 Down the Slope by James Otis on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4094 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #28697 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #28697, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 341 minutes of reading across 819 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Down the Slope section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 34 chapters of Down the Slope 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 Down the Slope, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
