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Following the Equator — Part 7
Following the Equator — Part 7

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Following the Equator — Part 7 is here in full — 104 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Following the Equator — Part 7
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.
--Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar.
April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.
Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.
This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Following the Equator — Part 7

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Following the Equator — Part 7 is here in full — 104 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.
/ðə ˈprɪnsəpəl ˈdɪfərəns bɪˈtwiːn ə kæt ənd ə laɪ ɪz ðæt ðə kæt hæz ˈoʊnli naɪn lɪvz/
Line 2
--Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar.
Line 3
April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.
Line 4
Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.
Line 5
This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.
/ðɪs ɪz ðə ˈoʊnli pleɪs ɪn ðə wɜːrld wer noʊ briːd ʌv ˈmætʃəz kæn stænd ðə dæmp/

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.

Calendar noun US /ˈkæləndər/

a system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year

From this reading “--Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar.”

crippled adjective US /ˈkrɪpəld/

disabled in the feet or legs

From this reading “April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.”

cyclone noun US /sɪˈkloʊn/

(meteorology) rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure center; circling counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern

From this reading “April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.”

deluge noun US /ˈdeljuːdʒ/

an overwhelming number or amount

From this reading “April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.”

famine noun US /ˈfæmən/

an acute insufficiency

From this reading “April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.”

matches noun US /ˈmætʃəz/

plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction

From this reading “This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.”

reservoir noun US /ˈrezəvwɑːr/

a large or extra supply of something

From this reading “Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.”

Wilson's noun US /ˈwɪlsənz/

possessive form of “wilson” — author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)

From this reading “--Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar.”

All words in this reading · 67

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.

1892

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

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

20

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

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

accompaniedadjectiveUS /əˈkʌmpənid/

having companions or an escort

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

AprilnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

breedverbUS /briːd/

call forth

From this reading This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.

burstverbUS /bɜːrst/

come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

CalendarnounUS /ˈkæləndər/

a system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year

From this reading --Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.

catnounUS /kæt/

feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

crippledadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪpəld/

disabled in the feet or legs

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

cyclonenounUS /sɪˈkloʊn/

(meteorology) rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure center; circling counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/

slightly wet

From this reading This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.

delugenounUS /ˈdeljuːdʒ/

an overwhelming number or amount

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

differencenounUS /ˈdɪfərəns/

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

disappearedverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd/

past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

distressnounUS /dɪˈstres/

psychological suffering

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

drownedverbUS /draʊnd/

past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

faminenounUS /ˈfæmən/

an acute insufficiency

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

floodnounUS /flʌd/

the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

hundredsnounUS /ˈhʌndrədz/

plural of “hundred” — ten 10s

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

killedverbUS /kɪld/

past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

lieverbUS /laɪ/

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

livesnounUS /lɪvz/

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

LouisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/

United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

matchesnounUS /ˈmætʃəz/

plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction

From this reading This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

NewadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading --Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar.

ninenounUS /naɪn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.

PortnounUS /pɔːrt/

a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

principalnounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəl/

the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

producedverbUS /prəˈduːst/

past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

Pudd'nhead

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

From this reading --Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar.

QuiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

rainnounUS /reɪn/

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

reservoirnounUS /ˈrezəvwɑːr/

a large or extra supply of something

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

standverbUS /stænd/

be standing; be upright

From this reading This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The principal difference between a cat and a lie is that the cat has only nine lives.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

water-pipes

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

From this reading Quite true; for it burst the reservoir and the water-pipes; and for a time after the flood had disappeared there was much distress from want of water.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading April 20.--The cyclone of 1892 killed and crippled hundreds of people; it was accompanied by a deluge of rain, which drowned Port Louis and produced a water famine.

Wilson'snounUS /ˈwɪlsənz/

possessive form of “wilson” — author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)

From this reading --Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading This is the only place in the world where no breed of matches can stand the damp.

Chapter 3 of Following the Equator — Part 7 by Mark Twain holds 104 sentences, grouped into 21 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 3 of Following the Equator — Part 7 contain?

Chapter 3 holds 104 sentences of Following the Equator — Part 7, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Following the Equator — Part 7 by Mark Twain exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 104 sentences, grouped into 21 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 3 of Following the Equator — Part 7?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Following the Equator — Part 7

Common questions about reading Following the Equator — Part 7 by Mark Twain on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Following the Equator — Part 7?

Yes. All 1392 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5814 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Following the Equator — Part 7 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #5814, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Following the Equator — Part 7 take to read?

About 116 minutes of reading across 279 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Following the Equator — Part 7 section by section

How to work through Following the Equator — Part 7 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 9 chapters of Following the Equator — Part 7 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 Following the Equator — Part 7

Words and structures a reader meets early in Following the Equator — Part 7, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

First
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Following the Equator — Part 7; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Place
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Following the Equator — Part 7; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Idiots
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Following the Equator — Part 7; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Practice
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Following the Equator — Part 7; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.