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Hobson's Choice
Hobson's Choice

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Hobson's Choice is here in full — 404 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Hobson's Choice
Context Illustration Reading 1/80 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
(WILL _goes out to street_.)
And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.
ALICE.
What?
(_Moves to_ C.)
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.

Hobson's Choice

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Hobson's Choice is here in full — 404 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/80 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
(WILL _goes out to street_.)
/wɪl ɡoʊz aʊt tuː striːt/
Line 2
And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.
Line 3
ALICE.
Line 4
What?
/wʌt/
Line 5
(_Moves to_ C.)
/muːvz tuː siː/

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.

crippled adjective US /ˈkrɪpəld/

disabled in the feet or legs

From this reading “And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.”

goes noun US /ɡoʊz/

plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

kitchens noun US /ˈkɪtʃənz/

plural of “kitchen” — a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading “And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.”

Moves noun US /muːvz/

plural of “move” — the act of deciding to do something

plan verb US /plæn/

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading “And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.”

portions noun US /ˈpɔːrʃənz/

plural of “portion” — something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading “And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.”

stuff noun US /stʌf/

the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

From this reading “And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.”

yours pronoun US /jʊrz/

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading “And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.”

All words in this reading · 41

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.

ALICE

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

From this reading ALICE.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

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

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

CnounUS /siː/

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading (_Moves to_ C.)

crippledadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪpəld/

disabled in the feet or legs

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

gettingnounUS /ˈɡetɪŋ/

the act of acquiring something

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

goesnounUS /ɡoʊz/

plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

From this reading (WILL _goes out to street_.)

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

I'm

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

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

isn't

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

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

kitchensnounUS /ˈkɪtʃənz/

plural of “kitchen” — a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

marriagenounUS /ˈmerɪdʒ/

the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

MovesnounUS /muːvz/

plural of “move” — the act of deciding to do something

From this reading (_Moves to_ C.)

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

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

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading (WILL _goes out to street_.)

planverbUS /plæn/

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

portionsnounUS /ˈpɔːrʃənz/

plural of “portion” — something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

streetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading (WILL _goes out to street_.)

stuffnounUS /stʌf/

the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading (WILL _goes out to street_.)

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

WILLmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading (WILL _goes out to street_.)

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

you'll

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

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

you've

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

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

yourspronounUS /jʊrz/

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading And as for your kitchens, you've got none yet, and if you want my plan for you to work, you'll just remember all I'm taking off you is some crippled stuff that isn't yours and what I'm getting for you is marriage portions.

Chapter 2 of Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse holds 404 sentences, grouped into 81 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 2 of Hobson's Choice contain?

Chapter 2 holds 404 sentences of Hobson's Choice, unabridged, divided into 81 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 404 sentences, grouped into 81 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 2 of Hobson's Choice?

Work through the 81 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 81 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Hobson's Choice

Common questions about reading Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Hobson's Choice?

Yes. All 1205 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6347 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Hobson's Choice is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #6347, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Hobson's Choice take to read?

About 100 minutes of reading across 241 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Hobson's Choice section by section

How to work through Hobson's Choice section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 3 chapters of Hobson's Choice 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 Hobson's Choice

Words and structures a reader meets early in Hobson's Choice, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Vickey
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hobson's Choice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sullenly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hobson's Choice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Suppose
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hobson's Choice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Freddy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hobson's Choice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.