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Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience
Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience is here in full — 364 sentences across 73 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience
Context Illustration Reading 1/72 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?
I like to hava de earth!"
Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.
Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.
Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!
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.

Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience is here in full — 364 sentences across 73 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/72 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?
Line 2
I like to hava de earth!"
Line 3
Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.
Line 4
Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.
Line 5
Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

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.

buys noun US /baɪz/

plural of “buy” — an advantageous purchase

From this reading “Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.”

calla noun US /ˈkælə/

South African plant widely cultivated for its showy pure white spathe and yellow spadix

From this reading “Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.”

Chicago noun US /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/

largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan

From this reading “Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!”

Christopher noun US /ˈkrɪstəfər/

Christian martyr and patron saint of travellers (3rd century)

From this reading “Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.”

dat noun US /dæt/

a digital tape recording of sound

From this reading “Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.”

Den noun US /den/

the habitation of wild animals

From this reading “Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.”

goa noun US /ˈɡoʊə/

a state of southwestern India; a former Portuguese colony

From this reading “Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!”

Ohio noun US /oʊˈhaɪoʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading “Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.”

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.

dat de noun + noun

In this reading “Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!”

new world adjective + noun

the hemisphere that includes North America and South America

In this reading “His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?”

All words in this reading · 56

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.

93

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

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.

alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

bringa

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

From this reading His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?

broka

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

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

buysnounUS /baɪz/

plural of “buy” — an advantageous purchase

From this reading Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.

callanounUS /ˈkælə/

South African plant widely cultivated for its showy pure white spathe and yellow spadix

From this reading Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.

ChicagonounUS /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/

largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

ChristophernounUS /ˈkrɪstəfər/

Christian martyr and patron saint of travellers (3rd century)

From this reading Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.

Colum

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

From this reading Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.

datnounUS /dæt/

a digital tape recording of sound

From this reading Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.

denounUS /diː/

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?

DennounUS /den/

the habitation of wild animals

From this reading Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.

disgusta

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

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading I like to hava de earth!"

fadda

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

From this reading His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?

FairadjectiveUS /fer/

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

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

goanounUS /ˈɡoʊə/

a state of southwestern India; a former Portuguese colony

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

goesnounUS /ɡoʊz/

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

From this reading Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.

hava

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

From this reading I like to hava de earth!"

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?

holda

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

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I like to hava de earth!"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading I like to hava de earth!"

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

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

From this reading His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?

nexta

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

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

notta

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

From this reading His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.

OhionounUS /oʊˈhaɪoʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.

papernounUS /ˈpeɪpər/

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Den he goes to Ohio and buys a place an' calla it after himself--Colum.

reada

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

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

Shamrocka

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

From this reading Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.

SoonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

takanoun

the basic unit of money in Bangladesh; equal to 100 paisa

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I like to hava de earth!"

trainverbUS /treɪn/

create by training and teaching

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Soon he goa broka an' taka de nexta train home in disgusta, because he reada in de paper dat de Fair in '93 will be holda in Chicago!

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?

writa

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

From this reading His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?

Yorka

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

From this reading Christopher Colum he writa back dat New Yorka is already in de hands of de Shamrocka.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading His fadda writa: "Why you notta bringa back de new world?

Chapter 8 of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience by Grenville [Compiler] Kleiser holds 364 sentences, grouped into 73 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 8 of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience contain?

Chapter 8 holds 364 sentences of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience, unabridged, divided into 73 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience by Grenville [Compiler] Kleiser exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 364 sentences, grouped into 73 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 8 of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience?

Work through the 73 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 73 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience

Common questions about reading Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience by Grenville [Compiler] Kleiser on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience?

Yes. All 5178 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #47194 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #47194, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience take to read?

About 431 minutes of reading across 1036 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience section by section

How to work through Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 13 chapters of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience 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 Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience

Words and structures a reader meets early in Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Speak
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Public
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Preparing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Humorous Hits and How to Hold an Audience; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.