Chapter 9 of In a Canadian Canoe is here in full — 435 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IX
Chapter 9 of In a Canadian Canoe is here in full — 435 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
There was silence. “I want to know if beetles are as good as men. Are they? Are they better than men? Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
Chapter 9 of In a Canadian Canoe is here in full — 435 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/87 · 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 “beetle” — insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings
From this reading ““I want to know if beetles are as good as men.”
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading “Are they better than men?”
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading “Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?”
at any time
From this reading “Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?”
capable of happening or existing
From this reading “Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?”
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading “There was silence.”
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading “Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?”
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading ““I want to know if beetles are as good as men.”
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.
In this reading “Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?”
In this reading “Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?”
keep in mind for attention or consideration
In this reading “Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?”
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.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I want to know if beetles are as good as men.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I want to know if beetles are as good as men.
plural of “beetle” — insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings
From this reading “I want to know if beetles are as good as men.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Are they better than men?
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
at any time
From this reading Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “I want to know if beetles are as good as men.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I want to know if beetles are as good as men.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I want to know if beetles are as good as men.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “I want to know if beetles are as good as men.
the force of workers available
From this reading “I want to know if beetles are as good as men.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
and nothing more
From this reading Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading There was silence.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Are they better than men?
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was silence.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Are they?
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I want to know if beetles are as good as men.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading “I want to know if beetles are as good as men.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was silence.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Are there better things than we ever think of doing, which we might do if it was only possible to think of them?
Chapter 9 of In a Canadian Canoe by Barry Pain holds 435 sentences, grouped into 87 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 9 holds 435 sentences of In a Canadian Canoe, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 9 of In a Canadian Canoe by Barry Pain exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 435 sentences, grouped into 87 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 87 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 87 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 9 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 In a Canadian Canoe by Barry Pain on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through In a Canadian Canoe section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 0 chapters of In a Canadian Canoe 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 In a Canadian Canoe, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
