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John Whopper: The Newsboy
John Whopper: The Newsboy

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of John Whopper: The Newsboy is here in full — 151 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for John Whopper: The Newsboy
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.
Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.
I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.
I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.
After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.
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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.

John Whopper: The Newsboy

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of John Whopper: The Newsboy is here in full — 151 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.
Line 2
Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.
/tuː jɪrz əˈɡoʊ læst ˈfebjəweri aɪ θɪŋk ɪt wɑːz ɑːn ə ˈtuːzdi ˈmɔːrnɪŋ aɪ ˈstɑːrtɪd æz ˈjuːʒəwəl ˈveri ˈɜːrli tuː dɪˈstrɪbjuːt maɪ ˈpeɪpərz/
Line 3
I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.
Line 4
I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.
/aɪ duː nɑːt ker tuː tel prɪˈsaɪsli wer ɪt wɑːz ðæt aɪ dʒʌmpt ˈoʊvər ðə fens bʌt ɪt ɪz ə rʌf ˈbærən kaɪnd ʌv spɑːt wɪtʃ ˈnoʊbɑːdiː hæz ˈevər dʌn ˈeni θɪŋ tuː ˌɪmˈpruːv/
Line 5
After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.
/ˈæftər ˈwɔːkɪŋ əˈbaʊt ə θɜːrd ʌv ə maɪl aɪ bɪˈɡæn tuː θɪŋk ðæt aɪ hæd ˈbetər hæv kept tuː ðə ˈtɜːrnpaɪk fɔːr aɪ faʊnd ðæt aɪ wɑːz əˈblaɪdʒd tuː ˈklæmbər ˈoʊvər æn əˈniːvən ˈrɑːki pleɪs əˈmʌŋ triːz ənd ˈbʊʃəz ənd ʃrʌbz ðæt ɡruː dʒʌst θɪk ɪˈnʌf tuː ˈbɑːðər miː soʊ ðæt aɪ ˈhɑːrdli nuː wer tuː pʊt maɪ fiːt/

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.

clamber verb US /ˈklæmbər/

climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling

From this reading “After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.”

distribute verb US /dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/

administer or bestow, as in small portions

From this reading “Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.”

Jamaica noun US /dʒəˈmeɪkə/

a country on the island of Jamaica; became independent of England in 1962; much poverty; the major industry is tourism

From this reading “I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.”

rounds noun US /raʊndz/

plural of “round” — a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading “I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.”

shrubs noun US /ʃrʌbz/

plural of “shrub” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading “After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.”

turnpike noun US /ˈtɜːrnpaɪk/

(from 16th to 19th centuries) gates set across a road to prevent passage until a toll had been paid

From this reading “After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.”

uneven adjective US /əˈniːvən/

not even or uniform as e.g. in shape or texture

From this reading “After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.”

whopper noun US /ˈwɑːpər/

a gross untruth; a blatant lie

From this reading “HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.”

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.

across the fields preposition + article + noun counted as “across … fields”

In this reading “I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.”

clamber over verb + particle

In this reading “After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.”

large bundle adjective + noun

In this reading “I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.”

Two years noun + noun

In this reading “Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.”

cut across verb + particle

travel across or pass over

In this reading “I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.”

any thing adjective + noun

In this reading “I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.”

dispose of verb + particle

deal with or settle

In this reading “I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.”

jumped over verb + particle counted as “jump over”

In this reading “I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.”

All words in this reading · 114

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/

in the past

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

AIR-LINE

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

From this reading HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(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 After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/

take the trouble to do something; concern oneself

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/

a collection of things wrapped or boxed together

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

bushesnounUS /ˈbʊʃəz/

plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

carenounUS /ker/

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

CHINAnounUS /ˈtʃaɪnə/

a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world

From this reading HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.

clamberverbUS /ˈklæmbər/

climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

cutverbUS /kʌt/

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

DISCOVEREDadjectiveUS /dɪˈskʌvərd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.

disposeverbUS /dɪˈspoʊz/

give, sell, or transfer to another

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

distributeverbUS /dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/

administer or bestow, as in small portions

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/

the month following January and preceding March

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

fenceverbUS /fens/

enclose with a fence

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

fieldsnounUS /fiːldz/

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

grewverbUS /ɡruː/

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

hardlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdli/

only a very short time before

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

HOW

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

From this reading HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

improveverbUS /ˌɪmˈpruːv/

to make better

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

insteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

JamaicanounUS /dʒəˈmeɪkə/

a country on the island of Jamaica; became independent of England in 1962; much poverty; the major industry is tourism

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

JOHNnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.

jumpedverbUS /dʒʌmpt/

past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

keptadjectiveUS /kept/

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

milenounUS /maɪl/

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

obligedadjectiveUS /əˈblaɪdʒd/

under a moral obligation to do something

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

papersnounUS /ˈpeɪpərz/

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

PlainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

preciselyadverbUS /prɪˈsaɪsli/

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/

abounding in rocks or stones

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

roughadjectiveUS /rʌf/

having or caused by an irregular surface

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

roundsnounUS /raʊndz/

plural of “round” — a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

Roxbury

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

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

shrubsnounUS /ʃrʌbz/

plural of “shrub” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

spotnounUS /spɑːt/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/

past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.

thickadjectiveUS /θɪk/

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

thirdnounUS /θɜːrd/

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading I had a large bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time.

treesnounUS /triːz/

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

TuesdaynounUS /ˈtuːzdi/

the third day of the week; the second working day

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

turnpikenounUS /ˈtɜːrnpaɪk/

(from 16th to 19th centuries) gates set across a road to prevent passage until a toll had been paid

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

TwonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

unevenadjectiveUS /əˈniːvən/

not even or uniform as e.g. in shape or texture

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

walkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/

close enough to be walked to

From this reading After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to put my feet.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading I do not care to tell precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.

WHOPPERnounUS /ˈwɑːpər/

a gross untruth; a blatant lie

From this reading HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I started as usual very early to distribute my papers.

Chapter 1 of John Whopper: The Newsboy by Thomas M. (Thomas March) Clark holds 151 sentences, grouped into 31 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 1 of John Whopper: The Newsboy contain?

Chapter 1 holds 151 sentences of John Whopper: The Newsboy, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of John Whopper: The Newsboy by Thomas M. (Thomas March) Clark exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 151 sentences, grouped into 31 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 1 of John Whopper: The Newsboy?

Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 31 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 John Whopper: The Newsboy

Common questions about reading John Whopper: The Newsboy by Thomas M. (Thomas March) Clark on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of John Whopper: The Newsboy?

Yes. All 617 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #30463 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of John Whopper: The Newsboy is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #30463, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does John Whopper: The Newsboy take to read?

About 51 minutes of reading across 124 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read John Whopper: The Newsboy section by section

How to work through John Whopper: The Newsboy section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 4 chapters of John Whopper: The Newsboy 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 John Whopper: The Newsboy

Words and structures a reader meets early in John Whopper: The Newsboy, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Whopper
A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Whopper: The Newsboy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Discovered
A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Whopper: The Newsboy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Air-line
A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Whopper: The Newsboy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
China
A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Whopper: The Newsboy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.