Left on the Prairie

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Left on the Prairie is here in full — 122 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Noel West • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Left on the Prairie

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[Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'

_Page_ 124.

M. B. COX (NOEL WEST).

3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, & 44, VICTORIA STREET, S.W.

Little Jack Wilson had been born in England; but when he was quite a baby his parents had sailed across the sea, taking him with them, and settled out on one of the distant prairies of America.

Narrator

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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.

Chapter I Reading 1/24

Left on the Prairie

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Left on the Prairie is here in full — 122 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

[Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'

Line 2

_Page_ 124.

Line 3

M. B. COX (NOEL WEST).

/em biː kɑːks noʊˈel west/

Line 4

3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, & 44, VICTORIA STREET, S.W.

Line 5

Little Jack Wilson had been born in England; but when he was quite a baby his parents had sailed across the sea, taking him with them, and settled out on one of the distant prairies of America.

/ˈlɪtəl dʒæk ˈwɪlsən hæd bɪn bɔːrn ɪn ˈɪŋɡlənd bʌt wen hiː wɑːz kwaɪt ə ˈbeɪbi hɪz ˈperənts hæd seɪld əˈkrɔːs ðə siː ˈteɪkɪŋ hɪm wɪð ðem ənd ˈsetəld aʊt ɑːn wʌn ʌv ðə ˈdɪstənt ˈpreɪriz ʌv əˈmerəkə/

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.

buildings noun US /ˈbɪldɪŋz/

plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading “3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, & 44, VICTORIA STREET, S.W.”

cox noun US /kɑːks/

either of two related enzymes that control the production of prostaglandins and are blocked by aspirin

From this reading “M. B. COX (NOEL WEST).”

noel noun US /noʊˈel/

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading “M. B. COX (NOEL WEST).”

parents noun US /ˈperənts/

plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading “Little Jack Wilson had been born in England; but when he was quite a baby his parents had sailed across the sea, taking him with them, and settled out on one of the distant prairies of America.”

prairies noun US /ˈpreɪriz/

plural of “prairie” — a treeless grassy plain

sailed verb US /seɪld/

past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)

victoria noun US /vɪkˈtɔːriə/

queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)

From this reading “3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, & 44, VICTORIA STREET, S.W.”

Wilson noun US /ˈwɪlsən/

author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)

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 sea preposition + article + noun counted as “across … sea”

In this reading “Little Jack Wilson had been born in England; but when he was quite a baby his parents had sailed across the sea, taking him with them, and settled out on one of the distant prairies of America.”

sailed across verb + particle counted as “sail across”

FIGHT BETWEEN verb + particle

In this reading “[Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'”

All words in this reading · 57

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.

124

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

From this reading _Page_ 124.

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

From this reading 3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, & 44, VICTORIA STREET, S.W.

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

From this reading 3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, & 44, VICTORIA STREET, S.W.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading [Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Little Jack Wilson had been born in England; but when he was quite a baby his parents had sailed across the sea, taking him with them, and settled out on one of the distant prairies of America.

AmericanounUS /əˈmerəkə/

North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading [Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'

BnounUS /biː/

aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil

From this reading M. B. COX (NOEL WEST).

babynounUS /ˈbeɪbi/

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

BEGANverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

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

From this reading [Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'

BETWEENprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading [Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'

bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/

brought into existence

BUILDINGSnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/

plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading 3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, & 44, VICTORIA STREET, S.W.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

COXnounUS /kɑːks/

either of two related enzymes that control the production of prostaglandins and are blocked by aspirin

From this reading M. B. COX (NOEL WEST).

distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/

a division of the United Kingdom

FIGHTverbUS /faɪt/

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading [Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'

Frontispiecenoun

an ornamental facade

From this reading [Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

HORSEnounUS /hɔːrs/

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading [Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

JacknounUS /dʒæk/

a small worthless amount

LittleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

MnounUS /em/

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading M. B. COX (NOEL WEST).

MANnounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading [Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'

NOELnounUS /noʊˈel/

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading M. B. COX (NOEL WEST).

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

PagenounUS /peɪdʒ/

one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains

From this reading _Page_ 124.

parentsnounUS /ˈperənts/

plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

PATERNOSTERnoun

(Roman Catholic Church) the Lord's Prayer in Latin; translates as “our father”

From this reading 3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, & 44, VICTORIA STREET, S.W.

prairiesnounUS /ˈpreɪriz/

plural of “prairie” — a treeless grassy plain

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

SnounUS /es/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading 3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, & 44, VICTORIA STREET, S.W.

sailedverbUS /seɪld/

past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)

seanounUS /siː/

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

settledadjectiveUS /ˈsetəld/

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

STREETnounUS /striːt/

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

From this reading 3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, & 44, VICTORIA STREET, S.W.

takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

TERRIBLEadjectiveUS /ˈterəbəl/

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading [Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading [Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

THENadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading [Frontispiece: 'THEN BEGAN A TERRIBLE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MAN AND THE HORSE.'

VICTORIAnounUS /vɪkˈtɔːriə/

queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)

From this reading 3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, & 44, VICTORIA STREET, S.W.

WnounUS /ˈdʌbəljuː/

a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite

From this reading 3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, & 44, VICTORIA STREET, S.W.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

WESTnounUS /west/

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading M. B. COX (NOEL WEST).

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

WilsonnounUS /ˈwɪlsən/

author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

Chapter 1 of Left on the Prairie by Noel West holds 122 sentences, grouped into 25 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 Left on the Prairie contain?

Chapter 1 holds 122 sentences of Left on the Prairie, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Left on the Prairie by Noel West exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 122 sentences, grouped into 25 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 Left on the Prairie?

Work through the 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 25 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 Left on the Prairie

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Is this the complete text of Left on the Prairie?

Yes. All 1066 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #34003 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Left on the Prairie is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #34003, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Left on the Prairie take to read?

About 88 minutes of reading across 214 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Left on the Prairie

Words and structures a reader meets early in Left on the Prairie, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Frontispiece: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Left on the Prairie; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Began: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Left on the Prairie; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Terrible: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Left on the Prairie; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fight: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Left on the Prairie; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter I

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