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Lightning Express
Lightning Express

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of Lightning Express is here in full — 129 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Oliver Optic • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Lightning Express
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE PRESIDENT HAS A FALL.
I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.
It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.
I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue.
In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.
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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.

Lightning Express

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of Lightning Express is here in full — 129 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE PRESIDENT HAS A FALL.
/ðə ˈprezədent hæz ə fɔːl/
Line 2
I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.
Line 3
It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.
Line 4
I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue.
Line 5
In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

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.

ability noun US /əˈbɪlətiː/

the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment

From this reading “In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
blustering adjective US /ˈblʌstərɪŋ/

blowing in violent and abrupt bursts

From this reading “I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
debate verb US /dəˈbeɪt/

argue with one another

From this reading “It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
engineer noun US /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/

a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems

From this reading “In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ensue verb US /ɪnˈsuː/

issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end

From this reading “I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Lewis noun US /ˈluːɪs/

United States rock star singer and pianist (born in 1935)

From this reading “In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
locomotive noun US /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/

a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks

From this reading “In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
procure verb US /proʊˈkjʊr/

get by special effort

From this reading “In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

Lake Shore noun + noun

In this reading “I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.”

916 times in 426,212 chapters
afterwards learned adverb + adjective

In this reading “In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.”

686 times in 426,212 chapters
plain enough adjective + noun

In this reading “It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.”

2,987 times in 426,212 chapters
yielded the point verb + article + noun counted as “yield … point”

In this reading “It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.”

276 times in 426,212 chapters

All words in this reading · 69

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 THE PRESIDENT HAS A FALL.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/

the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
afterwardsadverbUS /ˈæftərwərdz/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
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 I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
avoidverbUS /əˈvɔɪd/

stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
believedverbUS /bɪˈliːvd/

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
blusteringadjectiveUS /ˈblʌstərɪŋ/

blowing in violent and abrupt bursts

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
confidencenounUS /ˈkɑːnfədəns/

freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
crowdedadjectiveUS /ˈkraʊdəd/

overfilled or compacted or concentrated

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
debateverbUS /dəˈbeɪt/

argue with one another

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
engineernounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/

a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

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

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ensueverbUS /ɪnˈsuː/

issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end

From this reading I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FALLverbUS /fɔːl/

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading THE PRESIDENT HAS A FALL.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HASauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading THE PRESIDENT HAS A FALL.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Holgate

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

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

Pending verification
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
LakenounUS /leɪk/

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
learnedadjectiveUS /lɜːrnd/

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leaveverbUS /liːv/

go away from a place

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LewisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/

United States rock star singer and pianist (born in 1935)

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
likelyadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪkli/

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
locomotivenounUS /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/

a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MajoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mistakenadjectiveUS /mɪˈsteɪkən/

wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PRESIDENTnounUS /ˈprezədent/

an executive officer of a firm or corporation

From this reading THE PRESIDENT HAS A FALL.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
procureverbUS /proʊˈkjʊr/

get by special effort

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RailroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
runverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
scenenounUS /siːn/

the place where some action occurs

From this reading I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
servicesnounUS /ˈsɜːrvəsəz/

performance of duties or provision of space and equipment helpful to others

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ShorenounUS /ʃɔːr/

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
supposedadjectiveUS /səˈpoʊzd/

required or under orders

From this reading I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE PRESIDENT HAS A FALL.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading In this, however, I was mistaken, for I afterwards learned that he had gone to procure the services of an engineer, for he had not much confidence in the ability of Lewis Holgate to run the locomotive.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Tommy's

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

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

Pending verification
Toppleton

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

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

Pending verification
Ucayga

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

From this reading I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue.

Pending verification
unpleasantadjectiveUS /ənˈplezənt/

offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness

From this reading I supposed he had gone over to Ucayga, to avoid the unpleasant scene that was likely to ensue.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading I do not think, after all Tommy’s blustering, that he believed I would really leave the service of the Lake Shore Railroad.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yieldedverbUS /ˈjiːldɪd/

past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of

From this reading It was plain enough that Major Toppleton had been crowded down in the debate with his son, and had yielded the point.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 24 of Lightning Express by Oliver Optic holds 129 sentences, grouped into 26 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 24 of Lightning Express contain?

Chapter 24 holds 129 sentences of Lightning Express, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 24 of Lightning Express by Oliver Optic exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 129 sentences, grouped into 26 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 24 of Lightning Express?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 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 24 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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 Lightning Express

Common questions about reading Lightning Express by Oliver Optic on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Lightning Express?

Yes. All 3354 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #76892 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Lightning Express is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #76892, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Lightning Express take to read?

About 279 minutes of reading across 671 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Lightning Express section by section

How to work through Lightning Express section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of Lightning Express 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 Lightning Express

Words and structures a reader meets early in Lightning Express, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Shore
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lightning Express; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Series
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lightning Express; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rival
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lightning Express; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Academies
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lightning Express; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.