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Motor Matt's Hard Luck
Motor Matt's Hard Luck

Chapter X

Chapter 10 of Motor Matt's Hard Luck is here in full — 140 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Motor Matt's Hard Luck
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CARL IS SURPRISED.
Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.
In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.
It was very early, too early for the chief to be in his office.
Nor was Harris at headquarters.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Motor Matt's Hard Luck

Chapter X

Chapter 10 of Motor Matt's Hard Luck is here in full — 140 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CARL IS SURPRISED.
Line 2
Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.
Line 3
In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.
Line 4
It was very early, too early for the chief to be in his office.
/ɪt wɑːz ˈveri ˈɜːrli tuː ˈɜːrli fɔːr ðə tʃiːf tuː biː ɪn hɪz ˈɔːfɪs/
Line 5
Nor was Harris at headquarters.
/nɔːr wɑːz ˈherɪs æt ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/

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.

accordance noun US /əˈkɔːrdəns/

concurrence of opinion

From this reading “Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.”

balloon noun US /bəˈluːn/

large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air

From this reading “In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.”

bother verb US /ˈbɑːðər/

take the trouble to do something; concern oneself

From this reading “In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.”

Harris noun US /ˈherɪs/

United States author who wrote the stories about Uncle Remus (1848-1908)

From this reading “Nor was Harris at headquarters.”

headquarters noun US /ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/

(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise

From this reading “In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.”

instructions noun US /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/

a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it

From this reading “Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.”

Matt's noun US /mætz/

possessive form of “matt” — the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss

From this reading “Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.”

transacted verb US /trænˈsæktɪd/

past form of “transact” — conduct business

From this reading “In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.”

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.

police headquarters noun + noun

a station that serves as headquarters for police in a particular district; serves as a place from which policemen are dispatched and to which arrested persons are brought

In this reading “In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.”

in accordance preposition + noun

In this reading “Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.”

too early adverb + adjective

In this reading “It was very early, too early for the chief to be in his office.”

at headquarters preposition + noun

In this reading “Nor was Harris at headquarters.”

All words in this reading · 53

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.

accordancenounUS /əˈkɔːrdəns/

concurrence of opinion

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

balloonnounUS /bəˈluːn/

large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was very early, too early for the chief to be in his office.

botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/

take the trouble to do something; concern oneself

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

callverbUS /kɔːl/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

carenounUS /ker/

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

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

CARL

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

From this reading CARL IS SURPRISED.

chiefnounUS /tʃiːf/

a person who is in charge

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

clerknounUS /klɜːrk/

an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

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 It was very early, too early for the chief to be in his office.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was very early, too early for the chief to be in his office.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

HarrisnounUS /ˈherɪs/

United States author who wrote the stories about Uncle Remus (1848-1908)

From this reading Nor was Harris at headquarters.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

headquartersnounUS /ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/

(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

hotelnounUS /hoʊˈtel/

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/

a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading CARL IS SURPRISED.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

leavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

Matt'snounUS /mætz/

possessive form of “matt” — the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

MotornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Nor was Harris at headquarters.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading It was very early, too early for the chief to be in his office.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

policenounUS /pəˈliːs/

the force of policemen and officers

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

satchelnoun

luggage consisting of a small case with a flat bottom and (usually) a shoulder strap

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

SURPRISEDadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzd/

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading CARL IS SURPRISED.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading It was very early, too early for the chief to be in his office.

transactedverbUS /trænˈsæktɪd/

past form of “transact” — conduct business

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading It was very early, too early for the chief to be in his office.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was very early, too early for the chief to be in his office.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Carl, when he left the hotel to call on the chief in accordance with Motor Matt's instructions, left his satchel in care of the clerk.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading In going to the balloon house, after he had transacted his business at police headquarters, he would have to return past the hotel, and by leaving the satchel he would not have to bother with it during his call on the chief.

Chapter 10 of Motor Matt's Hard Luck by Stanley R. Matthews holds 140 sentences, grouped into 28 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 10 of Motor Matt's Hard Luck contain?

Chapter 10 holds 140 sentences of Motor Matt's Hard Luck, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 10 of Motor Matt's Hard Luck by Stanley R. Matthews exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 140 sentences, grouped into 28 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 10 of Motor Matt's Hard Luck?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 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 10 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 10 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 Motor Matt's Hard Luck

Common questions about reading Motor Matt's Hard Luck by Stanley R. Matthews on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Motor Matt's Hard Luck?

Yes. All 2297 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #47975 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Motor Matt's Hard Luck is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #47975, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Motor Matt's Hard Luck take to read?

About 191 minutes of reading across 460 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Motor Matt's Hard Luck section by section

How to work through Motor Matt's Hard Luck section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of Motor Matt's Hard Luck 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 Motor Matt's Hard Luck

Words and structures a reader meets early in Motor Matt's Hard Luck, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Issued
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Motor Matt's Hard Luck; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Weekly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Motor Matt's Hard Luck; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Subscription
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Motor Matt's Hard Luck; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Entered
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Motor Matt's Hard Luck; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.