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Oh, Rats!
Oh, Rats!

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Oh, Rats! is here in full — 318 sentences across 64 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Oh, Rats!
Context Illustration Reading 1/63 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
OH, RATS!
Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!
SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.
He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.
All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.
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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.

Oh, Rats!

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Oh, Rats! is here in full — 318 sentences across 64 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/63 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
OH, RATS!
/oʊ ræts/
Line 2
Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!
Line 3
SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.
Line 4
He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.
/hiː wɑːz noʊ mɔːr ˈeɪbəl ðæn ˈeni ˈʌðər ræt tuː pəˈzes ɑːrˈtɪkjəleɪt spiːtʃ ɔːr tuː juːs hɪz pɔːz æz hændz/
Line 5
All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.
/ɔːl hiː hæd wɑːz ə breɪn wɪtʃ ˈrelətɪv tuː ɪts saɪz wɑːz suːˈpɪriər tuː ˈeni ræts ðæt hæd ˈhɪðɜːrˈtuː əˈpɪrd ɑːn ɜːrθ/

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.

acid adjective US /ˈæsəd/

harsh or corrosive in tone

From this reading “Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!”

articulate verb US /ɑːrˈtɪkjəleɪt/

provide with a joint

From this reading “He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.”

laboratory noun US /ˈlæbrətɔːri/

a workplace for the conduct of scientific research

From this reading “SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.”

paws noun US /pɔːz/

plural of “paw” — a clawed foot of an animal especially a quadruped

From this reading “He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.”

prescription noun US /prəˈskrɪpʃən/

directions prescribed beforehand; the action of prescribing authoritative rules or directions

From this reading “Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!”

rat's noun US /ræts/

possessive form of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse

From this reading “All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.”

rats noun US /ræts/

plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse

From this reading “OH, RATS!”

surveyed verb US /sərˈveɪd/

past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way

From this reading “SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.”

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.

on Earth preposition + noun

used with question words to convey surprise

In this reading “All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.”

All words in this reading · 60

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.

27th

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

From this reading SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.

540

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

From this reading SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

acidadjectiveUS /ˈæsəd/

harsh or corrosive in tone

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

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 All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

articulateverbUS /ɑːrˈtɪkjəleɪt/

provide with a joint

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

brainnounUS /breɪn/

that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

From this reading All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

EarthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

glutamic

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

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

hithertoadverbUS /ˈhɪðɜːrˈtuː/

used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time

From this reading All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

kingnounUS /kɪŋ/

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

laboratorynounUS /ˈlæbrətɔːri/

a workplace for the conduct of scientific research

From this reading SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

maxiton

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

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

OHnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading OH, RATS!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

ordinarynounUS /ˈɔːrdəneri/

a judge of a probate court

From this reading SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.

Orthedrin

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

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

pawsnounUS /pɔːz/

plural of “paw” — a clawed foot of an animal especially a quadruped

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

possessverbUS /pəˈzes/

have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

prescriptionnounUS /prəˈskrɪpʃən/

directions prescribed beforehand; the action of prescribing authoritative rules or directions

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

ratnounUS /ræt/

any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

rat'snounUS /ræts/

possessive form of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse

From this reading All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

RATSnounUS /ræts/

plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse

From this reading OH, RATS!

relativenounUS /ˈrelətɪv/

a person related by blood or marriage

From this reading All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

sizenounUS /saɪz/

the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)

From this reading All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

SK

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

From this reading SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.

speechnounUS /spiːtʃ/

the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

superioradjectiveUS /suːˈpɪriər/

of high or superior quality or performance

From this reading All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

surveyedverbUS /sərˈveɪd/

past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way

From this reading SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.

usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was no more able than any other rat to possess articulate speech, or to use his paws as hands.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading All he had was a brain which, relative to its size, was superior to any rat's that had hitherto appeared on Earth.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading SK540, the 27th son of two very ordinary white laboratory rats, surveyed his world.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Orthedrin, maxiton and glutamic acid--they were the prescription that made him king of his world!

Chapter 1 of Oh, Rats! by Miriam Allen De Ford holds 318 sentences, grouped into 64 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 Oh, Rats! contain?

Chapter 1 holds 318 sentences of Oh, Rats!, unabridged, divided into 64 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Oh, Rats! by Miriam Allen De Ford exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 318 sentences, grouped into 64 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 Oh, Rats!?

Work through the 64 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 64 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 Oh, Rats!

Common questions about reading Oh, Rats! by Miriam Allen De Ford on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Oh, Rats!?

Yes. All 318 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51751 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Oh, Rats! is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #51751, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Oh, Rats! take to read?

About 26 minutes of reading across 64 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Oh, Rats! section by section

How to work through Oh, Rats! section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of Oh, Rats! 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 Oh, Rats!

Words and structures a reader meets early in Oh, Rats!, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Orthedrin
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oh, Rats!; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Maxiton
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oh, Rats!; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Glutamic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oh, Rats!; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Acid--they
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Oh, Rats!; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.