Chapter 11 of Options is here in full — 208 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XI
Chapter 11 of Options is here in full — 208 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
That summer the Viewpoint Inn was crowded with guests. So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket. Now you have the material allegations in the case. So, make way for Romance. Evidently the hermit expected a visitor.
Chapter 11 of Options is here in full — 208 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
plural of “allegation” — (law) a formal accusation against somebody (often in a court of law)
From this reading “Now you have the material allegations in the case.”
plural of “can” — airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.
From this reading “So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.”
more than is needed, desired, or required
From this reading “So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.”
one retired from society for religious reasons
From this reading “So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.”
plural of “round” — a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading “So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.”
a slice of meat cut from the fleshy part of an animal or large fish
From this reading “So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.”
plural of “tomato” — mildly acid red or yellow pulpy fruit eaten as a vegetable
From this reading “So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.”
a mental position from which things are viewed
From this reading “That summer the Viewpoint Inn was crowded with guests.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Evidently the hermit expected a visitor.
plural of “allegation” — (law) a formal accusation against somebody (often in a court of law)
From this reading Now you have the material allegations in the case.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
plural of “can” — airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Now you have the material allegations in the case.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading That summer the Viewpoint Inn was crowded with guests.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Evidently the hermit expected a visitor.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Evidently the hermit expected a visitor.
more than is needed, desired, or required
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So, make way for Romance.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading That summer the Viewpoint Inn was crowded with guests.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Now you have the material allegations in the case.
one retired from society for religious reasons
From this reading Evidently the hermit expected a visitor.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading That summer the Viewpoint Inn was crowded with guests.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
engage in
From this reading So, make way for Romance.
concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests
From this reading Now you have the material allegations in the case.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now you have the material allegations in the case.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
a relationship between two lovers
From this reading So, make way for Romance.
plural of “round” — a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
the portion of the loin (especially of beef) just in front of the rump
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
a slice of meat cut from the fleshy part of an animal or large fish
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading That summer the Viewpoint Inn was crowded with guests.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That summer the Viewpoint Inn was crowded with guests.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That summer the Viewpoint Inn was crowded with guests.
in or at that place or location
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
plural of “tomato” — mildly acid red or yellow pulpy fruit eaten as a vegetable
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
a mental position from which things are viewed
From this reading That summer the Viewpoint Inn was crowded with guests.
someone who visits
From this reading Evidently the hermit expected a visitor.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That summer the Viewpoint Inn was crowded with guests.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading So, make way for Romance.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So, on Saturday nights, there were extra cans of tomatoes, and sirloin steak, instead of "rounds," in the hermit's basket.
in the company of; together with
From this reading That summer the Viewpoint Inn was crowded with guests.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Now you have the material allegations in the case.
Chapter 11 of Options by O. Henry holds 208 sentences, grouped into 42 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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.
Chapter 11 holds 208 sentences of Options, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 11 of Options by O. Henry exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 208 sentences, grouped into 42 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.
Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 42 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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.
Common questions about reading Options by O. Henry on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4204 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1583 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #1583, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 350 minutes of reading across 841 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Options section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 21 chapters of Options to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Options, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
