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...Or Your Money Back
...Or Your Money Back

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of ...Or Your Money Back is here in full — 699 sentences across 140 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for ...Or Your Money Back
Context Illustration Reading 1/139 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There are times when I don't know my own strength.
Or, at least, the strength of my advice.
And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.
When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.
But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.
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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.

...Or Your Money Back

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of ...Or Your Money Back is here in full — 699 sentences across 140 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/139 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There are times when I don't know my own strength.
Line 2
Or, at least, the strength of my advice.
/ɔːr æt liːst ðə streŋkθ ʌv maɪ ædˈvaɪs/
Line 3
And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.
Line 4
When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.
Line 5
But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.

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.

admit verb US /ədˈmɪt/

declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading “But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.”

advice noun US /ædˈvaɪs/

a proposal for an appropriate course of action

From this reading “Or, at least, the strength of my advice.”

forced adjective US /fɔːrst/

produced by or subjected to forcing

From this reading “But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.”

gadget noun US /ˈɡædʒət/

a device or control that is very useful for a particular job

From this reading “When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.”

impressive adjective US /ˌɪmˈpresɪv/

making a strong or vivid impression

From this reading “But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.”

instance noun US /ˈɪnstəns/

an occurrence of something

From this reading “And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.”

interested adjective US /ˈɪntrəstɪd/

having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern

From this reading “When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.”

Jason noun US /ˈdʒeɪsən/

(Greek mythology) the husband of Medea and leader of the Argonauts who sailed in quest of the Golden Fleece

From this reading “And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.”

All words in this reading · 55

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.

admitverbUS /ədˈmɪt/

declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.

advicenounUS /ædˈvaɪs/

a proposal for an appropriate course of action

From this reading Or, at least, the strength of my advice.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.

appearverbUS /əˈpɪr/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading There are times when I don't know my own strength.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Or, at least, the strength of my advice.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

casenounUS /keɪs/

an occurrence of something

From this reading And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.

certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.

co-operative

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

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

don't

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

From this reading There are times when I don't know my own strength.

forcedadjectiveUS /fɔːrst/

produced by or subjected to forcing

From this reading But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.

gadgetnounUS /ˈɡædʒət/

a device or control that is very useful for a particular job

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

Howley

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

From this reading And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading There are times when I don't know my own strength.

impressiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpresɪv/

making a strong or vivid impression

From this reading But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.

instancenounUS /ˈɪnstəns/

an occurrence of something

From this reading And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.

interestedadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəstɪd/

having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

JasonnounUS /ˈdʒeɪsən/

(Greek mythology) the husband of Medea and leader of the Argonauts who sailed in quest of the Golden Fleece

From this reading And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading There are times when I don't know my own strength.

leastadjectiveUS /liːst/

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading Or, at least, the strength of my advice.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading There are times when I don't know my own strength.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

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

From this reading But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Or, at least, the strength of my advice.

officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.

OrconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Or, at least, the strength of my advice.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading There are times when I don't know my own strength.

strengthnounUS /streŋkθ/

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading There are times when I don't know my own strength.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Or, at least, the strength of my advice.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There are times when I don't know my own strength.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.

timesnounUS /taɪmz/

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading There are times when I don't know my own strength.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/

hard to endure

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading And the case of Jason Howley was certainly an instance of one of those times.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading But I am forced to admit that neither Howley nor his gadget were very impressive.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading There are times when I don't know my own strength.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading When he came to my office with his gadget, I heard him out, trying to appear both interested and co-operative--which is good business.

Chapter 1 of ...Or Your Money Back by Randall Garrett holds 699 sentences, grouped into 140 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 ...Or Your Money Back contain?

Chapter 1 holds 699 sentences of ...Or Your Money Back, unabridged, divided into 140 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of ...Or Your Money Back by Randall Garrett exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 699 sentences, grouped into 140 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 ...Or Your Money Back?

Work through the 140 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 140 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 ...Or Your Money Back

Common questions about reading ...Or Your Money Back by Randall Garrett on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of ...Or Your Money Back?

Yes. All 699 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #23534 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of ...Or Your Money Back is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #23534, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does ...Or Your Money Back take to read?

About 58 minutes of reading across 140 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read ...Or Your Money Back section by section

How to work through ...Or Your Money Back section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of ...Or Your Money Back 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 ...Or Your Money Back

Words and structures a reader meets early in ...Or Your Money Back, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Times
A word that appears in the opening chapter of ...Or Your Money Back; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Don't
A word that appears in the opening chapter of ...Or Your Money Back; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Strength
A word that appears in the opening chapter of ...Or Your Money Back; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Least
A word that appears in the opening chapter of ...Or Your Money Back; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.