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Project Mastodon

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Project Mastodon is here in full — 467 sentences across 94 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Project Mastodon
Context Illustration Reading 1/93 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"And the location.
I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.
They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.
Don't you see how it all fits together?"
"I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."
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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.

Project Mastodon

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Project Mastodon is here in full — 467 sentences across 94 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/93 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"And the location.
/ənd ðə loʊˈkeɪʃən/
Line 2
I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.
Line 3
They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.
Line 4
Don't you see how it all fits together?"
Line 5
"I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

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.

Adams noun US /ˈædəmz/

American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)

From this reading “I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.”

clues noun US /kluːz/

plural of “clue” — a slight indication

From this reading “They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.”

films noun US /fɪlmz/

plural of “film” — a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement

From this reading “I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.”

fits noun US /fɪts/

plural of “fit” — a display of bad temper

From this reading “Don't you see how it all fits together?"”

hesitate verb US /ˈhezəteɪt/

pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

From this reading “They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.”

location noun US /loʊˈkeɪʃən/

a point or extent in space

From this reading “"And the location.”

tracked adjective US /trækt/

having tracks

From this reading “I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.”

workshop noun US /ˈwɜːrkʃɑːp/

small workplace where handcrafts or manufacturing are done

From this reading “I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.”

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.

AdamsnounUS /ˈædəmz/

American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

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 Don't you see how it all fits together?"

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading "I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "And the location.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

choseverbUS /tʃoʊz/

inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading "I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

cluesnounUS /kluːz/

plural of “clue” — a slight indication

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

departmentnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/

a specialized division of a large organization

From this reading "I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

desertedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

didn't

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

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

Don't

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

From this reading Don't you see how it all fits together?"

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

drovenounUS /droʊv/

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

explanationnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃən/

a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

From this reading "I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

farmverbUS /fɑːrm/

be a farmer; work as a farmer

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

filmsnounUS /fɪlmz/

plural of “film” — a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

fitsnounUS /fɪts/

plural of “fit” — a display of bad temper

From this reading Don't you see how it all fits together?"

forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

friendsnounUS /frendz/

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

hesitateverbUS /ˈhezəteɪt/

pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

how

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

From this reading Don't you see how it all fits together?"

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Don't you see how it all fits together?"

locationnounUS /loʊˈkeɪʃən/

a point or extent in space

From this reading "And the location.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading "I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

nastilyadverb

in a nasty ill-tempered manner

From this reading "I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading "I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

positiveadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːzətɪv/

characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

presumeverbUS /prɪˈzuːm/

take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof

From this reading "I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Don't you see how it all fits together?"

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

statenounUS /steɪt/

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading "I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

straightadjectiveUS /streɪt/

successive (without a break)

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "And the location.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading Don't you see how it all fits together?"

trackedadjectiveUS /trækt/

having tracks

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

whynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading "I presume," the man from the state department said nastily, "that you even have an explanation as to why they chose that particular location."

wondernounUS /ˈwʌndər/

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

workedverbUS /wɜːrkt/

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading They gave us clues so positive that we didn't even hesitate--we drove straight to the old deserted farm where Adams and his friends had worked.

workshopnounUS /ˈwɜːrkʃɑːp/

small workplace where handcrafts or manufacturing are done

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Don't you see how it all fits together?"

you've

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

From this reading I wonder if you've forgotten that we tracked down the location of Adams' workshop from those films alone.

Chapter 2 of Project Mastodon by Clifford D. Simak holds 467 sentences, grouped into 94 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 2 of Project Mastodon contain?

Chapter 2 holds 467 sentences of Project Mastodon, unabridged, divided into 94 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Project Mastodon by Clifford D. Simak exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 467 sentences, grouped into 94 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 2 of Project Mastodon?

Work through the 94 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 94 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Project Mastodon

Common questions about reading Project Mastodon by Clifford D. Simak on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Project Mastodon?

Yes. All 957 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #22216 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Project Mastodon is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #22216, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Project Mastodon take to read?

About 79 minutes of reading across 192 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Project Mastodon section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 2 chapters of Project Mastodon 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 Project Mastodon

Words and structures a reader meets early in Project Mastodon, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chief
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Project Mastodon; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Protocol
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Project Mastodon; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hudson
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Project Mastodon; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Of--ah--mastodonia
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Project Mastodon; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.