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Quickie
Quickie

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Quickie is here in full — 389 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Quickie
Context Illustration Reading 1/77 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_Dr. Kinsey, meet Mr. Grover, the amorous adventurer.
Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.
The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.
"Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.
"I'm hurrying," the pilot told him with frustrating indifference.
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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.

Quickie

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Quickie is here in full — 389 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/77 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_Dr. Kinsey, meet Mr. Grover, the amorous adventurer.
Line 2
Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.
Line 3
The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.
Line 4
"Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.
Line 5
"I'm hurrying," the pilot told him with frustrating indifference.

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.

frustrating adjective US /ˈfrʌstreɪtɪŋ/

discouraging by hindering

From this reading “"I'm hurrying," the pilot told him with frustrating indifference.”

goldfish noun US /ˈɡoʊldfɪʃ/

small golden or orange-red freshwater fishes of Eurasia used as pond or aquarium fishes

From this reading “Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.”

Kinsey noun US /ˈkɪnzi/

United States zoologist best known for his interview studies of sexual behavior (1894-1956)

From this reading “_Dr. Kinsey, meet Mr. Grover, the amorous adventurer.”

multiple adjective US /ˈmʌltəpəl/

having or involving or consisting of more than one part or entity or individual

From this reading “Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.”

philanderer noun US /fəˈlænderər/

a man who likes many women and has short sexual relationships with them

From this reading “Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.”

plexiglass noun US /ˈpleksɪɡlæs/

a light transparent weather resistant thermoplastic

From this reading “The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.”

polygamous adjective US /pəˈlɪɡəməs/

having more than one mate at a time; used of relationships and individuals

From this reading “Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.”

sexual adjective US /ˈsekʃuːəl/

of or relating to or characterized by sexuality

From this reading “Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.”

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.

hazel eyes adjective + noun

In this reading “"Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.”

big city adjective + noun

In this reading “The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.”

in a world preposition + article + noun counted as “in … world”

In this reading “Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.”

All words in this reading · 69

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.

360

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

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

adventurernounUS /ædˈventʃərər/

a person who enjoys taking risks

From this reading _Dr. Kinsey, meet Mr. Grover, the amorous adventurer.

affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/

past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

amorousadjectiveUS /ˈæmərəs/

inclined toward or displaying love

From this reading _Dr. Kinsey, meet Mr. Grover, the amorous adventurer.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

bubbleverbUS /ˈbʌbəl/

form, produce, or emit bubbles

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

championnounUS /ˈtʃæmpiən/

someone who has won first place in a competition

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

chinnounUS /tʃɪn/

the protruding part of the lower jaw

From this reading "Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.

citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

close-setadjective

set close together

From this reading "Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.

coptercab

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

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

crowdedadjectiveUS /ˈkraʊdəd/

overfilled or compacted or concentrated

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

degreenounUS /dɪˈɡriː/

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

Dr

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

From this reading _Dr. Kinsey, meet Mr. Grover, the amorous adventurer.

energeticadjectiveUS /ˌenərˈdʒetɪk/

possessing or exerting or displaying energy

From this reading "Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.

EvenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading "Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

frustratingadjectiveUS /ˈfrʌstreɪtɪŋ/

discouraging by hindering

From this reading "I'm hurrying," the pilot told him with frustrating indifference.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

goldfishnounUS /ˈɡoʊldfɪʃ/

small golden or orange-red freshwater fishes of Eurasia used as pond or aquarium fishes

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

Grover

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

From this reading _Dr. Kinsey, meet Mr. Grover, the amorous adventurer.

hazeladjectiveUS /ˈheɪzəl/

of a light brown or yellowish brown color

From this reading "Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading "I'm hurrying," the pilot told him with frustrating indifference.

HurrynounUS /ˈhɜːri/

a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry

From this reading "Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.

hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/

moving with great haste

From this reading "I'm hurrying," the pilot told him with frustrating indifference.

I'm

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

From this reading "I'm hurrying," the pilot told him with frustrating indifference.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

indifferencenounUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfərəns/

unbiased impartial unconcern

From this reading "I'm hurrying," the pilot told him with frustrating indifference.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

KinseynounUS /ˈkɪnzi/

United States zoologist best known for his interview studies of sexual behavior (1894-1956)

From this reading _Dr. Kinsey, meet Mr. Grover, the amorous adventurer.

lanesnounUS /leɪnz/

plural of “lane” — a narrow way or road

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

legaladjectiveUS /ˈliːɡəl/

established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading "Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.

marriagesnounUS /ˈmerɪdʒɪz/

plural of “marriage” — the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading _Dr. Kinsey, meet Mr. Grover, the amorous adventurer.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading _Dr. Kinsey, meet Mr. Grover, the amorous adventurer.

multipleadjectiveUS /ˈmʌltəpəl/

having or involving or consisting of more than one part or entity or individual

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

nation'snounUS /ˈneɪʃənz/

possessive form of “nation” — a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

philanderernounUS /fəˈlænderər/

a man who likes many women and has short sexual relationships with them

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

pilotverbUS /ˈpaɪlət/

operate an airplane

From this reading "I'm hurrying," the pilot told him with frustrating indifference.

plexiglassnounUS /ˈpleksɪɡlæs/

a light transparent weather resistant thermoplastic

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

polygamousadjectiveUS /pəˈlɪɡəməs/

having more than one mate at a time; used of relationships and individuals

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

relationsnounUS /riˈleɪʃənz/

mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

sexualadjectiveUS /ˈsekʃuːəl/

of or relating to or characterized by sexuality

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

SimonnounUS /ˈsaɪmən/

one of the twelve Apostles (first century)

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.

stubbornadjectiveUS /ˈstʌbərn/

tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield

From this reading "Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _Dr. Kinsey, meet Mr. Grover, the amorous adventurer.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading "I'm hurrying," the pilot told him with frustrating indifference.

trafficnounUS /ˈtræfɪk/

the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

visionnounUS /ˈvɪʒən/

a vivid mental image

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Hurry," said Simon Grover, a small, energetic man with close-set hazel eyes and a stubborn chin.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Even in a world of polygamous sexual relations and legal multiple marriages, here is the nation's champion philanderer!_ Simon Grover always felt like a goldfish in a coptercab.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The plexiglass bubble afforded full 360 degree vision, but people could also see you from the crowded traffic lanes above a big city.

Chapter 1 of Quickie by Stephen Marlowe holds 389 sentences, grouped into 78 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 Quickie contain?

Chapter 1 holds 389 sentences of Quickie, unabridged, divided into 78 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Quickie by Stephen Marlowe exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 389 sentences, grouped into 78 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 Quickie?

Work through the 78 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 78 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 Quickie

Common questions about reading Quickie by Stephen Marlowe on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Quickie?

Yes. All 389 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #58725 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Quickie is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #58725, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Quickie take to read?

About 32 minutes of reading across 78 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Quickie section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of Quickie 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 Quickie

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

Kinsey
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Quickie; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Grover
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Quickie; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Amorous
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Quickie; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Adventurer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Quickie; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.