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Railroad building, and other stories
Railroad building, and other stories

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of Railroad building, and other stories is here in full — 45 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Railroad building, and other stories
Context Illustration Reading 1/9 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
LAYING THE FOUNDATION.
"COTYLEDONS, radicle, embryo!
Cotyledons, radicle, embryo!"
Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.
The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Railroad building, and other stories

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of Railroad building, and other stories is here in full — 45 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/9 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
LAYING THE FOUNDATION.
/ˈleɪɪŋ ðə faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
Line 2
"COTYLEDONS, radicle, embryo!
Line 3
Cotyledons, radicle, embryo!"
Line 4
Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.
Line 5
The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

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.

Bennie noun US /ˈbeni/

a form of amphetamine

From this reading “Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.”

embryo noun US /ˈembrioʊ/

(botany) a minute rudimentary plant contained within a seed or an archegonium

From this reading “"COTYLEDONS, radicle, embryo!”

foundation noun US /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/

the basis on which something is grounded

From this reading “LAYING THE FOUNDATION.”

lain verb US /leɪn/

inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading “Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.”

pop verb US /pɑːp/

bulge outward

From this reading “Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.”

root noun US /ruːt/

(botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground

From this reading “The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.”

stem noun US /stem/

(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed

From this reading “The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.”

supports noun US /səˈpɔːrts/

plural of “support” — the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities

From this reading “The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.”

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.

pop out verb + adjective

appear suddenly

In this reading “Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.”

other end adjective + noun

In this reading “The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.”

little thing adjective + noun

In this reading “The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.”

All words in this reading · 46

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

addedverbUS /ˈædəd/

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

beginsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnz/

plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)

From this reading The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

BennienounUS /ˈbeni/

a form of amphetamine

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

COTYLEDONS

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

From this reading "COTYLEDONS, radicle, embryo!

embryonounUS /ˈembrioʊ/

(botany) a minute rudimentary plant contained within a seed or an archegonium

From this reading "COTYLEDONS, radicle, embryo!

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

FOUNDATIONnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/

the basis on which something is grounded

From this reading LAYING THE FOUNDATION.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

growverbUS /ɡroʊ/

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

lainverbUS /leɪn/

inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

LAYINGnounUS /ˈleɪɪŋ/

the production of eggs (especially in birds)

From this reading LAYING THE FOUNDATION.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

onesnounUS /wʌnz/

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

popverbUS /pɑːp/

bulge outward

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

radiclenoun

(anatomy) a small structure resembling a rootlet (such as a fibril of a nerve)

From this reading "COTYLEDONS, radicle, embryo!

rootnounUS /ruːt/

(botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground

From this reading The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

sayingnounUS /ˈseɪɪŋ/

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

seednounUS /siːd/

a small hard fruit

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

seed-leaves

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

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

stemnounUS /stem/

(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed

From this reading The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

supportsnounUS /səˈpɔːrts/

plural of “support” — the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities

From this reading The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading LAYING THE FOUNDATION.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading The radicle is the little thing like a stem that supports the cotyledons, and from the other end of it the root begins to grow.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading Bennie was saying these words over to himself, then he added, "The cotyledons are the seed-leaves, the ones that pop out of the seed after it has lain a while in the ground.

Chapter 3 of Railroad building, and other stories by Pansy holds 45 sentences, grouped into 9 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 3 of Railroad building, and other stories contain?

Chapter 3 holds 45 sentences of Railroad building, and other stories, unabridged, divided into 9 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Railroad building, and other stories by Pansy exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 45 sentences, grouped into 9 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 3 of Railroad building, and other stories?

Work through the 9 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 9 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Railroad building, and other stories

Common questions about reading Railroad building, and other stories by Pansy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Railroad building, and other stories?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Railroad building, and other stories is used?

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

How long does Railroad building, and other stories take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Railroad building, and other stories section by section

How to work through Railroad building, and other stories section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of Railroad building, and other stories 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 Railroad building, and other stories

Words and structures a reader meets early in Railroad building, and other stories, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of Railroad building, and other stories, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of Railroad building, and other stories, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of Railroad building, and other stories, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.