Chapter 1 of Ralph on the Engine is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Ralph on the Engine is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Made in the United States of America 12mo, Cloth, Illustrated. RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.) "On hand, sir." "You are to relieve Fireman Cooper on the Dover slow freight." "All right, sir."
Chapter 1 of Ralph on the Engine is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/21 · 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.
United States industrialist who built the first American locomotive; founded Cooper Union in New York City to offer free courses in the arts and sciences (1791-1883)
From this reading “"You are to relieve Fireman Cooper on the Dover slow freight."”
the capital of the state of Delaware
From this reading “"You are to relieve Fireman Cooper on the Dover slow freight."”
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading “RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)”
play in which children pretend to put out a fire
From this reading “RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)”
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading “"You are to relieve Fireman Cooper on the Dover slow freight."”
past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of
From this reading “Made in the United States of America 12mo, Cloth, Illustrated.”
the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading “RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)”
workplace consisting of a circular building for repairing locomotives
From this reading “RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Made in the United States of America 12mo, Cloth, Illustrated.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
(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 "All right, sir."
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading Made in the United States of America 12mo, Cloth, Illustrated.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are to relieve Fireman Cooper on the Dover slow freight."
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
confined by bonds
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Made in the United States of America 12mo, Cloth, Illustrated.
United States industrialist who built the first American locomotive; founded Cooper Union in New York City to offer free courses in the arts and sciences (1791-1883)
From this reading "You are to relieve Fireman Cooper on the Dover slow freight."
the capital of the state of Delaware
From this reading "You are to relieve Fireman Cooper on the Dover slow freight."
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
play in which children pretend to put out a fire
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading "You are to relieve Fireman Cooper on the Dover slow freight."
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "On hand, sir."
past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of
From this reading Made in the United States of America 12mo, Cloth, Illustrated.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Made in the United States of America 12mo, Cloth, Illustrated.
small in range or scope
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Made in the United States of America 12mo, Cloth, Illustrated.
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
an indefinitely short time
From this reading Made in the United States of America 12mo, Cloth, Illustrated.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Made in the United States of America 12mo, Cloth, Illustrated.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
provide physical relief, as from pain
From this reading "You are to relieve Fireman Cooper on the Dover slow freight."
precisely, exactly
From this reading "All right, sir."
workplace consisting of a circular building for repairing locomotives
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
term of address for a man
From this reading "On hand, sir."
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading "You are to relieve Fireman Cooper on the Dover slow freight."
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Made in the United States of America 12mo, Cloth, Illustrated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Made in the United States of America 12mo, Cloth, Illustrated.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading Made in the United States of America 12mo, Cloth, Illustrated.
plural of “volume” — the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are to relieve Fireman Cooper on the Dover slow freight."
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading RALPH OF THE ROUNDHOUSE Or, Bound to Become a Railroad Man RALPH ON THE ENGINE Or, The Young Fireman of the Limited Mail (Other volumes in preparation.)
Chapter 1 of Ralph on the Engine by Allen Chapman holds 106 sentences, grouped into 22 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.
Chapter 1 holds 106 sentences of Ralph on the Engine, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Ralph on the Engine by Allen Chapman exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 106 sentences, grouped into 22 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 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 22 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 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.
Common questions about reading Ralph on the Engine by Allen Chapman on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3777 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #28292 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #28292, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 314 minutes of reading across 756 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Ralph on the Engine section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 31 chapters of Ralph on the Engine 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 Ralph on the Engine, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
