Rich Living

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Rich Living is here in full — 771 sentences across 155 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Michael Cathal • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

[Sidenote: No other planet in the entire Galaxy was at all like Rejuvenal ... it was the only world worth one's whole fortune for a short visit!] Curtis Delman was the last to leave the space liner.

It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.

Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

For a centenarian, his energy was prodigious.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter I Reading 1/154

Rich Living Michael Cathal

Chapter I

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Rich Living is here in full — 771 sentences across 155 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

[Sidenote: No other planet in the entire Galaxy was at all like Rejuvenal ... it was the only world worth one's whole fortune for a short visit!] Curtis Delman was the last to leave the space liner. It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone. Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock. There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days. For a centenarian, his energy was prodigious.

Rich Living

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Rich Living is here in full — 771 sentences across 155 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/154 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

[Sidenote: No other planet in the entire Galaxy was at all like Rejuvenal ... it was the only world worth one's whole fortune for a short visit!] Curtis Delman was the last to leave the space liner.

Line 2

It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.

/ɪt wɑːz ˈoʊnli wen ðə ˈkæptən ˈentərd ðæt hiː siːst ˈdɪkteɪtɪŋ ənd pʊt daʊn ðə ˈmaɪkrəfoʊn/

Line 3

Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

/ðen wɪð ðə ˈklʌmzi dɪˌlɪbərˈeɪʃən ʌv ðə eɪdʒd hiː prest hoʊm ðə lɪd ʌv ðə rɪˈkɔːrdər ənd tɜːrnd ðə kiː ɪn ðə lɑːk/

Line 4

There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

Line 5

For a centenarian, his energy was prodigious.

/fɔːr ə ˌsentəˈneriən hɪz ˈenərdʒi wɑːz prəˈdɪdʒəs/

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.

centenarian noun US /ˌsentəˈneriən/

someone who is at least 100 years old

From this reading “For a centenarian, his energy was prodigious.”

compiled verb US /kəmˈpaɪld/

past form of “compile” — get or gather together

From this reading “There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.”

Curtis noun US /ˈkɜːrtəs/

English botanical writer and publisher (1746-1799)

From this reading “[Sidenote: No other planet in the entire Galaxy was at all like Rejuvenal ... it was the only world worth one's whole fortune for a short visit!] Curtis Delman was the last to leave the space liner.”

dictating verb US /ˈdɪkteɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “dictate” — issue commands or orders for

From this reading “It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.”

Galaxy noun US /ˈɡæləksi/

a splendid assemblage (especially of famous people)

liner noun US /ˈlaɪnər/

(baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter

microphone noun US /ˈmaɪkrəfoʊn/

device for converting sound waves into electrical energy

From this reading “It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.”

recorder noun US /rɪˈkɔːrdər/

equipment for making records

From this reading “Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.”

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.

four days noun + noun

In this reading “There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.”

fine wire adjective + noun

In this reading “There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.”

other planet adjective + noun

In this reading “[Sidenote: No other planet in the entire Galaxy was at all like Rejuvenal ... it was the only world worth one's whole fortune for a short visit!] Curtis Delman was the last to leave the space liner.”

past four noun + noun

In this reading “There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.”

put down verb + adjective

cause to sit or seat or be in a settled position or place

In this reading “It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.”

whole fortune adjective + noun

All words in this reading · 72

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 [Sidenote: No other planet in the entire Galaxy was at all like Rejuvenal ... it was the only world worth one's whole fortune for a short visit!] Curtis Delman was the last to leave the space liner.

agedadjectiveUS /eɪdʒd/

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

boxnounUS /bɑːks/

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.

ceasedverbUS /siːst/

past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.

centenariannounUS /ˌsentəˈneriən/

someone who is at least 100 years old

From this reading For a centenarian, his energy was prodigious.

clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/

lacking grace in movement or posture

From this reading Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

compiledverbUS /kəmˈpaɪld/

past form of “compile” — get or gather together

From this reading There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

CurtisnounUS /ˈkɜːrtəs/

English botanical writer and publisher (1746-1799)

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

deliberationnounUS /dɪˌlɪbərˈeɪʃən/

(usually plural) discussion of all sides of a question

From this reading Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

Delman

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

detailedadjectiveUS /dɪˈteɪld/

developed or executed with care and in minute detail

From this reading There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

dictatingverbUS /ˈdɪkteɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “dictate” — issue commands or orders for

From this reading It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.

energynounUS /ˈenərdʒi/

(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs

From this reading For a centenarian, his energy was prodigious.

enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.

entireadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtaɪər/

constituting the full quantity or extent; complete

fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

fortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

fournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

GalaxynounUS /ˈɡæləksi/

a splendid assemblage (especially of famous people)

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading For a centenarian, his energy was prodigious.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

instructionnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃən/

a message describing how something is to be done

From this reading There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

keynounUS /kiː/

metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

From this reading Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

leaveverbUS /liːv/

go away from a place

lidnounUS /lɪd/

either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye

From this reading Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

linernounUS /ˈlaɪnər/

(baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter

lockverbUS /lɑːk/

fasten with a lock

From this reading Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

microphonenounUS /ˈmaɪkrəfoʊn/

device for converting sound waves into electrical energy

From this reading It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.

milenounUS /maɪl/

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

one's

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

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

planetnounUS /ˈplænət/

(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light

pressedadjectiveUS /prest/

compacted by ironing

From this reading Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

prodigiousadjectiveUS /prəˈdɪdʒəs/

so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe

From this reading For a centenarian, his energy was prodigious.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.

recordernounUS /rɪˈkɔːrdər/

equipment for making records

From this reading Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

Rejuvenal

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

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

Sidenote

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

spacenounUS /speɪs/

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

visitverbUS /ˈvɪzɪt/

go to see a place, as for entertainment

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It was only when the Captain entered that he ceased dictating and put down the microphone.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

wirenounUS /ˈwaɪər/

ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc

From this reading There was almost a mile of fine wire in that box--a mile of detailed instruction, compiled over the past four days.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Then, with the clumsy deliberation of the aged, he pressed home the lid of the recorder and turned the key in the lock.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

worthnounUS /wɜːrθ/

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

Chapter 1 of Rich Living by Michael Cathal holds 771 sentences, grouped into 155 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 Rich Living contain?

Chapter 1 holds 771 sentences of Rich Living, unabridged, divided into 155 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Rich Living by Michael Cathal exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 771 sentences, grouped into 155 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 Rich Living?

Work through the 155 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 155 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 Rich Living

Common questions about reading Rich Living by Michael Cathal on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Rich Living?

Yes. All 771 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32550 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Rich Living is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #32550, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Rich Living take to read?

About 64 minutes of reading across 155 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Rich Living

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

Sidenote: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rich Living; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Other: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rich Living; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Planet: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rich Living; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Entire: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rich Living; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter I · Chapter 1

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Vocabulary met early in Rich Living