Stopping the leak

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Stopping the leak is here in full — 124 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Madeline Leslie • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

STOPPING THE LEAK.

AUNT HATTIE.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

I dedicate this Volume, TRUSTING IT MAY HELP THEM TO AVOID THE FOIBLES AND EXCESSES WHICH DESTROY FORTUNE AND CHARACTER, AND TO CULTIVATE INDUSTRY, ECONOMY, AND THOSE KINDRED VIRTUES WHICH DISTINGUISH THE WISE AND GOOD.

THE AUTHOR.

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 1/24

Stopping the leak

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Stopping the leak is here in full — 124 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

STOPPING THE LEAK.

/ˈstɑːpɪŋ ðə liːk/

Line 2

AUNT HATTIE.

Line 3

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

Line 4

/aɪ ˈdedəkeɪt ðɪs ˈvɑːljuːm ˈtrʌstɪŋ ɪt meɪ help ðem tuː əˈvɔɪd ðə ˈfɔɪbəlz ənd ˌekˈsesɪz wɪtʃ dɪˈstrɔɪ ˈfɔːrtʃən ənd ˈkerɪktər ənd tuː ˈkʌltəveɪt ˈɪndəstri ɪˈkɑːnəmi ənd ðoʊz ˈkɪndrɪd ˈvɜːrtʃuːz wɪtʃ dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ ðə waɪz ənd ɡʊd/

Line 5

THE AUTHOR.

/ðə ˈɔːθər/

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.

Clerk's noun US /klɜːrks/

possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.”

cultivate verb US /ˈkʌltəveɪt/

foster the growth of

From this reading “I dedicate this Volume, TRUSTING IT MAY HELP THEM TO AVOID THE FOIBLES AND EXCESSES WHICH DESTROY FORTUNE AND CHARACTER, AND TO CULTIVATE INDUSTRY, ECONOMY, AND THOSE KINDRED VIRTUES WHICH DISTINGUISH THE WISE AND GOOD.”

dedicate verb US /ˈdedəkeɪt/

give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause

economy noun US /ɪˈkɑːnəmi/

the system of production and distribution and consumption

excesses noun US /ˌekˈsesɪz/

plural of “excess” — a quantity much larger than is needed

foibles noun US /ˈfɔɪbəlz/

plural of “foible” — a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual

leak noun US /liːk/

an accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape

From this reading “STOPPING THE LEAK.”

Massachusetts noun US /ˌmæsəˈtʃuːsəts/

a state in New England; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.”

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.

Act of verb + particle

In this reading “Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.”

All words in this reading · 49

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.

1865

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

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

ActverbUS /ækt/

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

AUNTnounUS /ænt/

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading AUNT HATTIE.

AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading THE AUTHOR.

AVOIDverbUS /əˈvɔɪd/

stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading I dedicate this Volume, TRUSTING IT MAY HELP THEM TO AVOID THE FOIBLES AND EXCESSES WHICH DESTROY FORTUNE AND CHARACTER, AND TO CULTIVATE INDUSTRY, ECONOMY, AND THOSE KINDRED VIRTUES WHICH DISTINGUISH THE WISE AND GOOD.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

CHARACTERnounUS /ˈkerɪktər/

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

Clerk'snounUS /klɜːrks/

possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

CongressnounUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/

the legislature of the United States government

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

CourtnounUS /kɔːrt/

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

CULTIVATEverbUS /ˈkʌltəveɪt/

foster the growth of

dedicateverbUS /ˈdedəkeɪt/

give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause

DESTROYverbUS /dɪˈstrɔɪ/

do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of

DISTINGUISHverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/

mark as different

DistrictnounUS /ˈdɪstrɪkt/

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

ECONOMYnounUS /ɪˈkɑːnəmi/

the system of production and distribution and consumption

EnteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

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

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

EXCESSESnounUS /ˌekˈsesɪz/

plural of “excess” — a quantity much larger than is needed

FOIBLESnounUS /ˈfɔɪbəlz/

plural of “foible” — a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual

FORTUNEnounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/

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

GOODadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

GRAVESnounUS /ɡreɪvz/

English writer known for his interest in mythology and in the classics (1895-1985)

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

HATTIE

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

From this reading AUNT HATTIE.

HELPverbUS /help/

give help or assistance; be of service

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

INDUSTRYnounUS /ˈɪndəstri/

the people or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprise

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

KINDREDadjectiveUS /ˈkɪndrɪd/

similar in quality or character

LEAKnounUS /liːk/

an accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape

From this reading STOPPING THE LEAK.

MassachusettsnounUS /ˌmæsəˈtʃuːsəts/

a state in New England; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

MAYmodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

OfficenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

STOPPINGnounUS /ˈstɑːpɪŋ/

fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members

From this reading STOPPING THE LEAK.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading STOPPING THE LEAK.

THEMpronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

THOSEdeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

TRUSTINGadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌstɪŋ/

inclined to believe or confide readily; full of trust

VIRTUESnounUS /ˈvɜːrtʃuːz/

plural of “virtue” — the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong

VolumenounUS /ˈvɑːljuːm/

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

WHICHpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

WISEadjectiveUS /waɪz/

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

YOUNGadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GRAVES AND YOUNG, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

Chapter 1 of Stopping the leak by Madeline Leslie holds 124 sentences, grouped into 25 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 Stopping the leak contain?

Chapter 1 holds 124 sentences of Stopping the leak, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Stopping the leak by Madeline Leslie exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 124 sentences, grouped into 25 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 Stopping the leak?

Work through the 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 25 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.

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Chapter I

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