Chapter 2 of Stopping the leak is here in full — 153 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Stopping the leak is here in full — 153 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
THE RECONNOISANCE. AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly. Then she started up for a visit to the kitchen. "I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase. The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
Chapter 2 of Stopping the leak is here in full — 153 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/30 · 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.
the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading “The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.”
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading “The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.”
animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds
From this reading “The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.”
meat cut from the thigh of a hog (usually smoked)
From this reading “The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.”
beaten eggs or an egg mixture cooked until just set; may be folded around e.g. ham or cheese or jelly
From this reading “The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.”
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading “"I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.”
close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)
From this reading “AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.”
in a visible manner
From this reading “AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.”
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.
In this reading “The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.”
In this reading “"I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.”
In this reading “The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.”
In this reading “"I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.”
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
In this reading “"I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.”
get going or set in motion
In this reading “Then she started up for a visit to the kitchen.”
In this reading “The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.”
In this reading “AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then she started up for a visit to the kitchen.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading "I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.
the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading "I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.
animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.
meat cut from the thigh of a hog (usually smoked)
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading "I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Then she started up for a visit to the kitchen.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.
beaten eggs or an egg mixture cooked until just set; may be folded around e.g. ham or cheese or jelly
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading "I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECONNOISANCE.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then she started up for a visit to the kitchen.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
the season of growth
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading "I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Then she started up for a visit to the kitchen.
close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)
From this reading AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RECONNOISANCE.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she started up for a visit to the kitchen.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then she started up for a visit to the kitchen.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then she started up for a visit to the kitchen.
in a visible manner
From this reading AUNT MERCY'S thoughts kept her busy for an hour, her stocking, meanwhile, growing visibly.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Then she started up for a visit to the kitchen.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.
which person or people
From this reading "I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The table was spread in the kitchen with cold ham, spring chicken, an egg omelet, and hot coffee.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading "I wonder who ordered dinner," she said to herself, as she went down the broad staircase.
Chapter 2 of Stopping the leak by Madeline Leslie holds 153 sentences, grouped into 31 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 2 holds 153 sentences of Stopping the leak, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Stopping the leak by Madeline Leslie exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 153 sentences, grouped into 31 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 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 31 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 2 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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Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Stopping the leak section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 0 chapters of Stopping the leak 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 Stopping the leak, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
