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The City of Fire
The City of Fire

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The City of Fire is here in full — 423 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The City of Fire
Context Illustration Reading 19/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?
Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?
Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:
Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.
I'm sending Shorty and Link.
0:00 / 0:00
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.

The City of Fire

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The City of Fire is here in full — 423 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 19/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 91–95

Line 1
Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?
Line 2
Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?
/rek ɪt ʌv kɔːrs bʌt hiː maɪt ɡet kɪld ənd wer wʊd biː ðə rɪˈwɔːrd/
Line 3
Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:
Line 4
Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.
Line 5
I'm sending Shorty and Link.

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.

clearer adjective US /ˈklɪrər/

comparative of “clear” — readily apparent to the mind

From this reading “Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:”

kidnap verb US /ˈkɪdnæp/

take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom

From this reading ““Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?”

Link verb US /lɪŋk/

make a logical or causal connection

From this reading “I'm sending Shorty and Link.”

machine noun US /məˈʃiːn/

any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

From this reading ““Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?”

reward noun US /rɪˈwɔːrd/

a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing

From this reading “Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?”

sending noun US /ˈsendɪŋ/

the act of causing something to go (especially messages)

From this reading “I'm sending Shorty and Link.”

Sounds noun US /saʊndz/

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading ““Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?”

Wreck noun US /rek/

something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation

From this reading “Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?”

All words in this reading · 66

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 “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

BesidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

carnounUS /kɑːr/

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

cleareradjectiveUS /ˈklɪrər/

comparative of “clear” — readily apparent to the mind

From this reading Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

easyadjectiveUS /ˈiːzi/

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

goin

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

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

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

From this reading Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:

groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:

growingnounUS /ˈɡroʊɪŋ/

(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 Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

he'll

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

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

he's

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

From this reading Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

how

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

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

hurtverbUS /hɜːrt/

be the source of pain

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

I'm

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

From this reading I'm sending Shorty and Link.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

kidnapverbUS /ˈkɪdnæp/

take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

killedverbUS /kɪld/

past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

lieverbUS /laɪ/

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

likelyadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪkli/

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:

LinkverbUS /lɪŋk/

make a logical or causal connection

From this reading I'm sending Shorty and Link.

machinenounUS /məˈʃiːn/

any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

moveverbUS /muːv/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/

possession of controlling influence

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

PutverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

rewardnounUS /rɪˈwɔːrd/

a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

Sammy

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

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

sendingnounUS /ˈsendɪŋ/

the act of causing something to go (especially messages)

From this reading I'm sending Shorty and Link.

Shorty

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

From this reading I'm sending Shorty and Link.

shotnounUS /ʃɑːt/

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

SoundsnounUS /saʊndz/

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

treenounUS /triː/

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

voicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--” The voice from the ground again growing clearer:

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high power machine?

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

WrecknounUS /rek/

something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation

From this reading Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where would be the reward?

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.

Chapter 1 of The City of Fire by Grace Livingston Hill holds 423 sentences, grouped into 85 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 The City of Fire contain?

Chapter 1 holds 423 sentences of The City of Fire, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The City of Fire by Grace Livingston Hill exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 423 sentences, grouped into 85 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 The City of Fire?

Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 85 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 The City of Fire

Common questions about reading The City of Fire by Grace Livingston Hill on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The City of Fire?

Yes. All 6645 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7008 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The City of Fire is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7008, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The City of Fire take to read?

About 553 minutes of reading across 1329 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The City of Fire section by section

How to work through The City of Fire section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 16 chapters of The City of Fire 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 The City of Fire

Words and structures a reader meets early in The City of Fire, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Renumbered
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The City of Fire; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chapters
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The City of Fire; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Beginning
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The City of Fire; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chapter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The City of Fire; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.