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The Day's Work - Part 1
The Day's Work - Part 1

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Day's Work - Part 1 is here in full — 2888 sentences across 578 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Day's Work - Part 1
Context Illustration Reading 1/577 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE TOMB OF HIS ANCESTORS.
The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.
For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.
Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.
Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.
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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 Day's Work - Part 1

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Day's Work - Part 1 is here in full — 2888 sentences across 578 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/577 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE TOMB OF HIS ANCESTORS.
/ðə tuːm ʌv hɪz ˈænsestərz/
Line 2
The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.
Line 3
For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.
Line 4
Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.
Line 5
Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

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.

ancestors noun US /ˈænsestərz/

plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

From this reading “THE TOMB OF HIS ANCESTORS.”

archbishop noun US /ˈɑːrtʃˈbɪʃəp/

a bishop of highest rank

From this reading “Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.”

construction noun US /kənˈstrʌkʃən/

the act of constructing something

From this reading “Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.”

discomfort noun US /dɪˈskʌmfərt/

the state of being tense and feeling pain

From this reading “For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.”

flared verb US /flerd/

past form of “flare” — burn brightly

From this reading “Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.”

Ganges noun US /ˈɡændʒiz/

an Asian river; rises in the Himalayas and flows east into the Bay of Bengal; a sacred river of the Hindus

From this reading “For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.”

trolley noun US /ˈtrɑːli/

a wheeled vehicle that runs on rails and is propelled by electricity

From this reading “Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.”

Viceroy noun US /ˈvaɪsrɔɪ/

governor of a country or province who rules as the representative of his or her king or sovereign

From this reading “Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.”

All words in this reading · 107

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 The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(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 Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

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

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

ANCESTORSnounUS /ˈænsestərz/

plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

From this reading THE TOMB OF HIS ANCESTORS.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

archbishopnounUS /ˈɑːrtʃˈbɪʃəp/

a bishop of highest rank

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

banksnounUS /bæŋks/

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

blessverbUS /bles/

give a benediction to

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

BridgenounUS /brɪdʒ/

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

CnounUS /siː/

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

chargeverbUS /tʃɑːrdʒ/

to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/

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 For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

constructionnounUS /kənˈstrʌkʃən/

the act of constructing something

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

dangernounUS /ˈdeɪndʒər/

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

DepartmentnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/

a specialized division of a large organization

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

deservedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrvd/

properly deserved

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

disappointmentnounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/

a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

discomfortnounUS /dɪˈskʌmfərt/

the state of being tense and feeling pain

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

diseasenounUS /dɪˈziːz/

an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

dreamedadjectiveUS /driːmd/

conceived of or imagined or hoped for

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

EnounUS /iː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

enduredverbUS /enˈdjʊrd/

past form of “endure” — put up with something or somebody unpleasant

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

ExcellencynounUS /ˈekˈslensi/

a title used to address dignitaries (such as ambassadors or governors); usually preceded by “Your” or “His” or “Her”

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

expectedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektəd/

considered likely or probable to happen or arrive

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

Findlayson

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

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

flaredverbUS /flerd/

past form of “flare” — burn brightly

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

friendsnounUS /frendz/

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

GangesnounUS /ˈɡændʒiz/

an Asian river; rises in the Himalayas and flows east into the Bay of Bengal; a sacred river of the Hindus

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

grownadjectiveUS /ɡroʊn/

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

heatnounUS /hiːt/

a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE TOMB OF HIS ANCESTORS.

hugeadjectiveUS /hjuːdʒ/

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

IndeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

Kashi

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

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

leastadjectiveUS /liːst/

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

linenounUS /laɪn/

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

mainadjectiveUS /meɪn/

most important element

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

milesnounUS /maɪlz/

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

northnounUS /nɔːrθ/

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE TOMB OF HIS ANCESTORS.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

pairnounUS /per/

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

permittedverbUS /pərˈmɪtɪd/

inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

PublicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

responsibilitynounUS /riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

revetments

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

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

SnounUS /es/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

shouldersnounUS /ˈʃoʊldərz/

plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

soldiersnounUS /ˈsoʊldʒərz/

plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

southnounUS /saʊθ/

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

speechesnounUS /ˈspiːtʃəz/

plural of “speech” — the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

statenounUS /steɪt/

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

stone-faced

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

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE TOMB OF HIS ANCESTORS.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

TOMBnounUS /tuːm/

a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)

From this reading THE TOMB OF HIS ANCESTORS.

top-heavyadjective

unstable by being overloaded at the top

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

trainloadnoun

quantity that can be carried by a train

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

trolleynounUS /ˈtrɑːli/

a wheeled vehicle that runs on rails and is propelled by electricity

From this reading Findlayson, C. E., sat in his trolley on a construction line that ran along one of the main revetments - the huge stone-faced banks that flared away north and south for three miles on either side of the river and permitted himself to think of the end.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

ViceroynounUS /ˈvaɪsrɔɪ/

governor of a country or province who rules as the representative of his or her king or sovereign

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

WorksnounUS /wɜːrks/

buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading The least that Findlayson, of the Public Works Department, expected was a C.I.E.; he dreamed of a C. S. I. Indeed, his friends told him that he deserved more.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Now, in less than three months, if all went well, his Excellency the Viceroy would open the bridge in state, an archbishop would bless it, and the first trainload of soldiers would come over it, and there would be speeches.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading For three years he had endured heat and cold, disappointment, discomfort, danger, and disease, with responsibility almost to top-heavy for one pair of shoulders; and day by day, through that time, the great Kashi Bridge over the Ganges had grown under his charge.

Chapter 1 of The Day's Work - Part 1 by Rudyard Kipling holds 2888 sentences, grouped into 578 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 Day's Work - Part 1 contain?

Chapter 1 holds 2888 sentences of The Day's Work - Part 1, unabridged, divided into 578 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Day's Work - Part 1 by Rudyard Kipling exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 2888 sentences, grouped into 578 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 Day's Work - Part 1?

Work through the 578 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 578 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 Day's Work - Part 1

Common questions about reading The Day's Work - Part 1 by Rudyard Kipling on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Day's Work - Part 1?

Yes. All 4119 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2138 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Day's Work - Part 1 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2138, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Day's Work - Part 1 take to read?

About 343 minutes of reading across 824 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Day's Work - Part 1 section by section

How to work through The Day's Work - Part 1 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 3 chapters of The Day's Work - Part 1 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 Day's Work - Part 1

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Day's Work - Part 1, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Ancestors
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Day's Work - Part 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Least
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Day's Work - Part 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Findlayson
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Day's Work - Part 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Public
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Day's Work - Part 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.