Chapter 1 of The Dutch Twins is here in full — 511 sentences across 103 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Dutch Twins is here in full — 511 sentences across 103 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"Y-y-you began it! Anyway, where is your new wooden shoe?" "Where are both of yours?" screamed Kat. Sure enough, where were they? No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.
Chapter 1 of The Dutch Twins is here in full — 511 sentences across 103 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 28/102 · 5 reading units · Lines 136–140
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.
used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
From this reading “Anyway, where is your new wooden shoe?"”
the leaves of the shrub Catha edulis which are chewed like tobacco or used to make tea; has the effect of a euphoric stimulant
From this reading “"Where are both of yours?" screamed Kat.”
a case for containing a set of articles
From this reading “No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.”
past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “"Where are both of yours?" screamed Kat.”
footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material
From this reading “Anyway, where is your new wooden shoe?"”
a particular situation
From this reading “No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.”
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading “Anyway, where is your new wooden shoe?"”
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading “"Where are both of yours?" screamed Kat.”
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.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.
used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
From this reading Anyway, where is your new wooden shoe?"
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Where are both of yours?" screamed Kat.
for the reason that
From this reading No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "Y-y-you began it!
the two together, not just one
From this reading "Where are both of yours?" screamed Kat.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Sure enough, where were they?
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Anyway, where is your new wooden shoe?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Y-y-you began it!
the leaves of the shrub Catha edulis which are chewed like tobacco or used to make tea; has the effect of a euphoric stimulant
From this reading "Where are both of yours?" screamed Kat.
a case for containing a set of articles
From this reading No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Anyway, where is your new wooden shoe?"
not any; not one
From this reading No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Where are both of yours?" screamed Kat.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.
past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Where are both of yours?" screamed Kat.
footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material
From this reading Anyway, where is your new wooden shoe?"
a particular situation
From this reading No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Sure enough, where were they?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sure enough, where were they?
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading No one had thought about shoes, because they were thinking so hard about Kit.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Sure enough, where were they?
in or at the place that
From this reading Anyway, where is your new wooden shoe?"
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading Anyway, where is your new wooden shoe?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Y-y-you began it!
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Anyway, where is your new wooden shoe?"
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading "Where are both of yours?" screamed Kat.
Chapter 1 of The Dutch Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins holds 511 sentences, grouped into 103 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 1 holds 511 sentences of The Dutch Twins, unabridged, divided into 103 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Dutch Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 511 sentences, grouped into 103 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 103 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 103 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 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.
Common questions about reading The Dutch Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1516 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4012 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #4012, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 126 minutes of reading across 304 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Dutch Twins section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 3 chapters of The Dutch Twins 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 The Dutch Twins, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
