Chapter 1 of The Dutch Twins is here in full — 511 sentences across 103 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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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.
The old gander ran at them too. I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then! She stood right still and screamed. Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo! Shoo!" just as he did at the flies.
Chapter 1 of The Dutch Twins is here in full — 511 sentences across 103 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 88/102 · 5 reading units · Lines 436–440
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.
mature male goose
From this reading “The old gander ran at them too.”
plural of “goose” — web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading “Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!”
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 “I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then!”
a case for containing a set of articles
From this reading “Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!”
made afraid
From this reading “I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then!”
drive away by crying “shoo!”
From this reading “Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!”
plural of “switch” — control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit
From this reading “Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!”
any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading “Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!”
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 Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She stood right still and screamed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Shoo!" just as he did at the flies.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The old gander ran at them too.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then!
a youthful male person
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then!
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Shoo!" just as he did at the flies.
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading Shoo!" just as he did at the flies.
mature male goose
From this reading The old gander ran at them too.
plural of “goose” — web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then!
and nothing more
From this reading Shoo!" just as he did at the flies.
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 I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then!
a case for containing a set of articles
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old gander ran at them too.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The old gander ran at them too.
precisely, exactly
From this reading She stood right still and screamed.
made afraid
From this reading I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then!
past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading She stood right still and screamed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She stood right still and screamed.
drive away by crying “shoo!”
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
in a vehement outcry
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
not in physical motion
From this reading She stood right still and screamed.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She stood right still and screamed.
plural of “switch” — control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
express in words
From this reading I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The old gander ran at them too.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The old gander ran at them too.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then!
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The old gander ran at them too.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then!
any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading Kit was scared too; but he stood by Kat, like a brave boy, and shook his willow switches at the geese, and shouted "Shoo!
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I can't begin to tell you how scared Kat was then!
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.
