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The Happy Average
The Happy Average

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Happy Average is here in full — 88 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Brand Whitlock • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Happy Average
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.
It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.
"I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.
The young man went on with an anxious smile:
"This is Judge Blair, I presume?
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 Happy Average

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Happy Average is here in full — 88 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.
/ə dʒuːˈdɪʃəl dɪˈsɪʒən ðə dʒʌdʒ rəˈfjuːzd tuː teɪk ə næp ðoʊ wen hiː sæt daʊn ɑːn ðə vərˈændə hiː dɪd teɪk wʌn ˈlaɪɪŋ bæk ɪn hɪz tʃer wɪð wʌn ʌv ðə ˈmeni ˈsekʃənz ʌv ðə ˈsʌndeɪ ˈpeɪpər spred ˈoʊvər hɪz feɪs/
Line 2
It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.
/ɪt wɑːz frʌm ðɪs ˈsʌmˈwʌt ənˈdɪɡnɪfaɪd ˈpɑːstʃər ðæt hiː wɑːz ərˈaʊzd baɪ ə step hiː ˈstɑːrtɪd ʌp ˈheɪstəli/
Line 3
"I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.
/aɪ beɡ jɔːr ˈpɑːrdən sed ðə jʌŋ mæn huː stʊd ɑːn ðə steps ˈtwɜːrlɪŋ hɪz strɔː hæt raʊnd ənd raʊnd ɪn hɪz hændz/
Line 4
The young man went on with an anxious smile:
/ðə jʌŋ mæn went ɑːn wɪð æn ˈæŋkʃəs smaɪl/
Line 5
"This is Judge Blair, I presume?
/ðɪs ɪz dʒʌdʒ bler aɪ prɪˈzuːm/

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.

Blair noun US /bler/

British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953)

From this reading “"This is Judge Blair, I presume?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
judicial adjective US /dʒuːˈdɪʃəl/

decreed by or proceeding from a court of justice

From this reading “A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nap noun US /næp/

a period of time spent sleeping

From this reading “A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
posture noun US /ˈpɑːstʃər/

the arrangement of the body and its limbs

From this reading “It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sections noun US /ˈsekʃənz/

plural of “section” — a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)

From this reading “A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
twirling verb US /ˈtwɜːrlɪŋ/

-ing form of “twirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion

From this reading “"I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
undignified adjective US /ənˈdɪɡnɪfaɪd/

lacking dignity

From this reading “It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
veranda noun US /vərˈændə/

a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)

From this reading “A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

straw hat noun + noun

a stiff hat made of straw with a flat crown

In this reading “"I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.”

4,075 times in 426,211 chapters
young man adjective + noun

a teenager or a young adult male

In this reading “"I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.”

130,774 times in 426,211 chapters
take a nap verb + article + noun counted as “take … nap”

In this reading “A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.”

833 times in 426,211 chapters
spread over verb + particle

form a cover over

In this reading “A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.”

4,562 times in 426,211 chapters
on the veranda preposition + article + noun counted as “on … veranda”

In this reading “A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.”

2,590 times in 426,211 chapters
went on verb + particle counted as “go on”

continue a certain state, condition, or activity

In this reading “The young man went on with an anxious smile:”

241,940 times in 426,211 chapters
started up verb + adjective counted as “start up”

get going or set in motion

In this reading “It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.”

12,048 times in 426,211 chapters
on the steps preposition + article + noun counted as “on … steps”

In this reading “"I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.”

5,133 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 69

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 A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The young man went on with an anxious smile:

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anxiousadjectiveUS /ˈæŋkʃəs/

eagerly desirous

From this reading The young man went on with an anxious smile:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/

aroused to action

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
begverbUS /beɡ/

call upon in supplication; entreat

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BlairnounUS /bler/

British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953)

From this reading "This is Judge Blair, I presume?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
chairnounUS /tʃer/

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DECISIONnounUS /dɪˈsɪʒən/

the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hastilyadverbUS /ˈheɪstəli/

in a hurried or hasty manner

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hatnounUS /hæt/

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "This is Judge Blair, I presume?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
judgeverbUS /dʒʌdʒ/

determine the result of (a competition)

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
JUDICIALadjectiveUS /dʒuːˈdɪʃəl/

decreed by or proceeding from a court of justice

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lyingnounUS /ˈlaɪɪŋ/

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
napnounUS /næp/

a period of time spent sleeping

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
papernounUS /ˈpeɪpər/

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pardonverbUS /ˈpɑːrdən/

accept an excuse for

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
posturenounUS /ˈpɑːstʃər/

the arrangement of the body and its limbs

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
presumeverbUS /prɪˈzuːm/

take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof

From this reading "This is Judge Blair, I presume?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
refusedverbUS /rəˈfjuːzd/

past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
satnounUS /sæt/

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

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sectionsnounUS /ˈsekʃənz/

plural of “section” — a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
smileverbUS /smaɪl/

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading The young man went on with an anxious smile:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
somewhatadverbUS /ˈsʌmˈwʌt/

to a small degree or extent

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
spreadverbUS /spred/

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/

past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stepnounUS /step/

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stepsnounUS /steps/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

Velmora curated lexicon
strawnounUS /strɔː/

plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SundaynounUS /ˈsʌndeɪ/

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
twirlingverbUS /ˈtwɜːrlɪŋ/

-ing form of “twirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
undignifiedadjectiveUS /ənˈdɪɡnɪfaɪd/

lacking dignity

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
verandanounUS /vərˈændə/

a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wentverbUS /went/

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

From this reading The young man went on with an anxious smile:

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 8 of The Happy Average by Brand Whitlock holds 88 sentences, grouped into 18 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 8 of The Happy Average contain?

Chapter 8 holds 88 sentences of The Happy Average, unabridged, divided into 18 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Happy Average by Brand Whitlock exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 88 sentences, grouped into 18 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 8 of The Happy Average?

Work through the 18 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 18 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Happy Average

Common questions about reading The Happy Average by Brand Whitlock on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Happy Average?

Yes. All 3524 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #45728 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Happy Average is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #45728, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Happy Average take to read?

About 293 minutes of reading across 705 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Happy Average section by section

How to work through The Happy Average section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 32 chapters of The Happy Average 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 Happy Average

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Happy Average, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Happy Average; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Infinite
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Happy Average; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Variety
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Happy Average; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
District
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Happy Average; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.