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The Lady of the Ice: A Novel
The Lady of the Ice: A Novel

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Lady of the Ice: A Novel is here in full — 34 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Lady of the Ice: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/6 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CONSISTING MERELY OF INTRODUCTORY MATTER.
This is a story of Quebec.
Quebec is a wonderful city.
I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.
On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.
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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 Lady of the Ice: A Novel

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Lady of the Ice: A Novel is here in full — 34 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/6 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CONSISTING MERELY OF INTRODUCTORY MATTER.
/kənˈsɪstɪŋ ˈmɪrli ʌv ˌɪntrəˈdʌktəri ˈmætər/
Line 2
This is a story of Quebec.
/ðɪs ɪz ə ˈstɔːri ʌv kwəˈbek/
Line 3
Quebec is a wonderful city.
/kwəˈbek ɪz ə ˈwʌndərfəl ˈsɪti/
Line 4
I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.
Line 5
On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

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.

consisting verb US /kənˈsɪstɪŋ/

-ing form of “consist” — originate

From this reading “CONSISTING MERELY OF INTRODUCTORY MATTER.”

flows noun US /floʊz/

plural of “flow” — the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)

From this reading “I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.”

granite noun US /ˈɡrænət/

plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz

From this reading “On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.”

introductory adjective US /ˌɪntrəˈdʌktəri/

serving to open or begin

From this reading “CONSISTING MERELY OF INTRODUCTORY MATTER.”

Quebec noun US /kwəˈbek/

the French-speaking capital of the province of Quebec; situated on the Saint Lawrence River

From this reading “This is a story of Quebec.”

schist noun US /ʃɪst/

any metamorphic rock that can be split into thin layers

From this reading “On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.”

shale noun US /ʃeɪl/

a sedimentary rock formed by the deposition of successive layers of clay

From this reading “On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.”

strata noun US /ˈstrætə/

plural of “stratum” — one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock)

From this reading “On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.”

All words in this reading · 44

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 This is a story of Quebec.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

builtadjectiveUS /bɪlt/

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading Quebec is a wonderful city.

claynounUS /kleɪ/

a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

CONSISTINGverbUS /kənˈsɪstɪŋ/

-ing form of “consist” — originate

From this reading CONSISTING MERELY OF INTRODUCTORY MATTER.

flowsnounUS /floʊz/

plural of “flow” — the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

granitenounUS /ˈɡrænət/

plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

INTRODUCTORYadjectiveUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌktəri/

serving to open or begin

From this reading CONSISTING MERELY OF INTRODUCTORY MATTER.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading This is a story of Quebec.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

Laurentian

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

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

MATTERnounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading CONSISTING MERELY OF INTRODUCTORY MATTER.

MERELYadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/

and nothing more

From this reading CONSISTING MERELY OF INTRODUCTORY MATTER.

mudnounUS /mʌd/

water soaked soil; soft wet earth

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading CONSISTING MERELY OF INTRODUCTORY MATTER.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

QuebecnounUS /kwəˈbek/

the French-speaking capital of the province of Quebec; situated on the Saint Lawrence River

From this reading This is a story of Quebec.

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

ridgenounUS /rɪdʒ/

a long narrow natural elevation or striation

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

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

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

sand-stone

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

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

schistnounUS /ʃɪst/

any metamorphic rock that can be split into thin layers

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

shalenounUS /ʃeɪl/

a sedimentary rock formed by the deposition of successive layers of clay

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading This is a story of Quebec.

stratanounUS /ˈstrætə/

plural of “stratum” — one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock)

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This is a story of Quebec.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

trapnounUS /træp/

a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading I am given to understand that the ridge on which the city is built is Laurentian; and the river that flows past it is the same.

wonderfuladjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərfəl/

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading Quebec is a wonderful city.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading On this (not the river, you know) are strata of schist, shale, old red sand-stone, trap, granite, clay, and mud.

Chapter 1 of The Lady of the Ice: A Novel by James De Mille holds 34 sentences, grouped into 7 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of The Lady of the Ice: A Novel contain?

Chapter 1 holds 34 sentences of The Lady of the Ice: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 7 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Lady of the Ice: A Novel by James De Mille exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 34 sentences, grouped into 7 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 Lady of the Ice: A Novel?

Work through the 7 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 7 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 Lady of the Ice: A Novel

Common questions about reading The Lady of the Ice: A Novel by James De Mille on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Lady of the Ice: A Novel?

Yes. All 6306 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #22013 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Lady of the Ice: A Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #22013, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Lady of the Ice: A Novel take to read?

About 525 minutes of reading across 1262 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Lady of the Ice: A Novel section by section

How to work through The Lady of the Ice: A Novel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Lady of the Ice: A Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Lady of the Ice: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Consisting
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Lady of the Ice: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Merely
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Lady of the Ice: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Introductory
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Lady of the Ice: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Matter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Lady of the Ice: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.