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The Man Who Fell Through the Earth
The Man Who Fell Through the Earth

Chapter XVI · The Snowflake

Chapter XVI of The Man Who Fell Through the Earth, “The Snowflake,” is here in full — 234 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Man Who Fell Through the Earth
Context Illustration Reading 1/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.
Pennington Wise looked at it aghast.
"Where did it come from?" he exclaimed.
"It's always been there," said Zizi.
"I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.
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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 Man Who Fell Through the Earth

Chapter XVI · The Snowflake

Chapter XVI of The Man Who Fell Through the Earth, “The Snowflake,” is here in full — 234 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.
/aɪ lʊkt æt ðə dɪˈzaɪn wɪð ˈɪntrəst bʌt wɪˈθaʊt æt fɜːrst ˈɡræspɪŋ ɪts truː səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/
Line 2
Pennington Wise looked at it aghast.
Line 3
"Where did it come from?" he exclaimed.
/wer dɪd ɪt kʌm frʌm hiː ɪkˈskleɪmd/
Line 4
"It's always been there," said Zizi.
Line 5
"I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

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.

aghast adjective US /əˈɡæst/

struck with fear, dread, or consternation

From this reading “Pennington Wise looked at it aghast.”

design noun US /dɪˈzaɪn/

the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)

From this reading “I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.”

earnest adjective US /ˈɜːrnɪst/

characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions

From this reading “"I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.”

grasping noun US /ˈɡræspɪŋ/

understanding with difficulty

From this reading “I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.”

Hudson noun US /ˈhʌdsən/

a New York river; flows southward into New York Bay; explored by Henry Hudson early in the 17th century

From this reading “"I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.”

significance noun US /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/

the quality of being significant

From this reading “I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.”

smiled verb US /smaɪld/

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading “"I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.”

Wise adjective US /waɪz/

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading “Pennington Wise looked at it aghast.”

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.

looked at verb + particle counted as “look at”

take into consideration for exemplifying purposes

In this reading “I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.”

smiled at verb + particle counted as “smile at”

In this reading “"I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.”

come from verb + particle

In this reading “"Where did it come from?" he exclaimed.”

All words in this reading · 52

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.

aghastadjectiveUS /əˈɡæst/

struck with fear, dread, or consternation

From this reading Pennington Wise looked at it aghast.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading "It's always been there," said Zizi.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "It's always been there," said Zizi.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

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

From this reading "Where did it come from?" he exclaimed.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

designnounUS /dɪˈzaɪn/

the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading "Where did it come from?" he exclaimed.

Didn't

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

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

earnestadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrnɪst/

characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

exclaimedverbUS /ɪkˈskleɪmd/

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading "Where did it come from?" he exclaimed.

facenounUS /feɪs/

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

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "Where did it come from?" he exclaimed.

graspingnounUS /ˈɡræspɪŋ/

understanding with difficulty

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Where did it come from?" he exclaimed.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

HudsonnounUS /ˈhʌdsən/

a New York river; flows southward into New York Bay; explored by Henry Hudson early in the 17th century

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Pennington Wise looked at it aghast.

It's

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

From this reading "It's always been there," said Zizi.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

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

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

meanverbUS /miːn/

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

Pennington

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

From this reading Pennington Wise looked at it aghast.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "It's always been there," said Zizi.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

significancenounUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/

the quality of being significant

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

smiledverbUS /smaɪld/

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading "It's always been there," said Zizi.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

WhereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading "Where did it come from?" he exclaimed.

WiseadjectiveUS /waɪz/

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading Pennington Wise looked at it aghast.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading I looked at the design with interest, but without at first grasping its true significance.

you'd

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

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

Ziz

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

From this reading "I mean, I saw it there one day when I was in this room with Mr. Hudson, I--I----" "Didn't know you'd ever been here, Ziz," and Wise smiled at the earnest little face.

Zizi

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

From this reading "It's always been there," said Zizi.

Chapter 16 of The Man Who Fell Through the Earth by Carolyn Wells holds 234 sentences, grouped into 47 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 16 of The Man Who Fell Through the Earth contain?

Chapter 16 holds 234 sentences of The Man Who Fell Through the Earth, unabridged, divided into 47 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of The Man Who Fell Through the Earth by Carolyn Wells exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 234 sentences, grouped into 47 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 16 of The Man Who Fell Through the Earth?

Work through the 47 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 47 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 Man Who Fell Through the Earth

Common questions about reading The Man Who Fell Through the Earth by Carolyn Wells on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Man Who Fell Through the Earth?

Yes. All 4374 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #44872 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Man Who Fell Through the Earth is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #44872, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Man Who Fell Through the Earth take to read?

About 364 minutes of reading across 875 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Man Who Fell Through the Earth section by section

How to work through The Man Who Fell Through the Earth section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Man Who Fell Through the Earth

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Man Who Fell Through the Earth, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Books
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man Who Fell Through the Earth; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Google
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man Who Fell Through the Earth; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Idqcaaaamaaj
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man Who Fell Through the Earth; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man Who Fell Through the Earth; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.