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The Rat Race
The Rat Race

Chapter XXXI

Chapter 31 of The Rat Race is here in full — 155 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.
"That wasn't quite my question, sir," I replied.
"I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.
Am I to be responsible for the sins the other man committed?"
"Ah!"
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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 Rat Race

Chapter XXXI

Chapter 31 of The Rat Race is here in full — 155 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.
Line 2
"That wasn't quite my question, sir," I replied.
Line 3
"I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.
/aɪ æskt juː ˈweðər juː kʊd ˈdʒʌstəfaɪ ðə lɔːrdz ˈpʌtɪŋ maɪ soʊl ˈɪntuː əˈnʌðər mænz ˈbɑːdi/
Line 4
Am I to be responsible for the sins the other man committed?"
/æm aɪ tuː biː riˈspɑːnsəbəl fɔːr ðə sɪnz ðə ˈʌðər mæn kəˈmɪtɪd/
Line 5
"Ah!"

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.

Angus noun US /ˈæŋɡəs/

Celtic god of love and beauty; patron deity of young men and women

From this reading “"No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.”

justify verb US /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪ/

show to be right by providing justification or proof

From this reading “"I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.”

Lord's noun US /lɔːrdz/

possessive form of “lord” — terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading “"I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.”

Manhattan noun US /mænˈhætən/

one of the five boroughs of New York City

From this reading “"No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.”

predestination noun US /ˌpriːdestəˈneɪʃən/

previous determination as if by destiny or fate

From this reading “"No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.”

Presbyterian noun US /ˌpresbɪˈtɪriən/

a follower of Calvinism as taught in the Presbyterian Church

From this reading “"No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.”

reconcile verb US /ˈrekənsaɪl/

make (one thing) compatible with

From this reading “"No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.”

Tenth noun US /tenθ/

a tenth part; one part in ten equal parts

From this reading “"No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.”

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.

other man adjective + noun

In this reading “Am I to be responsible for the sins the other man committed?"”

All words in this reading · 51

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.

Ah

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

From this reading "Ah!"

Amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading Am I to be responsible for the sins the other man committed?"

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

AngusnounUS /ˈæŋɡəs/

Celtic god of love and beauty; patron deity of young men and women

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading "I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.

askingnounUS /ˈæskɪŋ/

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading "I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.

ChurchnounUS /tʃɜːrtʃ/

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

committedadjectiveUS /kəˈmɪtɪd/

bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude

From this reading Am I to be responsible for the sins the other man committed?"

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading "I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.

doubtnounUS /daʊt/

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

Dr

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

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Am I to be responsible for the sins the other man committed?"

freeverbUS /friː/

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "That wasn't quite my question, sir," I replied.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading "I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.

justifyverbUS /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪ/

show to be right by providing justification or proof

From this reading "I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.

Lord'snounUS /lɔːrdz/

possessive form of “lord” — terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading "I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading Am I to be responsible for the sins the other man committed?"

man'snounUS /mænz/

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading "I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.

ManhattannounUS /mænˈhætən/

one of the five boroughs of New York City

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

McGregor

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

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

ministernounUS /ˈmɪnəstər/

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "That wasn't quite my question, sir," I replied.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

observedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Am I to be responsible for the sins the other man committed?"

predestinationnounUS /ˌpriːdestəˈneɪʃən/

previous determination as if by destiny or fate

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

PresbyteriannounUS /ˌpresbɪˈtɪriən/

a follower of Calvinism as taught in the Presbyterian Church

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

puttingnounUS /ˈpʌtɪŋ/

hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter

From this reading "I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.

questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading "That wasn't quite my question, sir," I replied.

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading "That wasn't quite my question, sir," I replied.

reconcileverbUS /ˈrekənsaɪl/

make (one thing) compatible with

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "That wasn't quite my question, sir," I replied.

responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/

worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable

From this reading Am I to be responsible for the sins the other man committed?"

sinsnounUS /sɪnz/

plural of “sin” — estrangement from god

From this reading Am I to be responsible for the sins the other man committed?"

sirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading "That wasn't quite my question, sir," I replied.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading "I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.

TenthnounUS /tenθ/

a tenth part; one part in ten equal parts

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "That wasn't quite my question, sir," I replied.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

wasn't

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

From this reading "That wasn't quite my question, sir," I replied.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading "I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I asked you whether you could justify the Lord's putting my soul into another man's body.

you'll

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

From this reading "No doubt you'll be asking me to reconcile predestination and free will," observed Dr. Angus McGregor, minister of the Tenth Presbyterian Church of Manhattan.

Chapter 31 of The Rat Race by Jay Franklin holds 155 sentences, grouped into 31 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 31 of The Rat Race contain?

Chapter 31 holds 155 sentences of The Rat Race, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 31 of The Rat Race by Jay Franklin exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 155 sentences, grouped into 31 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 31 of The Rat Race?

Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 31 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 31 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 31 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 Rat Race

Common questions about reading The Rat Race by Jay Franklin on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Rat Race?

Yes. All 6721 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51854 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Rat Race is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #51854, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Rat Race take to read?

About 560 minutes of reading across 1345 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Rat Race section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 35 chapters of The Rat Race 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 Rat Race

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

Astonishing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rat Race; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Narrative
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rat Race; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Somebody
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rat Race; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mixed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rat Race; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.