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The Shining Cow
The Shining Cow

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Shining Cow is here in full — 300 sentences across 60 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Shining Cow
Context Illustration Reading 1/60 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_This is NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.
This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....
Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.
Mrs. Stewart was a huge, methodical woman, seasoned to the drudgery of a farm wife.
Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.
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 Shining Cow

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Shining Cow is here in full — 300 sentences across 60 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/60 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_This is NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.
/ðɪs ɪz nɑːt ə ˈstɔːri əˈbaʊt ˈsɪnɪstər ˈeɪliənz frʌm ˈaʊtər speɪs/
Line 2
This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....
Line 3
Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.
Line 4
Mrs. Stewart was a huge, methodical woman, seasoned to the drudgery of a farm wife.
/ˈmɪsɪz ˈstuːərt wɑːz ə hjuːdʒ məˈθɑːdəkəl ˈwʊmən ˈsiːzənd tuː ðə ˈdrʌdʒəri ʌv ə fɑːrm waɪf/
Line 5
Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

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.

aliens noun US /ˈeɪliənz/

plural of “alien” — a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country

From this reading “_This is NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.”

analyzed adjective US /ˈænəlaɪzd/

examined carefully and methodically; broken down for consideration of constituent parts

From this reading “This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....”

chores noun US /tʃɔːrz/

plural of “chore” — a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee

From this reading “Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.”

drudgery noun US /ˈdrʌdʒəri/

hard monotonous routine work

From this reading “Mrs. Stewart was a huge, methodical woman, seasoned to the drudgery of a farm wife.”

methodical adjective US /məˈθɑːdəkəl/

characterized by method and orderliness

From this reading “Mrs. Stewart was a huge, methodical woman, seasoned to the drudgery of a farm wife.”

methodically adverb US /məˈθɑːdɪkəli/

in a methodical manner

From this reading “Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.”

seasoned adjective US /ˈsiːzənd/

aged or processed

From this reading “Mrs. Stewart was a huge, methodical woman, seasoned to the drudgery of a farm wife.”

sleepily adverb US /ˈsliːpəli/

in a sleepy manner

From this reading “Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.”

All words in this reading · 106

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.

00

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

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

4

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

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

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 NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading _This is NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.

actedverbUS /ˈæktɪd/

past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

aliensnounUS /ˈeɪliənz/

plural of “alien” — a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country

From this reading _This is NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.

analyzedadjectiveUS /ˈænəlaɪzd/

examined carefully and methodically; broken down for consideration of constituent parts

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

ariseverbUS /ərˈaɪz/

come into existence; take on form or shape

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

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

From this reading Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.

bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/

the lower side of anything

From this reading Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.

breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/

eat an early morning meal

From this reading Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.

burningnounUS /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of burning something

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

causenounUS /kɑːz/

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

choresnounUS /tʃɔːrz/

plural of “chore” — a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

coffeenounUS /ˈkɑːfi/

a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans

From this reading Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

crackedadjectiveUS /krækt/

used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure

From this reading Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.

cupnounUS /kʌp/

a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle

From this reading Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.

dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/

plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food

From this reading Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

drudgerynounUS /ˈdrʌdʒəri/

hard monotonous routine work

From this reading Mrs. Stewart was a huge, methodical woman, seasoned to the drudgery of a farm wife.

dustverbUS /dʌst/

remove the dust from

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

farmverbUS /fɑːrm/

be a farmer; work as a farmer

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

FlyingadjectiveUS /ˈflaɪɪŋ/

moving swiftly

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

forty-acre

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

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading _This is NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.

gatherverbUS /ˈɡæðər/

assemble or get together

From this reading Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.

gottenverbUS /ˈɡɑːtən/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

happeningsnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋz/

plural of “happening” — an event that happens

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

he'd

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

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

hugeadjectiveUS /hjuːdʒ/

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading Mrs. Stewart was a huge, methodical woman, seasoned to the drudgery of a farm wife.

husbandnounUS /ˈhʌzbənd/

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading _This is NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.

Junius

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

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

MnounUS /em/

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

methodicaladjectiveUS /məˈθɑːdəkəl/

characterized by method and orderliness

From this reading Mrs. Stewart was a huge, methodical woman, seasoned to the drudgery of a farm wife.

methodicallyadverbUS /məˈθɑːdɪkəli/

in a methodical manner

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Stewart was a huge, methodical woman, seasoned to the drudgery of a farm wife.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

NOTadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading _This is NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/

being on the outside or further from a center

From this reading _This is NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.

pooradjectiveUS /puːr/

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

QuiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

respectiveadjectiveUS /rɪˈspektɪv/

considered individually

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

Robbie

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

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

SaucernounUS /ˈsɔːsər/

something with a round shape resembling a flat circular plate

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

seasonedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːzənd/

aged or processed

From this reading Mrs. Stewart was a huge, methodical woman, seasoned to the drudgery of a farm wife.

setverbUS /set/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

she'd

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

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

simplyadverbUS /ˈsɪmpli/

and nothing more

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading _This is NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.

sleepilyadverbUS /ˈsliːpəli/

in a sleepy manner

From this reading Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

spacenounUS /speɪs/

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading _This is NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.

staredverbUS /sterd/

past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.

StewartnounUS /ˈstuːərt/

United States film actor who portrayed incorruptible but modest heros (1908-1997)

From this reading Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.

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 NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

sunnounUS /sʌn/

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading _This is NOT a story about sinister aliens from outer space.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Mrs. Stewart was a huge, methodical woman, seasoned to the drudgery of a farm wife.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

whined

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

From this reading This is simply the story of what happened to poor Junius when she found herself much too close to a Flying Saucer, long enough so she could be analyzed and long enough to cause some strange happenings on that farm._ Robbie whined and acted like his eyes were burning, as if he'd gotten dust or something even stranger into them....

wifenounUS /waɪf/

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Mrs. Stewart was a huge, methodical woman, seasoned to the drudgery of a farm wife.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Quite methodically she'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm.

Zack

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

From this reading Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes.

Chapter 1 of The Shining Cow by Alex James holds 300 sentences, grouped into 60 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 Shining Cow contain?

Chapter 1 holds 300 sentences of The Shining Cow, unabridged, divided into 60 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Shining Cow by Alex James exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 300 sentences, grouped into 60 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 Shining Cow?

Work through the 60 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 60 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 Shining Cow

Common questions about reading The Shining Cow by Alex James on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Shining Cow?

Yes. All 300 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #29328 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Shining Cow is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #29328, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Shining Cow take to read?

About 25 minutes of reading across 60 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Shining Cow section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Shining Cow 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 Shining Cow

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

Story
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shining Cow; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sinister
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shining Cow; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Aliens
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shining Cow; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Outer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shining Cow; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.