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The Social Cancer
The Social Cancer

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Social Cancer is here in full — 270 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Social Cancer
Context Illustration Reading 1/54 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Eve of the Fiesta It is now the tenth of November, the eve of the fiesta.
Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.
Windows are covered with banners and many-hued draperies.
All space is filled with noise and music, and the air is saturated with rejoicings.
On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.
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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 Social Cancer

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of The Social Cancer is here in full — 270 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/54 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Eve of the Fiesta It is now the tenth of November, the eve of the fiesta.
/ðə iːv ʌv ðə fiˈestə ɪt ɪz naʊ ðə tenθ ʌv noʊˈvembər ðə iːv ʌv ðə fiˈestə/
Line 2
Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.
Line 3
Windows are covered with banners and many-hued draperies.
Line 4
All space is filled with noise and music, and the air is saturated with rejoicings.
Line 5
On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

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.

banners noun US /ˈbænərz/

plural of “banner” — long strip of cloth or paper used for decoration or advertising

From this reading “Windows are covered with banners and many-hued draperies.”

cockpit noun US /ˈkɑːkpɪt/

compartment where the pilot sits while flying the aircraft

From this reading “Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.”

draperies noun US /ˈdreɪpəriz/

plural of “drapery” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading “Windows are covered with banners and many-hued draperies.”

Emerging adjective US /ɪˈmɜːrdʒɪŋ/

coming to maturity

From this reading “Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.”

fiesta noun US /fiˈestə/

an elaborate party (often outdoors)

From this reading “The Eve of the Fiesta It is now the tenth of November, the eve of the fiesta.”

monotony noun US /məˈnɑːtəni/

the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety

From this reading “Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.”

saturated adjective US /ˈsætʃəreɪtɪd/

being the most concentrated solution possible at a given temperature; unable to dissolve still more of a substance

From this reading “All space is filled with noise and music, and the air is saturated with rejoicings.”

tenth noun US /tenθ/

a tenth part; one part in ten equal parts

From this reading “The Eve of the Fiesta It is now the tenth of November, the eve of the fiesta.”

All words in this reading · 59

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.

activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/

any specific behavior

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading All space is filled with noise and music, and the air is saturated with rejoicings.

AlladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading All space is filled with noise and music, and the air is saturated with rejoicings.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Windows are covered with banners and many-hued draperies.

arrangeverbUS /ərˈeɪndʒ/

put into a proper or systematic order

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

bannersnounUS /ˈbænərz/

plural of “banner” — long strip of cloth or paper used for decoration or advertising

From this reading Windows are covered with banners and many-hued draperies.

bright-hued

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

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

churchnounUS /tʃɜːrtʃ/

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

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

cockpitnounUS /ˈkɑːkpɪt/

compartment where the pilot sits while flying the aircraft

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading Windows are covered with banners and many-hued draperies.

coversnounUS /ˈkʌvərz/

plural of “cover” — a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

dalagas

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

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/

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

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

draperiesnounUS /ˈdreɪpəriz/

plural of “drapery” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading Windows are covered with banners and many-hued draperies.

embroideredverbUS /emˈbrɔɪdərd/

past form of “embroider” — decorate with needlework

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

EmergingadjectiveUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒɪŋ/

coming to maturity

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

EvenounUS /iːv/

(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

From this reading The Eve of the Fiesta It is now the tenth of November, the eve of the fiesta.

fieldnounUS /fiːld/

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

FiestanounUS /fiˈestə/

an elaborate party (often outdoors)

From this reading The Eve of the Fiesta It is now the tenth of November, the eve of the fiesta.

filledadjectiveUS /fɪld/

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading All space is filled with noise and music, and the air is saturated with rejoicings.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

fruitsnounUS /fruːts/

plural of “fruit” — the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

glassnounUS /ɡlæs/

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

habitualadjectiveUS /həˈbɪtʃuːəl/

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The Eve of the Fiesta It is now the tenth of November, the eve of the fiesta.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The Eve of the Fiesta It is now the tenth of November, the eve of the fiesta.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

kindsnounUS /kaɪndz/

plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

many-hued

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

From this reading Windows are covered with banners and many-hued draperies.

monotonynounUS /məˈnɑːtəni/

the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading All space is filled with noise and music, and the air is saturated with rejoicings.

nativeadjectiveUS /ˈneɪtɪv/

characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

noisenounUS /nɔɪz/

sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading All space is filled with noise and music, and the air is saturated with rejoicings.

NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading The Eve of the Fiesta It is now the tenth of November, the eve of the fiesta.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The Eve of the Fiesta It is now the tenth of November, the eve of the fiesta.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Eve of the Fiesta It is now the tenth of November, the eve of the fiesta.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

rejoicings

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

From this reading All space is filled with noise and music, and the air is saturated with rejoicings.

saturatedadjectiveUS /ˈsætʃəreɪtɪd/

being the most concentrated solution possible at a given temperature; unable to dissolve still more of a substance

From this reading All space is filled with noise and music, and the air is saturated with rejoicings.

spacenounUS /speɪs/

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading All space is filled with noise and music, and the air is saturated with rejoicings.

sweetmeats

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

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/

plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading On little tables with embroidered covers the _dalagas_ arrange in bright-hued glass dishes different kinds of sweetmeats made from native fruits.

tenthnounUS /tenθ/

a tenth part; one part in ten equal parts

From this reading The Eve of the Fiesta It is now the tenth of November, the eve of the fiesta.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Eve of the Fiesta It is now the tenth of November, the eve of the fiesta.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

unwontedadjective

unaccustomed or unusual

From this reading Emerging from its habitual monotony, the town has given itself over to unwonted activity in house, church, cockpit, and field.

WindowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading Windows are covered with banners and many-hued draperies.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Windows are covered with banners and many-hued draperies.

Chapter 17 of The Social Cancer by José Rizal holds 270 sentences, grouped into 54 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 17 of The Social Cancer contain?

Chapter 17 holds 270 sentences of The Social Cancer, unabridged, divided into 54 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of The Social Cancer by José Rizal exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 270 sentences, grouped into 54 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 17 of The Social Cancer?

Work through the 54 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 54 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 Social Cancer

Common questions about reading The Social Cancer by José Rizal on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Social Cancer?

Yes. All 8582 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6737 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Social Cancer is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #6737, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Social Cancer take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1717 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Social Cancer section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Social Cancer 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 Social Cancer

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

October
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Social Cancer; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Santiago
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Social Cancer; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Santos
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Social Cancer; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Popularly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Social Cancer; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.