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The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel
The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel is here in full — 248 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Émile Zola • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE SOIL.
_(LA TERRE.)_ A REALISTIC NOVEL.
ÉMILE ZOLA.
WITH A FRONTISPIECE DESIGNED BY H. GRAY.
_VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel is here in full — 248 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE SOIL.
/ðə sɔɪl/
Line 2
_(LA TERRE.)_ A REALISTIC NOVEL.
Line 3
ÉMILE ZOLA.
Line 4
WITH A FRONTISPIECE DESIGNED BY H. GRAY.
Line 5
_VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

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.

broadcast verb US /ˈbrɔːdkæst/

broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television

From this reading “_VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
designed adjective US /dɪˈzaɪnd/

done or made or performed with purpose and intent

From this reading “WITH A FRONTISPIECE DESIGNED BY H. GRAY.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
handful noun US /ˈhændfʊl/

a small number or amount

From this reading “_VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
linen noun US /ˈlɪnən/

a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant

From this reading “_VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
novel noun US /ˈnɑːvəl/

an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story

From this reading “_(LA TERRE.)_ A REALISTIC NOVEL.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
realistic adjective US /ˌriːəˈlɪstɪk/

aware or expressing awareness of things as they really are

From this reading “_(LA TERRE.)_ A REALISTIC NOVEL.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
waist noun US /weɪst/

the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips

From this reading “_VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
zola noun US /ˈzoʊlə/

French novelist and critic; defender of Dreyfus (1840-1902)

From this reading “ÉMILE ZOLA.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

tied round adjective + noun

In this reading “_VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.”

1,064 times in 426,211 chapters
blue linen adjective + noun

In this reading “_VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.”

207 times in 426,211 chapters
three steps noun + noun

In this reading “_VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.”

1,770 times in 426,211 chapters
left hand noun + noun

the hand that is on the left side of the body

In this reading “_VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.”

13,412 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 54

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.

16

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

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Pending verification
AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading _(LA TERRE.)_ A REALISTIC NOVEL.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
blueadjectiveUS /bluː/

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
broadcastverbUS /ˈbrɔːdkæst/

broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading WITH A FRONTISPIECE DESIGNED BY H. GRAY.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ConounUS /koʊ/

an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cornnounUS /kɔːrn/

tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
COVENT

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

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Pending verification
DESIGNEDadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪnd/

done or made or performed with purpose and intent

From this reading WITH A FRONTISPIECE DESIGNED BY H. GRAY.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
drewnounUS /druː/

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
flungverbUS /flʌŋ/

inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forthadverbUS /fɔːrθ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FRONTISPIECEnoun

an ornamental facade

From this reading WITH A FRONTISPIECE DESIGNED BY H. GRAY.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GARDENnounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GRAYnounUS /ɡreɪ/

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading WITH A FRONTISPIECE DESIGNED BY H. GRAY.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HnounUS /eɪtʃ/

a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe

From this reading WITH A FRONTISPIECE DESIGNED BY H. GRAY.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
handfulnounUS /ˈhændfʊl/

a small number or amount

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
heldadjectiveUS /held/

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HENRIETTA

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

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Pending verification
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JeannounUS /dʒiːn/

a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LAnounUS /lɑː/

a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth

From this reading _(LA TERRE.)_ A REALISTIC NOVEL.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/

a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mouthnounUS /maʊθ/

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NOVELnounUS /ˈnɑːvəl/

an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story

From this reading _(LA TERRE.)_ A REALISTIC NOVEL.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Velmora curated lexicon
REALISTICadjectiveUS /ˌriːəˈlɪstɪk/

aware or expressing awareness of things as they really are

From this reading _(LA TERRE.)_ A REALISTIC NOVEL.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seed-bag

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

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Pending verification
SOILnounUS /sɔɪl/

the state of being covered with unclean things

From this reading THE SOIL.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stepsnounUS /steps/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STREETnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TERRE

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

From this reading _(LA TERRE.)_ A REALISTIC NOVEL.

Pending verification
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE SOIL.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tiedadjectiveUS /taɪd/

bound or secured closely

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
VIZETELLY

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

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Pending verification
waistnounUS /weɪst/

the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading _VIZETELLY & Co. 16 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN._ That morning Jean, with a seed-bag of blue linen tied round his waist, held its mouth open with his left hand, while with his right, at every three steps, he drew forth a handful of corn, and flung it broadcast.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading WITH A FRONTISPIECE DESIGNED BY H. GRAY.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ZOLAnounUS /ˈzoʊlə/

French novelist and critic; defender of Dreyfus (1840-1902)

From this reading ÉMILE ZOLA.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ÉMILE

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

From this reading ÉMILE ZOLA.

Pending verification

Chapter 1 of The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel by Émile Zola holds 248 sentences, grouped into 50 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 Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel contain?

Chapter 1 holds 248 sentences of The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel, unabridged, divided into 50 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel by Émile Zola exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 248 sentences, grouped into 50 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 Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel?

Work through the 50 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 50 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 Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel

Common questions about reading The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel by Émile Zola on this page, its source edition and its audio.

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Yes. All 10625 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #56687 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #56687, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2125 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel section by section

How to work through The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 30 chapters of The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel 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 Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Terre
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Realistic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Novel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Frontispiece
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Soil (La Terre): A Realistic Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.