Chapter 4 of The Status Civilization is here in full — 429 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of The Status Civilization is here in full — 429 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"It shouldn't be," Doctor Wayn said. "You appear healthy enough. Quite healthy, in fact, and with a low suggestibility rating. Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions. Can't help that sort of thing.
Chapter 4 of The Status Civilization is here in full — 429 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
characterized by or caused by allergy
From this reading “Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.”
increasing by successive addition
From this reading “Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.”
of or relating to or characteristic of epilepsy
From this reading “Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.”
plural of “fit” — a display of bad temper
From this reading “Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.”
having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease
From this reading “"You appear healthy enough.”
come to pass
From this reading “Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.”
an appraisal of the value of something
From this reading “Quite healthy, in fact, and with a low suggestibility rating.”
plural of “reaction” — (chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others
From this reading “Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Quite healthy, in fact, and with a low suggestibility rating.
characterized by or caused by allergy
From this reading Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Quite healthy, in fact, and with a low suggestibility rating.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "You appear healthy enough.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It shouldn't be," Doctor Wayn said.
for the reason that
From this reading Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Can't help that sort of thing.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.
increasing by successive addition
From this reading Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading "It shouldn't be," Doctor Wayn said.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "You appear healthy enough.
of or relating to or characteristic of epilepsy
From this reading Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Quite healthy, in fact, and with a low suggestibility rating.
plural of “fit” — a display of bad temper
From this reading Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.
having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease
From this reading "You appear healthy enough.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Can't help that sort of thing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Quite healthy, in fact, and with a low suggestibility rating.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It shouldn't be," Doctor Wayn said.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Quite healthy, in fact, and with a low suggestibility rating.
come to pass
From this reading Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Quite healthy, in fact, and with a low suggestibility rating.
an appraisal of the value of something
From this reading Quite healthy, in fact, and with a low suggestibility rating.
plural of “reaction” — (chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others
From this reading Of course, epileptic fits _do_ occur, probably because of cumulative allergic reactions.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It shouldn't be," Doctor Wayn said.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It shouldn't be," Doctor Wayn said.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Can't help that sort of thing.
susceptibility or responsiveness to suggestion
From this reading Quite healthy, in fact, and with a low suggestibility rating.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Can't help that sort of thing.
a special situation
From this reading Can't help that sort of thing.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It shouldn't be," Doctor Wayn said.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Quite healthy, in fact, and with a low suggestibility rating.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You appear healthy enough.
Chapter 4 of The Status Civilization by Robert Sheckley holds 429 sentences, grouped into 86 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.
Chapter 4 holds 429 sentences of The Status Civilization, unabridged, divided into 86 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of The Status Civilization by Robert Sheckley exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 429 sentences, grouped into 86 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.
Work through the 86 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 86 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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.
Common questions about reading The Status Civilization by Robert Sheckley on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4293 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #20919 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #20919, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 357 minutes of reading across 859 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Status Civilization section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 10 chapters of The Status Civilization to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Status Civilization, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
