Chapter 9 of The Status Civilization is here in full — 431 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IX
Chapter 9 of The Status Civilization is here in full — 431 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value. They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value." "Of course," Barrent said, at a loss for words. Wonderson looked at the rings. "I suppose these have a sentimental value, though."
Chapter 9 of The Status Civilization is here in full — 431 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/86 · 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.
an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
From this reading “They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."”
clearly defined or formulated
From this reading “They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."”
-ing form of “destroy” — do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
From this reading “They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."”
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading “"But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value.”
belonging to a thing by its very nature
From this reading “"But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value.”
gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises
From this reading “Wonderson looked at the rings.”
a small and inadequate amount
From this reading “They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."”
given to or marked by sentiment or sentimentality
From this reading “"I suppose these have a sentimental value, though."”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Of course," Barrent said, at a loss for words.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Of course," Barrent said, at a loss for words.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Of course," Barrent said, at a loss for words.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value.
an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "Of course," Barrent said, at a loss for words.
clearly defined or formulated
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
-ing form of “destroy” — do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading "But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Of course," Barrent said, at a loss for words.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I suppose these have a sentimental value, though."
belonging to a thing by its very nature
From this reading "But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Wonderson looked at the rings.
something that is lost
From this reading "Of course," Barrent said, at a loss for words.
not any; not one
From this reading "But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises
From this reading Wonderson looked at the rings.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value.
a small and inadequate amount
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
given to or marked by sentiment or sentimentality
From this reading "I suppose these have a sentimental value, though."
from a time in the past until now
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
term of address for a man
From this reading "But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value.
express a supposition
From this reading "I suppose these have a sentimental value, though."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "I suppose these have a sentimental value, though."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "I suppose these have a sentimental value, though."
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading "But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
at the time that
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But, sir," Wonderson said, "diamonds and such have no intrinsic value.
the words that are spoken
From this reading "Of course," Barrent said, at a loss for words.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading They haven't since '23, when Von Blon wrote the definitive work destroying the concept of scarcity value."
Chapter 9 of The Status Civilization by Robert Sheckley holds 431 sentences, grouped into 87 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 9 holds 431 sentences of The Status Civilization, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 9 of The Status Civilization by Robert Sheckley exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 431 sentences, grouped into 87 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 87 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 87 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 9 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.
