Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Stuff is here in full — 148 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Would it work? Yes. How would it work? Exactly like this. "No more lies," Paula said.
The Stuff
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Stuff is here in full — 148 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
English subtitles · tap any word to listen
1 / 5
Would
it
work?
Yes.
How
would
it
work?
Exactly
like
this.
"No
more
lies,"
Paula
said.
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
The Stuff
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Stuff is here in full — 148 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Line 1
Would
it
work?
/wʊd ɪt wɜːrk/
Line 2
Yes.
/jes/
Line 3
How
would
it
work?
Line 4
Exactly
like
this.
/ɪɡˈzæktli laɪk ðɪs/
Line 5
"No
more
lies,"
Paula
said.
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.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading “Exactly like this.”
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading “"No more lies," Paula said.”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “Exactly like this.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “"No more lies," Paula said.”
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading “Would it work?”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Would it work?”
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes.”
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.
All words in this reading · 13
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.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading Exactly like this.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How would it work?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Would it work?
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading "No more lies," Paula said.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Exactly like this.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "No more lies," Paula said.
not any; not one
From this reading "No more lies," Paula said.
Paula
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No more lies," Paula said.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "No more lies," Paula said.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Exactly like this.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Would it work?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Would it work?
an affirmative
From this reading Yes.
Chapter 1 of The Stuff by Henry Slesar holds 148 sentences, grouped into 30 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 Stuff contain?
Chapter 1 holds 148 sentences of The Stuff, unabridged, divided into 30 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Stuff by Henry Slesar exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 148 sentences, grouped into 30 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 Stuff?
Work through the 30 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 30 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 Stuff
Common questions about reading The Stuff by Henry Slesar on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Is this the complete text of The Stuff?
Yes. All 148 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51574 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Which edition of The Stuff is used?
Project Gutenberg eBook #51574, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
How long does The Stuff take to read?
About 12 minutes of reading across 30 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to read The Stuff section by section
How to work through The Stuff section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
-
Open a chapter
Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Stuff to begin.
-
Read one section
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
-
Listen and tap
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Vocabulary met early in The Stuff
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Stuff, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
- Exactly
- A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Stuff; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
- Paula
- A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Stuff; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
- God's
- A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Stuff; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
- Doctor
- A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Stuff; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.