Chapter 1 of The Treasure-Train is here in full — 409 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Treasure-Train is here in full — 409 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
But this was an unusual train under unusual circumstances. No one said a word as we peered out. Down the track the signals seemed to show a clear road. What was the matter? "Look!" exclaimed Kennedy, suddenly.
Chapter 1 of The Treasure-Train is here in full — 409 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 57/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 281–285
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.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading “But this was an unusual train under unusual circumstances.”
rid of obstructions
From this reading “Down the track the signals seemed to show a clear road.”
35th President of the United States; established the Peace Corps; assassinated in Dallas (1917-1963)
From this reading “"Look!" exclaimed Kennedy, suddenly.”
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading “No one said a word as we peered out.”
plural of “signal” — any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading “Down the track the signals seemed to show a clear road.”
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading “Down the track the signals seemed to show a clear road.”
create by training and teaching
From this reading “But this was an unusual train under unusual circumstances.”
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading “But this was an unusual train under unusual circumstances.”
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 No one said a word as we peered out.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But this was an unusual train under unusual circumstances.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading No one said a word as we peered out.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this was an unusual train under unusual circumstances.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading But this was an unusual train under unusual circumstances.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Down the track the signals seemed to show a clear road.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down the track the signals seemed to show a clear road.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Look!" exclaimed Kennedy, suddenly.
35th President of the United States; established the Peace Corps; assassinated in Dallas (1917-1963)
From this reading "Look!" exclaimed Kennedy, suddenly.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Look!" exclaimed Kennedy, suddenly.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading What was the matter?
not any; not one
From this reading No one said a word as we peered out.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one said a word as we peered out.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading No one said a word as we peered out.
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading No one said a word as we peered out.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Down the track the signals seemed to show a clear road.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading No one said a word as we peered out.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Down the track the signals seemed to show a clear road.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Down the track the signals seemed to show a clear road.
plural of “signal” — any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading Down the track the signals seemed to show a clear road.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading "Look!" exclaimed Kennedy, suddenly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Down the track the signals seemed to show a clear road.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this was an unusual train under unusual circumstances.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Down the track the signals seemed to show a clear road.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading Down the track the signals seemed to show a clear road.
create by training and teaching
From this reading But this was an unusual train under unusual circumstances.
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading But this was an unusual train under unusual circumstances.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading But this was an unusual train under unusual circumstances.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But this was an unusual train under unusual circumstances.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading No one said a word as we peered out.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What was the matter?
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading No one said a word as we peered out.
Chapter 1 of The Treasure-Train by Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin) Reeve holds 409 sentences, grouped into 82 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 1 holds 409 sentences of The Treasure-Train, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Treasure-Train by Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin) Reeve exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 409 sentences, grouped into 82 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 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 82 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 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.
Common questions about reading The Treasure-Train by Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin) Reeve on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5810 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5087 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #5087, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 484 minutes of reading across 1162 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Treasure-Train section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 14 chapters of The Treasure-Train 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 Treasure-Train, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
