Chapter III
Chapter 3
Chapter 3 of The Variable Man is here in full — 462 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"Yes. I fixed this." He passed it back to Sherikov. "I repaired that. It was broken."
The Variable Man
Chapter III · Chapter 3
Chapter 3 of The Variable Man is here in full — 462 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
English subtitles · tap any word to listen
1 / 5
"Yes.
I
fixed
this."
He
passed
it
back
to
Sherikov.
"I
repaired
that.
It
was
broken."
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
The Variable Man
Chapter III · Chapter 3
Chapter 3 of The Variable Man is here in full — 462 sentences across 93 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/92 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Line 1
"Yes.
/jes/
Line 2
I
fixed
this."
/aɪ fɪkst ðɪs/
Line 3
He
passed
it
back
to
Sherikov.
Line 4
"I
repaired
that.
/aɪ rɪˈperd ðæt/
Line 5
It
was
broken."
/ɪt wɑːz ˈbroʊkən/
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.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “He passed it back to Sherikov.”
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading “It was broken."”
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading “I fixed this."”
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading “He passed it back to Sherikov.”
repaired
verb
US /rɪˈperd/
past form of “repair” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading “"I repaired that.”
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 · 14
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.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He passed it back to Sherikov.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading It was broken."
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading I fixed this."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He passed it back to Sherikov.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I fixed this."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He passed it back to Sherikov.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He passed it back to Sherikov.
repairedverbUS /rɪˈperd/
past form of “repair” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading "I repaired that.
Sherikov
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He passed it back to Sherikov.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I repaired that.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I fixed this."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He passed it back to Sherikov.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was broken."
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes.
Chapter 3 of The Variable Man by Philip K. Dick holds 462 sentences, grouped into 93 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 3 of The Variable Man contain?
Chapter 3 holds 462 sentences of The Variable Man, unabridged, divided into 93 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 3 of The Variable Man by Philip K. Dick exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 462 sentences, grouped into 93 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 3 of The Variable Man?
Work through the 93 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 93 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 3 be read aloud to me?
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Variable Man
Common questions about reading The Variable Man by Philip K. Dick on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Is this the complete text of The Variable Man?
Yes. All 2271 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32154 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Which edition of The Variable Man is used?
Project Gutenberg eBook #32154, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
How long does The Variable Man take to read?
About 189 minutes of reading across 455 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to read The Variable Man section by section
How to work through The Variable Man section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
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Open a chapter
Choose one of the 5 chapters of The Variable Man to begin.
-
Read one section
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
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Listen and tap
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Vocabulary met early in The Variable Man
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Variable Man, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
- Thought
- A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Variable Man; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
- Lashed
- A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Variable Man; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
- Against
- A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Variable Man; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
- Pounding
- A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Variable Man; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.