Chapter 2 of The Water Goats, and Other Troubles is here in full — 198 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter II
Chapter 2 of The Water Goats, and Other Troubles is here in full — 198 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Casey wrinkled his brow. “'Tis like they was, Toole,” he said doubtfully. “'Tis like they was warranted t' be, but they wasn't.” “Sure!” cried Toole joyously. “'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.
Chapter 2 of The Water Goats, and Other Troubles is here in full — 198 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/39 · 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.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading “Casey wrinkled his brow.”
to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away
From this reading ““'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.”
plural of “goat” — any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
From this reading ““'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.”
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading ““'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.”
plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
From this reading ““'Tis like they was, Toole,” he said doubtfully.”
past form of “warrant” — provide adequate grounds to justify (a certain course of action)
From this reading ““'Tis like they was warranted t' be, but they wasn't.””
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading ““'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.”
marked by wrinkles
From this reading “Casey wrinkled his brow.”
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 with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “'Tis like they was warranted t' be, but they wasn't.”
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Casey wrinkled his brow.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “'Tis like they was warranted t' be, but they wasn't.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Casey wrinkled his brow.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Sure!” cried Toole joyously.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.
in a doubtful manner
From this reading “'Tis like they was, Toole,” he said doubtfully.
to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away
From this reading “'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.
plural of “goat” — any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
From this reading “'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “'Tis like they was, Toole,” he said doubtfully.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Casey wrinkled his brow.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.
in a joyous and gleeful manner
From this reading “Sure!” cried Toole joyously.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “'Tis like they was, Toole,” he said doubtfully.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “'Tis like they was, Toole,” he said doubtfully.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading “'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “Sure!” cried Toole joyously.
a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine
From this reading “'Tis like they was warranted t' be, but they wasn't.”
the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day
From this reading “'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “'Tis like they was, Toole,” he said doubtfully.
plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
From this reading “'Tis like they was, Toole,” he said doubtfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “'Tis like they was, Toole,” he said doubtfully.
past form of “warrant” — provide adequate grounds to justify (a certain course of action)
From this reading “'Tis like they was warranted t' be, but they wasn't.”
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “'Tis like they was, Toole,” he said doubtfully.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “'Tis like they was warranted t' be, but they wasn't.”
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading “'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “'Tis water-proof th' skin of th' dongola water goats is, like th' skin of th' duck.
marked by wrinkles
From this reading Casey wrinkled his brow.
Chapter 2 of The Water Goats, and Other Troubles by Ellis Parker Butler holds 198 sentences, grouped into 40 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 2 holds 198 sentences of The Water Goats, and Other Troubles, unabridged, divided into 40 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of The Water Goats, and Other Troubles by Ellis Parker Butler exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 198 sentences, grouped into 40 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 40 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 40 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 2 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 Water Goats, and Other Troubles by Ellis Parker Butler on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 957 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1285 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #1285, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 79 minutes of reading across 192 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Water Goats, and Other Troubles section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 5 chapters of The Water Goats, and Other Troubles 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 Water Goats, and Other Troubles, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
