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Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity
Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity is here in full — 21 sentences across 5 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Thomas M. (Thomas Matthew) St. John • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity
Context Illustration Reading 1/4 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).
_BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.
=FUN WITH ELECTRICITY.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty Experiments_.
=FUN WITH PUZZLES.= A book, key and complete outfit for _Four Hundred Puzzles_.
=FUN WITH SOAP-BUBBLES.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Fancy Bubbles and Films_.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity is here in full — 21 sentences across 5 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/4 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).
Line 2
_BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.
Line 3
=FUN WITH ELECTRICITY.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty Experiments_.
/fʌn wɪð ɪˌlekˈtrɪsəti ə bʊk ənd kəmˈpliːt ˈaʊtfɪt ʌv ˌæpərˈætəs fɔːr ˈsɪksti ɪkˈsperəmənts/
Line 4
=FUN WITH PUZZLES.= A book, key and complete outfit for _Four Hundred Puzzles_.
/fʌn wɪð ˈpʌzəlz ə bʊk kiː ənd kəmˈpliːt ˈaʊtfɪt fɔːr fɔːr ˈhʌndrəd ˈpʌzəlz/
Line 5
=FUN WITH SOAP-BUBBLES.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Fancy Bubbles and Films_.

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.

brackets noun US /ˈbrækəts/

plural of “bracket” — a category falling within certain defined limits

From this reading “See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Bubbles noun US /ˈbʌbəlz/

plural of “bubble” — a hollow globule of gas (e.g., air or carbon dioxide)

From this reading “=FUN WITH SOAP-BUBBLES.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Fancy Bubbles and Films_.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
chemical adjective US /ˈkeməkəl/

relating to or used in chemistry

From this reading “See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Films noun US /fɪlmz/

plural of “film” — a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
magnetism noun US /ˈmæɡnətɪzəm/

attraction for iron; associated with electric currents as well as magnets; characterized by fields of force

From this reading “_BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
puzzles noun US /ˈpʌzəlz/

plural of “puzzle” — a particularly baffling problem that is said to have a correct solution

From this reading “=FUN WITH PUZZLES.= A book, key and complete outfit for _Four Hundred Puzzles_.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sulfate noun US /ˈsʌlfeɪt/

a salt or ester of sulphuric acid

From this reading “See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
underscore verb US /ˌʌndərˈskɔːr/

give extra weight to (a communication)

From this reading “See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

complete outfit verb + noun

In this reading “_BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.”

162 times in 426,211 chapters
Four Hundred noun + noun

the exclusive social set of a city

In this reading “=FUN WITH PUZZLES.= A book, key and complete outfit for _Four Hundred Puzzles_.”

10,069 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 45

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.

4

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

Pending verification
AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
apparatusnounUS /ˌæpərˈætəs/

equipment designed to serve a specific function

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bracketsnounUS /ˈbrækəts/

plural of “bracket” — a category falling within certain defined limits

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BubblesnounUS /ˈbʌbəlz/

plural of “bubble” — a hollow globule of gas (e.g., air or carbon dioxide)

From this reading =FUN WITH SOAP-BUBBLES.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Fancy Bubbles and Films_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CharactersnounUS /ˈkærəktərz/

plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
chemicaladjectiveUS /ˈkeməkəl/

relating to or used in chemistry

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
completeverbUS /kəmˈpliːt/

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
coppernounUS /ˈkɑːpər/

a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
curlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrli/

(of hair) having curls or waves

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CuSO

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

Pending verification
ELECTRICITYnounUS /ɪˌlekˈtrɪsəti/

a physical phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons and protons

From this reading =FUN WITH ELECTRICITY.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty Experiments_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
enclosedadjectiveUS /enˈkloʊzd/

closed in or surrounded or included within

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
examplenounUS /ɪɡˈzæmpəl/

an item of information that is typical of a class or group

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ExperimentsnounUS /ɪkˈsperəmənts/

plural of “experiment” — the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FancynounUS /ˈfænsi/

something many people believe that is false

From this reading =FUN WITH SOAP-BUBBLES.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Fancy Bubbles and Films_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FilmsnounUS /fɪlmz/

plural of “film” — a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement

From this reading =FUN WITH SOAP-BUBBLES.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Fancy Bubbles and Films_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
formulanounUS /ˈfɔːrmjələ/

a group of symbols that make a mathematical statement

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading =FUN WITH PUZZLES.= A book, key and complete outfit for _Four Hundred Puzzles_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FUNnounUS /fʌn/

activities that are enjoyable or amusing

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
https

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

Pending verification
HundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading =FUN WITH PUZZLES.= A book, key and complete outfit for _Four Hundred Puzzles_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
keynounUS /kiː/

metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

From this reading =FUN WITH PUZZLES.= A book, key and complete outfit for _Four Hundred Puzzles_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MAGNETISMnounUS /ˈmæɡnətɪzəm/

attraction for iron; associated with electric currents as well as magnets; characterized by fields of force

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
outfitnounUS /ˈaʊtfɪt/

any cohesive unit such as a military company

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PUZZLESnounUS /ˈpʌzəlz/

plural of “puzzle” — a particularly baffling problem that is said to have a correct solution

From this reading =FUN WITH PUZZLES.= A book, key and complete outfit for _Four Hundred Puzzles_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SAMEadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

Velmora curated lexicon
SeeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/

being ten more than fifty

From this reading =FUN WITH ELECTRICITY.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty Experiments_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Sixty-Oneadjective

being one more than sixty

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SOAP-BUBBLES

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading =FUN WITH SOAP-BUBBLES.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Fancy Bubbles and Films_.

Pending verification
subscripts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

Pending verification
sulfatenounUS /ˈsʌlfeɪt/

a salt or ester of sulphuric acid

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
underscoreverbUS /ˌʌndərˈskɔːr/

give extra weight to (a communication)

From this reading See https:// Characters enclosed by curly brackets after an underscore are subscripts (example: CuSO_{4} [the chemical formula of copper sulfate]).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading _BY THE SAME AUTHOR._ =FUN WITH MAGNETISM.= A book and complete outfit of apparatus for _Sixty-One Experiments_.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 1 of Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity by Thomas M. (Thomas Matthew) St. John holds 21 sentences, grouped into 5 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 Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity contain?

Chapter 1 holds 21 sentences of Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity, unabridged, divided into 5 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity by Thomas M. (Thomas Matthew) St. John exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 21 sentences, grouped into 5 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 Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity?

Work through the 5 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 5 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 Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity

Common questions about reading Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity by Thomas M. (Thomas Matthew) St. John on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity?

Yes. All 1435 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #44665 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #44665, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity take to read?

About 119 minutes of reading across 287 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity section by section

How to work through Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity

Words and structures a reader meets early in Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Https
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Characters
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Enclosed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Curly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Things a Boy Should Know About Electricity; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.