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Turns About Town
Turns About Town

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Turns About Town is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Turns About Town
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.
Maybe it's the same way with you.
Anyhow, it's a mighty queer thing.
And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.
You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Turns About Town

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Turns About Town is here in full — 141 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.
Line 2
Maybe it's the same way with you.
Line 3
Anyhow, it's a mighty queer thing.
Line 4
And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.
Line 5
You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.
/juː siː aɪ ɡoʊ əˈlɔːŋ ə ˈprɪti fer əˈmaʊnt ʌv ðə taɪm ˈfiːlɪŋ ɔːl raɪt ˈnʌθɪŋ rɔːŋ wɪð maɪ ˈsɪstəm ˈnʌθɪŋ æt ˈeni reɪt ðæt aɪ kæn ˈnoʊtəs/

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.

amount noun US /əˈmaʊnt/

a quantity of money

From this reading “You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.”

Anyhow adverb US /ˈenihaʊ/

used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement

From this reading “Anyhow, it's a mighty queer thing.”

logic noun US /ˈlɑːdʒɪk/

the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference

From this reading “And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.”

Maybe adverb US /ˈmeɪbi/

by chance

From this reading “Maybe it's the same way with you.”

queer adjective US /kwɪr/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading “Anyhow, it's a mighty queer thing.”

rate noun US /reɪt/

a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit

From this reading “You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.”

system noun US /ˈsɪstəm/

instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity

From this reading “NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.”

systems noun US /ˈsɪstəmz/

plural of “system” — instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity

From this reading “And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.”

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.

any rate adjective + noun

In this reading “You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.”

queer thing adjective + noun

In this reading “Anyhow, it's a mighty queer thing.”

fair amount adjective + noun

In this reading “You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.”

same way adjective + noun

In this reading “Maybe it's the same way with you.”

go along verb + particle

cooperate or pretend to cooperate

In this reading “You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.”

get some verb + adjective

In this reading “And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.”

All words in this reading · 60

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Anyhow, it's a mighty queer thing.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

ALLadjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

amountnounUS /əˈmaʊnt/

a quantity of money

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

AnyhowadverbUS /ˈenihaʊ/

used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement

From this reading Anyhow, it's a mighty queer thing.

apparentlyadverbUS /əˈperəntli/

from appearances alone

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

fairadjectiveUS /fer/

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

HUMANadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

I'll

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

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

it's

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

From this reading Maybe it's the same way with you.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

logicnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪk/

the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

MaybeadverbUS /ˈmeɪbi/

by chance

From this reading Maybe it's the same way with you.

mightyadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪti/

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading Anyhow, it's a mighty queer thing.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

NOdeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

prettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

queeradjectiveUS /kwɪr/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading Anyhow, it's a mighty queer thing.

ratenounUS /reɪt/

a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading Maybe it's the same way with you.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

SYSTEMnounUS /ˈsɪstəm/

instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

systemsnounUS /ˈsɪstəmz/

plural of “system” — instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading Anyhow, it's a mighty queer thing.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

tryverbUS /traɪ/

make an effort or attempt

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Maybe it's the same way with you.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

whynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading And we ought to try to get some light on the matter--why there is, apparently, no reason or logic at all about our systems.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Maybe it's the same way with you.

wrongadjectiveUS /rɔːŋ/

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading You see, I go along a pretty fair amount of the time feeling all right; nothing wrong with my system; nothing, at any rate, that I can notice.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading NO SYSTEM AT ALL TO THE HUMAN SYSTEM I think I'll tell you about myself.

Chapter 12 of Turns About Town by Robert Cortes Holliday holds 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 12 of Turns About Town contain?

Chapter 12 holds 141 sentences of Turns About Town, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Turns About Town by Robert Cortes Holliday exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 141 sentences, grouped into 29 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 12 of Turns About Town?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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 Turns About Town

Common questions about reading Turns About Town by Robert Cortes Holliday on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Turns About Town?

Yes. All 3890 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #36085 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Turns About Town is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #36085, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Turns About Town take to read?

About 324 minutes of reading across 778 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Turns About Town section by section

How to work through Turns About Town section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 28 chapters of Turns About Town to begin.

  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 Turns About Town

Words and structures a reader meets early in Turns About Town, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Printed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Turns About Town; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
United
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Turns About Town; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
States
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Turns About Town; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
America
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Turns About Town; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.