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Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life
Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life

Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

Chapter 24 of Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life is here in full — 104 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Stuart Oliver Henry • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?
I suppose it is, of course, because of the more general spread here of thorough instruction."
"Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.
With the German, high skilled, highly instructed efficiency is the ideal.
The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.
0:00 / 0:00
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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.

Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life

Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

Chapter 24 of Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life is here in full — 104 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?
/sʌm ʌv ðə les noʊn ɪˈfɪʃənsi waɪ ɪz ɪt ðæt ðɪs siːmz tuː biː ə ˈneɪʃən ʌv prəˈfeʃənəlz waɪl ˈaʊərz siːmz tuː biː ə ˈneɪʃən ʌv ˈæmətɜːrz/
Line 2
I suppose it is, of course, because of the more general spread here of thorough instruction."
/aɪ səˈpoʊz ɪt ɪz ʌv kɔːrs bɪˈkɔːz ʌv ðə mɔːr ˈdʒenərəl spred hiːr ʌv ˈθɜːroʊ ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃən/
Line 3
"Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.
/jes wɪð ʌs ənˈskɪld ˌmiːdiˈɑːkrəti ɪz ðə ˈpɑːpjələr ˈlevəl bɪˈkɔːz ɪt ɪz wɪˈðɪn ðə riːtʃ ʌv ˈevriwʌn ɪn ə dɪˈmɑːkrəsi/
Line 4
With the German, high skilled, highly instructed efficiency is the ideal.
/wɪð ðə ˈdʒɜːrmən haɪ skɪld ˈhaɪli ˌɪnˈstrʌktəd ɪˈfɪʃənsi ɪz ðə aɪˈdiːl/
Line 5
The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.
/ðə ˈfeɪljər ʌv əˈmerəkə tuː raɪz ˈɪntuː ðə ˈekspərt ˈlevəl ɪz duː tuː ˈaʊər ˌʌnenˈfɔːrst ˈhaɪər ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃən/

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.

amateurs noun US /ˈæmətɜːrz/

plural of “amateur” — someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime

From this reading “SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
democracy noun US /dɪˈmɑːkrəsi/

the political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives

From this reading “"Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
efficiency noun US /ɪˈfɪʃənsi/

the ratio of the output to the input of any system

From this reading “SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mediocrity noun US /ˌmiːdiˈɑːkrəti/

ordinariness as a consequence of being average and not outstanding

From this reading “"Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
professionals noun US /prəˈfeʃənəlz/

plural of “professional” — a person engaged in one of the learned professions

From this reading “SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
skilled adjective US /skɪld/

having or showing or requiring special skill

From this reading “With the German, high skilled, highly instructed efficiency is the ideal.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
unenforced adjective US /ˌʌnenˈfɔːrst/

not enforced; not compelled especially by legal or police action

From this reading “The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
unskilled adjective US /ənˈskɪld/

not having or showing or requiring special skill or proficiency

From this reading “"Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 58

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 SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
amateursnounUS /ˈæmətɜːrz/

plural of “amateur” — someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AmericanounUS /əˈmerəkə/

North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776

From this reading The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading I suppose it is, of course, because of the more general spread here of thorough instruction."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading I suppose it is, of course, because of the more general spread here of thorough instruction."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
democracynounUS /dɪˈmɑːkrəsi/

the political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives

From this reading "Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dueadjectiveUS /duː/

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
educationnounUS /ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃən/

the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill

From this reading The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EFFICIENCYnounUS /ɪˈfɪʃənsi/

the ratio of the output to the input of any system

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
everyonepronounUS /ˈevriwʌn/

every person

From this reading "Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
expertadjectiveUS /ˈekspərt/

having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude

From this reading The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
failurenounUS /ˈfeɪljər/

an act that fails

From this reading The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
generaladjectiveUS /ˈdʒenərəl/

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading I suppose it is, of course, because of the more general spread here of thorough instruction."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GermannounUS /ˈdʒɜːrmən/

a person of German nationality

From this reading With the German, high skilled, highly instructed efficiency is the ideal.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading I suppose it is, of course, because of the more general spread here of thorough instruction."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading With the German, high skilled, highly instructed efficiency is the ideal.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
higheradjectiveUS /ˈhaɪər/

advanced in complexity or elaboration

From this reading The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
highlyadverbUS /ˈhaɪli/

to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

From this reading With the German, high skilled, highly instructed efficiency is the ideal.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I suppose it is, of course, because of the more general spread here of thorough instruction."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/

conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal

From this reading With the German, high skilled, highly instructed efficiency is the ideal.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading "Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
instructedverbUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌktəd/

past form of “instruct” — impart skills or knowledge to

From this reading With the German, high skilled, highly instructed efficiency is the ideal.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
instructionnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃən/

a message describing how something is to be done

From this reading I suppose it is, of course, because of the more general spread here of thorough instruction."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
KNOWNadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LESSadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
levelnounUS /ˈlevəl/

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading "Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mediocritynounUS /ˌmiːdiˈɑːkrəti/

ordinariness as a consequence of being average and not outstanding

From this reading "Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading I suppose it is, of course, because of the more general spread here of thorough instruction."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nationnounUS /ˈneɪʃən/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ourspronounUS /ˈaʊərz/

the one or ones belonging to us

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
popularadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːpjələr/

regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public

From this reading "Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
professionalsnounUS /prəˈfeʃənəlz/

plural of “professional” — a person engaged in one of the learned professions

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reachverbUS /riːtʃ/

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading "Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
riseverbUS /raɪz/

move upward

From this reading The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seemsverbUS /siːmz/

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
skilledadjectiveUS /skɪld/

having or showing or requiring special skill

From this reading With the German, high skilled, highly instructed efficiency is the ideal.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SOMEadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
spreadverbUS /spred/

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading I suppose it is, of course, because of the more general spread here of thorough instruction."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/

express a supposition

From this reading I suppose it is, of course, because of the more general spread here of thorough instruction."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thoroughadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːroʊ/

painstakingly careful and accurate

From this reading I suppose it is, of course, because of the more general spread here of thorough instruction."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
unenforcedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnenˈfɔːrst/

not enforced; not compelled especially by legal or police action

From this reading The failure of America to rise into the expert level is due to our unenforced higher education.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
unskilledadjectiveUS /ənˈskɪld/

not having or showing or requiring special skill or proficiency

From this reading "Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WhynounUS /waɪ/

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

From this reading SOME OF THE LESS KNOWN EFFICIENCY "Why is it that this seems to be a nation of professionals while ours seems to be a nation of amateurs?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading "Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading "Yes, with us unskilled mediocrity is the popular level because it is within the reach of everyone in a democracy.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 24 of Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life by Stuart Oliver Henry holds 104 sentences, grouped into 21 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 24 of Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life contain?

Chapter 24 holds 104 sentences of Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 24 of Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life by Stuart Oliver Henry exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 104 sentences, grouped into 21 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 24 of Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 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 24 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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 Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life

Common questions about reading Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life by Stuart Oliver Henry on this page, its source edition and its audio.

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Yes. All 4084 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #19946 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #19946, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 340 minutes of reading across 817 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life

Words and structures a reader meets early in Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Germans
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Supreme
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Country
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Speedily
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Villa Elsa A Story of German Family Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.