Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Virgin Soil
Virgin Soil

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of Virgin Soil is here in full — 224 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Virgin Soil
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Yes, we’re going to the factory.
I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.
Allow me to introduce you.
Mr. Kollomietzev, a neighbouring landowner, Mr. Solomin.”
Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.
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.

Virgin Soil

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of Virgin Soil is here in full — 224 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Yes, we’re going to the factory.
Line 2
I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.
/aɪ wɑːnt tuː ʃoʊ ɔːl maɪ sɪnz ənd trænzˈɡreʃənz tuː ðɪs ˈdʒentəlmən huː ɪz æn ˈendʒəˈnɪr/
Line 3
Allow me to introduce you.
/əˈlaʊ miː tuː ˌɪntrəˈduːs juː/
Line 4
Mr. Kollomietzev, a neighbouring landowner, Mr. Solomin.”
Line 5
Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

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.

engineer noun US /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/

a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems

From this reading “I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.”

factory noun US /ˈfæktəri/

a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing

From this reading ““Yes, we’re going to the factory.”

introduce verb US /ˌɪntrəˈduːs/

cause to come to know personally

From this reading “Allow me to introduce you.”

landowner noun US /ˈlændoʊnər/

a holder or proprietor of land

From this reading “Mr. Kollomietzev, a neighbouring landowner, Mr. Solomin.””

neighbouring verb US /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/

-ing form of “neighbour” — live or be located as a neighbor

From this reading “Mr. Kollomietzev, a neighbouring landowner, Mr. Solomin.””

sinister adjective US /ˈsɪnɪstər/

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading “Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.”

sins noun US /sɪnz/

plural of “sin” — estrangement from god

From this reading “I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.”

transgressions noun US /trænzˈɡreʃənz/

plural of “transgression” — the act of transgressing; the violation of a law or a duty or moral principle

From this reading “I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.”

All words in this reading · 50

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 Mr. Kollomietzev, a neighbouring landowner, Mr. Solomin.”

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 I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

AllowverbUS /əˈlaʊ/

make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading Allow me to introduce you.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

engineernounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/

a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems

From this reading I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

factorynounUS /ˈfæktəri/

a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing

From this reading “Yes, we’re going to the factory.

gentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/

a man of refinement

From this reading I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/

be shiny, as if wet

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading “Yes, we’re going to the factory.

half-closed

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

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

introduceverbUS /ˌɪntrəˈduːs/

cause to come to know personally

From this reading Allow me to introduce you.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

Kollomietzev

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

From this reading Mr. Kollomietzev, a neighbouring landowner, Mr. Solomin.”

landownernounUS /ˈlændoʊnər/

a holder or proprietor of land

From this reading Mr. Kollomietzev, a neighbouring landowner, Mr. Solomin.”

latteradjectiveUS /ˈlætər/

referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

mannernounUS /ˈmænər/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Allow me to introduce you.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Kollomietzev, a neighbouring landowner, Mr. Solomin.”

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

neighbouringverbUS /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/

-ing form of “neighbour” — live or be located as a neighbor

From this reading Mr. Kollomietzev, a neighbouring landowner, Mr. Solomin.”

noddedverbUS /ˈnɑːdəd/

inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

off-handadverb

without preparation

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

sinsnounUS /sɪnz/

plural of “sin” — estrangement from god

From this reading I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

Solomin

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

From this reading Mr. Kollomietzev, a neighbouring landowner, Mr. Solomin.”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “Yes, we’re going to the factory.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “Yes, we’re going to the factory.

transgressionsnounUS /trænzˈɡreʃənz/

plural of “transgression” — the act of transgressing; the violation of a law or a duty or moral principle

From this reading I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

twiceadverbUS /twaɪs/

two times

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

we're

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

From this reading “Yes, we’re going to the factory.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading I want to show all my sins and transgressions to this gentleman, who is an engineer.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Kollomietzev nodded his head twice in an off-hand manner without looking at Solomin, but the latter looked at him and there was a sinister gleam in his half-closed eyes.

YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading “Yes, we’re going to the factory.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Allow me to introduce you.

Chapter 18 of Virgin Soil by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev holds 224 sentences, grouped into 45 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.

What does chapter 18 of Virgin Soil contain?

Chapter 18 holds 224 sentences of Virgin Soil, unabridged, divided into 45 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of Virgin Soil by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 224 sentences, grouped into 45 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 18 of Virgin Soil?

Work through the 45 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 45 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 18 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 18 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 Virgin Soil

Common questions about reading Virgin Soil by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Virgin Soil?

Yes. All 6780 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2466 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Virgin Soil is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2466, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Virgin Soil take to read?

About 565 minutes of reading across 1356 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Virgin Soil section by section

How to work through Virgin Soil section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 33 chapters of Virgin Soil 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 Virgin Soil

Words and structures a reader meets early in Virgin Soil, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Translated
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Virgin Soil; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Russian
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Virgin Soil; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Townsend
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Virgin Soil; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Turgenev
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Virgin Soil; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.