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Chapter VI

Cover illustration for Action Front
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.
"Go on, Khaki! go on!--two to one on the fat girl; two to one--I lay the fie-ald."
Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.
Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.
They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.
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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.

Action Front

Chapter VI

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.
Line 2
"Go on, Khaki! go on!--two to one on the fat girl; two to one--I lay the fie-ald."
Line 3
Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.
Line 4
Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.
Line 5
They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.”

Disappeared noun US /ˈdisappeared/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “"Go on, Khaki! go on!--two to one on the fat girl; two to one--I lay the fie-ald."”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.”

Roared noun US /roared/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.”

Shouted noun US /shouted/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.”

All words in this reading · 100

Every word is available to listen to. 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 A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

archway

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

blinding

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

bricks

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

buildings

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

burst

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

came

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

From this reading Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.

choked

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

clapping

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

clatter

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

From this reading Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.

cobble-stones

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

crash

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

crashing

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

cries

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

diving

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

down

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

dozens

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

ducks

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

encouragement

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

falling

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

From this reading Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.

fat

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

From this reading "Go on, Khaki! go on!--two to one on the fat girl; two to one--I lay the fie-ald."

fie-ald

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

From this reading "Go on, Khaki! go on!--two to one on the fat girl; two to one--I lay the fie-ald."

flash

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

flung

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

flying

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

fragments

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

girl

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

From this reading "Go on, Khaki! go on!--two to one on the fat girl; two to one--I lay the fie-ald."

glass

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

Go

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

From this reading "Go on, Khaki! go on!--two to one on the fat girl; two to one--I lay the fie-ald."

group

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

hailing

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

horrible

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Go on, Khaki! go on!--two to one on the fat girl; two to one--I lay the fie-ald."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

jarring

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

just

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

Khaki

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

From this reading "Go on, Khaki! go on!--two to one on the fat girl; two to one--I lay the fie-ald."

laughter

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

lay

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

From this reading "Go on, Khaki! go on!--two to one on the fat girl; two to one--I lay the fie-ald."

light

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

like

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

masonry

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

From this reading Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

off

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "Go on, Khaki! go on!--two to one on the fat girl; two to one--I lay the fie-ald."

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

outward

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

piercing

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

From this reading Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.

pretending

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

race

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

rattle

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

From this reading Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.

roarednounUS /roared/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

round

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

rubbish

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

From this reading Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.

runners

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

screams

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

From this reading Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.

seconds

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

shell

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

shoutednounUS /shouted/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

shrill

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

From this reading Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.

shut

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

side-street

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

smoke

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

soldiers

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

some

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

sound

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

From this reading Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.

sounds

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

spurt

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

square

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

stones

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

there

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

From this reading Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

ThroughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.

tinkling

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Go on, Khaki! go on!--two to one on the fat girl; two to one--I lay the fie-ald."

torrent

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

two

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

From this reading "Go on, Khaki! go on!--two to one on the fat girl; two to one--I lay the fie-ald."

upward

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

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

urging

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

watching

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading A group of soldiers standing in the archway shouted laughter and encouragement, pretending they were watching a race, urging on the runners.

windows

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

From this reading They choked off suddenly, and for some seconds there were no sounds but those of falling fragments, jarring and hailing on the cobble-stones, of broken glass crashing and tinkling from dozens of windows round the square.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Their cries and clapping shut off, and they disappeared like diving ducks as the shell roared down, struck with a horrible crash one of the buildings in a side-street just off the square, burst it open, and flung upward and outward a flash of blinding light, a spurt of smoke, a torrent of flying bricks and broken stones.

woman's

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

From this reading Through the rattle and clatter of falling masonry and flying rubbish there came, piercing and shrill, the sound of a woman's screams.