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Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
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Actions and Reactions
Actions and Reactions

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for Actions and Reactions
Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“It's not our land.
We've only paid for it.
We belong to it, and it belongs to the people--our people they call 'em.
I've been to lunch with the English too.”
They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.
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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.

Actions and Reactions

Chapter IV

Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“It's not our land.
Line 2
We've only paid for it.
Line 3
We belong to it, and it belongs to the people--our people they call 'em.
Line 4
I've been to lunch with the English too.”
Line 5
They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “I've been to lunch with the English too.””

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.”

All words in this reading · 56

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

alterations

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading We belong to it, and it belongs to the people--our people they call 'em.

apart

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

argue

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I've been to lunch with the English too.”

belong

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

From this reading We belong to it, and it belongs to the people--our people they call 'em.

belongs

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

From this reading We belong to it, and it belongs to the people--our people they call 'em.

bracken-dotted

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

call

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

From this reading We belong to it, and it belongs to the people--our people they call 'em.

closing

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

consider

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

em

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

From this reading We belong to it, and it belongs to the people--our people they call 'em.

embrace

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

English

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

From this reading I've been to lunch with the English too.”

field

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

flushed

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading We've only paid for it.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

halting

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

I've

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

From this reading I've been to lunch with the English too.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading We've only paid for it.

It's

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

From this reading “It's not our land.

land

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

From this reading “It's not our land.

lunch

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

From this reading I've been to lunch with the English too.”

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “It's not our land.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

once

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

only

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

From this reading We've only paid for it.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading “It's not our land.

ownership

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

paid

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

From this reading We've only paid for it.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

people

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

From this reading We belong to it, and it belongs to the people--our people they call 'em.

plotting

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

pride

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

restorations

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

slowly

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

spreading

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading We belong to it, and it belongs to the people--our people they call 'em.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading We belong to it, and it belongs to the people--our people they call 'em.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading We belong to it, and it belongs to the people--our people they call 'em.

too

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

From this reading I've been to lunch with the English too.”

tracks

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

turn

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

two

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

views

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

From this reading They passed slowly from one bracken-dotted field to the next--flushed with pride of ownership, plotting alterations and restorations at each turn; halting in their tracks to argue, spreading apart to embrace two views at once, or closing in to consider one.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We belong to it, and it belongs to the people--our people they call 'em.

We've

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

From this reading We've only paid for it.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I've been to lunch with the English too.”