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The Ant and the Grasshopper
The Ant and the Grasshopper

Chapter I · Winter’s Reckoning

Read and study this complete chapter with synchronized narration, pronunciation, and vocabulary support.

THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

Ants dry their stored summer grain while one hungry grasshopper begs in the winter snow.
Context Illustration Reading 1/1 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.
A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,
Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, I had not leisure enough.
I passed the days in singing.” They then said in derision:
If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”
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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.

The Ant and the Grasshopper

Chapter I · Winter’s Reckoning

Study this chapter through synchronized reading, listening, pronunciation, and contextual vocabulary.

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

Line 1
THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.
Line 2
A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,
Line 3
Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.
Line 4
I passed the days in singing.” They then said in derision:
Line 5
If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”

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.

derision noun US /dɪˈrɪʒn/

the act of treating someone or something as foolish and unworthy of respect

From this reading “I passed the days in singing.” They then said in derision:”

famine noun US /ˈfæmɪn/

a severe lack of food that causes great hunger

From this reading “A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,”

grain noun US /ɡreɪn/

the small hard seeds of food crops such as wheat or barley

From this reading “THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.”

All words in this reading · 58

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

a

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

From this reading THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

all

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

From this reading “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”

and

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From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

ANTS

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From this reading THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

bed

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

From this reading “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”

begged

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

From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

by

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From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

collected

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From this reading THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

dance

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

From this reading “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”

day

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

From this reading THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

days

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

From this reading I passed the days in singing.” They then said in derision:

derisionnounUS /dɪˈrɪʒn/

the act of treating someone or something as foolish and unworthy of respect

From this reading I passed the days in singing.” They then said in derision:

did

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

drying

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

From this reading THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

during

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

earnestly

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

From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

enough

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

faminenounUS /ˈfæmɪn/

a severe lack of food that causes great hunger

From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

fine

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

From this reading THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

food

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

From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

foolish

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

From this reading “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”

for

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

From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/

the small hard seeds of food crops such as wheat or barley

From this reading THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

Grasshopper

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

From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

had

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

He

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

him

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

From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

I

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

If

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

From this reading “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”

in

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

From this reading THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

inquired

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

From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

leisure

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

little

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

From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

must

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

From this reading “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”

not

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

of

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

From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

passed

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

From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

perishing

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

From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

replied

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

said

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

From this reading I passed the days in singing.” They then said in derision:

sing

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

From this reading “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”

singing

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

From this reading I passed the days in singing.” They then said in derision:

spending

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

From this reading THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

summer

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

summertime

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

From this reading THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

supperless

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

From this reading “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”

THE

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

From this reading THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

then

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

From this reading I passed the days in singing.” They then said in derision:

They

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

From this reading I passed the days in singing.” They then said in derision:

to

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

From this reading “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”

treasure

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

up

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

were

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

From this reading THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

Why

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

winter

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

From this reading “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”

winter's

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

From this reading THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.

with

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

From this reading A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,

you

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

From this reading “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.

Shadowing Practice

Repeat the selected source lines aloud to practice rhythm, stress, and clear US English pronunciation.

Narrator: THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime.
Narrator: A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him,
Narrator: “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?” He replied, “I had not leisure enough.
Narrator: I passed the days in singing.” They then said in derision:
Narrator: “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”