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The Bundle of Sticks
The Bundle of Sticks

Chapter I · The Unbroken Bundle

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

A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.

One of three quarrelling sons strains to break a bound bundle while their father watches.
Context Illustration Reading 1/1 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.
When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;
and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.
When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,
and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength,
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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 Bundle of Sticks

Chapter I · The Unbroken Bundle

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

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

Line 1
A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.
Line 2
When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;
Line 3
and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.
Line 4
When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,
Line 5
and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength,

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.

disunion noun US /dɪsˈjuːniən/

a lack of agreement or unity within a group

From this reading “When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;”

exhortations plural noun US /ˌeɡzɔːrˈteɪʃənz/

strong appeals that urge someone to do something

From this reading “When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;”

perpetually adverb US /pərˈpetʃuəli/

continuously or very often, especially in an annoying way

From this reading “A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.”

All words in this reading · 59

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

A

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From this reading A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.

all

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From this reading and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength,

among

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From this reading A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.

and

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From this reading and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.

break

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From this reading and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength,

bring

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From this reading and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.

bundle

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From this reading and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.

by

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

day

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From this reading and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.

determined

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

disputes

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

disunionnounUS /dɪsˈjuːniən/

a lack of agreement or unity within a group

From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

done

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From this reading When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,

each

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From this reading When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,

evils

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

exhortationsplural nounUS /ˌeɡzɔːrˈteɪʃənz/

strong appeals that urge someone to do something

From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

faggot

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From this reading When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,

failed

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

family

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From this reading A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.

FATHER

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From this reading A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.

for

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From this reading and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.

give

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

had

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From this reading A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.

hands

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From this reading When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,

he

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

heal

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

him

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From this reading and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.

his

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

illustration

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

in

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From this reading When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,

into

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From this reading When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,

it

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From this reading and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength,

of

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From this reading A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.

one

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From this reading and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.

ordered

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

From this reading and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength,

perpetuallyadverbUS /pərˈpetʃuəli/

continuously or very often, especially in an annoying way

From this reading A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.

pieces

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From this reading and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength,

placed

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From this reading When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,

practical

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

purpose

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From this reading and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.

quarreling

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From this reading A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.

so

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From this reading When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,

sons

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From this reading A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.

sticks

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From this reading and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.

strength

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From this reading and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength,

succession

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From this reading When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,

the

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

their

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

them

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

themselves

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From this reading A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.

they

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From this reading When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,

this

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From this reading and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.

to

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

told

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

From this reading and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.

tried

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

From this reading and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength,

were

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From this reading A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.

When

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From this reading When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;

who

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From this reading A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.

with

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From this reading and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength,

Shadowing Practice

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

Narrator: A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves.
Narrator: When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;
Narrator: and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks.
Narrator: When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,
Narrator: and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength,