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All Taut
All Taut

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of All Taut is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;
OR, RIGGING THE BOAT.
TOM TOPOVER AND HIS RECRUITS.
"What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.
"How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

All Taut

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of All Taut is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;
Line 2
OR, RIGGING THE BOAT.
/ɔːr ˈrɪɡɪŋ ðə boʊt/
Line 3
TOM TOPOVER AND HIS RECRUITS.
Line 4
"What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.
Line 5
"How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

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.

Ash noun US /æʃ/

the residue that remains when something is burned

From this reading “"What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.”

beech noun US /biːtʃ/

any of several large deciduous trees with rounded spreading crowns and smooth grey bark and small sweet edible triangular nuts enclosed in burs; north temperate regions

From this reading “THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;”

Burton noun US /ˈbɜːrtən/

English explorer who with John Speke was the first European to explore Lake Tanganyika (1821-1890)

From this reading “"What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.”

recruits noun US /rəˈkruːts/

plural of “recruit” — a recently enlisted soldier

From this reading “TOM TOPOVER AND HIS RECRUITS.”

reformed adjective US /rɪˈfɔːrmd/

of or relating to the body of Protestant Christianity arising during the Reformation; used of some Protestant churches especially Calvinist as distinct from Lutheran

From this reading “THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;”

rigged adjective US /rɪɡd/

fitted or equipped with necessary rigging (sails and shrouds and stays etc)

From this reading “"How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.”

rigging noun US /ˈrɪɡɪŋ/

gear consisting of ropes etc. supporting a ship's masts and sails

From this reading “OR, RIGGING THE BOAT.”

taut adjective US /tɔːt/

pulled or drawn tight

From this reading “THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;”

All words in this reading · 49

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.

327

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

From this reading THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;

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 THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading TOM TOPOVER AND HIS RECRUITS.

apparentadjectiveUS /əˈperənt/

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

AshnounUS /æʃ/

the residue that remains when something is burned

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;

BEECHnounUS /biːtʃ/

any of several large deciduous trees with rounded spreading crowns and smooth grey bark and small sweet edible triangular nuts enclosed in burs; north temperate regions

From this reading THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

BOATnounUS /boʊt/

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading OR, RIGGING THE BOAT.

boysnounUS /bɔɪz/

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

BurtonnounUS /ˈbɜːrtən/

English explorer who with John Speke was the first European to explore Lake Tanganyika (1821-1890)

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

classnounUS /klæs/

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

dangerousadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/

involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

demandedverbUS /dɪˈmændəd/

past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

disgustverbUS /dɪsˈɡʌst/

fill with distaste

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

Genverres

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

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

HILLnounUS /hɪl/

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading TOM TOPOVER AND HIS RECRUITS.

How

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

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

isn't

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

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

leadernounUS /ˈliːdər/

a person who rules or guides or inspires others

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

looksnounUS /lʊks/

plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

ORconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading OR, RIGGING THE BOAT.

RECRUITSnounUS /rəˈkruːts/

plural of “recruit” — a recently enlisted soldier

From this reading TOM TOPOVER AND HIS RECRUITS.

REFORMEDadjectiveUS /rɪˈfɔːrmd/

of or relating to the body of Protestant Christianity arising during the Reformation; used of some Protestant churches especially Calvinist as distinct from Lutheran

From this reading THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;

retortedverbUS /riˈtɔːrtɪd/

past form of “retort” — answer back

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

riggedadjectiveUS /rɪɡd/

fitted or equipped with necessary rigging (sails and shrouds and stays etc)

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

RIGGINGnounUS /ˈrɪɡɪŋ/

gear consisting of ropes etc. supporting a ship's masts and sails

From this reading OR, RIGGING THE BOAT.

sailverbUS /seɪl/

traverse or travel on (a body of water)

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

TAUTadjectiveUS /tɔːt/

pulled or drawn tight

From this reading THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;

TOMnounUS /tɑːm/

male cat

From this reading TOM TOPOVER AND HIS RECRUITS.

tonesnounUS /toʊnz/

plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

TOPOVER

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

From this reading TOM TOPOVER AND HIS RECRUITS.

TOPOVERS

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

From this reading THE REFORMED TOPOVERS AT BEECH HILL 327 ALL TAUT;

usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

What's

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

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "What's the use of rigging the boat, Tom Topover?" demanded Ash Burton, with no little disgust apparent in his tones and looks.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "How can you sail the boat if she isn't rigged, Ash?" retorted Tom, who had always been the leader of the "dangerous class" of boys in Genverres.

Chapter 2 of All Taut by Oliver Optic holds 89 sentences, grouped into 18 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, 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 2 of All Taut contain?

Chapter 2 holds 89 sentences of All Taut, unabridged, divided into 18 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of All Taut by Oliver Optic exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 89 sentences, grouped into 18 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 2 of All Taut?

Work through the 18 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 18 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 All Taut

Common questions about reading All Taut by Oliver Optic on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of All Taut?

Yes. All 3619 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #54945 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of All Taut is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #54945, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does All Taut take to read?

About 301 minutes of reading across 724 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read All Taut section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 21 chapters of All Taut 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 All Taut

Words and structures a reader meets early in All Taut, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Boat-builder
A word that appears in the opening chapter of All Taut; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Series
A word that appears in the opening chapter of All Taut; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Adrift
A word that appears in the opening chapter of All Taut; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Goldwing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of All Taut; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.