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Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator
Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator

Chapter XV

Chapter 15 of Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator is here in full — 196 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By J. W. Duffield • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator
Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.
"By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.
Until a month ago I never dreamed of seeing it.
As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.
That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.
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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.

Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator

Chapter XV

Chapter 15 of Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator is here in full — 196 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.
/ðə ˈdræɡənz klɔːz ðə nekst ˈmɔːrnɪŋ ðə bɔɪz wɜːr ʌp braɪt ənd ˈɜːrli ˈredi fɔːr ðer trɪp θruː ðə ˈsɪti/
Line 2
"By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.
Line 3
Until a month ago I never dreamed of seeing it.
/ənˈtɪl ə mʌnθ əˈɡoʊ aɪ ˈnevər driːmd ʌv ˈsiːɪŋ ɪt/
Line 4
As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.
/æz ə ˈmætər ʌv kɔːrs aɪ hæd hoʊpt ənd ɪkˈspektəd tuː ɡoʊ tuː ˈjʊrəp ənd ˈpɑːsəbli teɪk ɪn ˈiːdʒəpt/
Line 5
That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.
/ðæt siːmd ðə ˌreɡjəˈleɪʃən θɪŋ tuː duː ənd ɪt wɑːz ðə ˈlɪmət ʌv maɪ ˈtrævəlɪŋ æmˈbɪʃən/

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.

China noun US /ˈtʃaɪnə/

a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world

From this reading “"By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
claws noun US /klɔːz/

plural of “claw” — sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles

From this reading “THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dragon's noun US /ˈdræɡənz/

possessive form of “dragon” — a creature of Teutonic mythology; usually represented as breathing fire and having a reptilian body and sometimes wings

From this reading “THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Egypt noun US /ˈiːdʒəpt/

a republic in northeastern Africa known as the United Arab Republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 BC

From this reading “As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
limit noun US /ˈlɪmət/

the greatest possible degree of something

From this reading “That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pinch verb US /pɪntʃ/

squeeze tightly between the fingers

From this reading “"By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
regulation noun US /ˌreɡjəˈleɪʃən/

an authoritative rule

From this reading “That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
traveling noun US /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/

the act of going from one place to another

From this reading “That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

next morning adjective + noun

In this reading “THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.”

52,521 times in 426,211 chapters
never dreamed adverb + adjective

In this reading “Until a month ago I never dreamed of seeing it.”

4,542 times in 426,211 chapters
of course preposition + noun

as might be expected

In this reading “As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.”

307,822 times in 426,211 chapters
through the city preposition + article + noun counted as “through … city”

In this reading “THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.”

1,671 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 63

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Until a month ago I never dreamed of seeing it.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/

in the past

From this reading Until a month ago I never dreamed of seeing it.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ambitionnounUS /æmˈbɪʃən/

a cherished desire

From this reading That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ChinanounUS /ˈtʃaɪnə/

a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CLAWSnounUS /klɔːz/

plural of “claw” — sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DicknounUS /dɪk/

someone who is a detective

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
DRAGON'SnounUS /ˈdræɡənz/

possessive form of “dragon” — a creature of Teutonic mythology; usually represented as breathing fire and having a reptilian body and sometimes wings

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dreamedadjectiveUS /driːmd/

conceived of or imagined or hoped for

From this reading Until a month ago I never dreamed of seeing it.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EgyptnounUS /ˈiːdʒəpt/

a republic in northeastern Africa known as the United Arab Republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 BC

From this reading As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EuropenounUS /ˈjʊrəp/

the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles

From this reading As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
expectedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektəd/

considered likely or probable to happen or arrive

From this reading As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
GeorgenounUS /dʒɔːrdʒ/

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hopedverbUS /hoʊpt/

past form of “hope” — expect and wish

From this reading As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Until a month ago I never dreamed of seeing it.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
limitnounUS /ˈlɪmət/

the greatest possible degree of something

From this reading That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
monthnounUS /mʌnθ/

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading Until a month ago I never dreamed of seeing it.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Until a month ago I never dreamed of seeing it.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Until a month ago I never dreamed of seeing it.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
pinchverbUS /pɪntʃ/

squeeze tightly between the fingers

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
possiblyadverbUS /ˈpɑːsəbli/

by chance

From this reading As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
realizeverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪz/

be fully aware or cognizant of

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
regulationnounUS /ˌreɡjəˈleɪʃən/

an authoritative rule

From this reading That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seeingnounUS /ˈsiːɪŋ/

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading Until a month ago I never dreamed of seeing it.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading As a matter of course I had hoped and expected to go to Europe and possibly take in Egypt.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
travelingnounUS /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/

the act of going from one place to another

From this reading That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tripnounUS /trɪp/

a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
UntilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Until a month ago I never dreamed of seeing it.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading That seemed the regulation thing to do and it was the limit of my traveling ambition.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
we're

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

From this reading "By George," said Dick, "I have to pinch myself to realize that we're really in China at last.

Pending verification
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S CLAWS The next morning the boys were up bright and early, ready for their trip through the city.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 15 of Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator by J. W. Duffield holds 196 sentences, grouped into 40 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 15 of Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator contain?

Chapter 15 holds 196 sentences of Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator, unabridged, divided into 40 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator by J. W. Duffield exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 196 sentences, grouped into 40 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 15 of Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator?

Work through the 40 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 40 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 15 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 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 Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator

Common questions about reading Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator by J. W. Duffield on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator?

Yes. All 2509 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #39262 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #39262, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator take to read?

About 209 minutes of reading across 502 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator section by section

How to work through Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator

Words and structures a reader meets early in Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Drowsy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Water
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Front
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pulsed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.