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Black Man's Burden
Black Man's Burden

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Black Man's Burden
Context Illustration Reading 1/89 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."
--Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.
Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....
The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.
They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Black Man's Burden

Chapter I

Reading 1/89 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."
Line 2
--Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.
Line 3
Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....
Line 4
The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.
Line 5
They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

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 “They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “--Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “--Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “--Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....”

All words in this reading · 83

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

Africa

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

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

Africans

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

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

air

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

all

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

approached

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

best

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

From this reading "Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."

better

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

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

breed

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

From this reading "Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."

burden

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

From this reading "Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

camp's

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

caravan

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

consisted

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

dust

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

earlier

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

emerged

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

encampment

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

erg

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

fifteen

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

forth

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

From this reading "Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

goat

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

grow

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

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

high-flung

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

hour

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

it's

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

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

Kipling

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

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

leather

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

man's

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

From this reading "Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."

minutes

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

NotadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

noted

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

only

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

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

past

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

peace

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

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

people

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

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

pillars

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

rotors

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

sandy

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

scouts

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

Send

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

From this reading "Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."

set

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

seven

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

small

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

strange

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

Taitoq

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

TakenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."

tents

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."

there

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

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

tribesmen

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

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

Tuareg

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

turmoil

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

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

two-vehicle

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

unanticipated

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

up

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

From this reading "Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."

visible

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

warring

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

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

wastes

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

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were not unanticipated, the camp's scouts had noted the strange pillars of high-flung dust which were set up by the air rotors an hour earlier and for the past fifteen minutes they had been visible to all.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The two-vehicle caravan emerged from the sandy wastes of the _erg_ and approached the small encampment of Taitoq Tuareg which consisted of seven goat leather tents.

white

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

From this reading "Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans--not warring tribesmen--will there be peace....

worse

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

From this reading --Kipling The turmoil in Africa is only beginning--and it must grow worse before it's better.

yepronounUS /jiː/

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading "Take up the white man's burden Send forth the best ye breed...."