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Bob the Castaway
Bob the Castaway

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Bob the Castaway
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.
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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.

Bob the Castaway

Chapter III

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.
Line 2
Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.
Line 3
If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.
Line 4
It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.
Line 5
So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.”

Need noun US /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.”

All words in this reading · 84

Every word is available to listen to. 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 A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

affair

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

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

any

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.

boy

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

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

boys

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

careful

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

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

contrivance

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

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.

description

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

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

girl

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

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

girls

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

given

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

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

hope

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

house

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

joke

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

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

known

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

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

like

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

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

made

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

From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.

makes

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

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

neednounUS /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

old

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

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

only

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

people

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

Perhaps

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

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

person

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

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

person's

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

played

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

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

prank

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

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

PROPOSITION

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

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

put

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

readers

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

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

scare

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

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

seem

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

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

selected

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

some

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

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

startled

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

STRANGE

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

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.

there

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

ThosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

tic-tac

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

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.

trust

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

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSITION Perhaps some of my readers may not know what the contrivance known as a "tic-tac" is like.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading So if any boy or girl makes a tic-tac after the description given here, I trust he or she will be careful on whom the prank is played.

window

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It is no joke, though at first it may seem like one, to scare an old person with the affair.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Those of you who have made them, of course, do not need to be told.

young

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

From this reading If you ever put them on any person's window, I hope you selected a house where there were only boys and girls or young people to be startled by the tic-tac.