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A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol

Chapter II · Stave II: The First of the Three Spirits

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

STAVE II: THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

Young Scrooge alone at school as Fan arrives, watched by the Ghost of Christmas Past
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.
He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.
So he listened for the hour.
To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.
Twelve!
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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.

A Christmas Carol

Chapter II · Stave II: The First of the Three Spirits

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

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.
Line 2
He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.
Line 3
So he listened for the hour.
Line 4
To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.
Line 5
Twelve!
All words in this reading · 56

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 He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

and

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From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

astonishment

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From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

awoke

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

bed

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

bell

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From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

chamber

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

chimes

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From this reading He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

church

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From this reading He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

could

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

dark

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

darkness

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From this reading He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

distinguish

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

eight

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From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

endeavouring

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From this reading He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

eyes

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From this reading He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

ferret

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From this reading He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

for

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From this reading So he listened for the hour.

four

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From this reading He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

from

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

great

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From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

he

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

heavy

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From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

his

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

hour

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From this reading So he listened for the hour.

it

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

listened

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From this reading So he listened for the hour.

looking

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

neighbouring

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From this reading He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

of

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

on

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

From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

opaque

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

out

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

pierce

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From this reading He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

quarters

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From this reading He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

regularly

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From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

scarcely

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

Scrooge

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

seven

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

From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

six

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

From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

so

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

stopped

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

From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

struck

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

From this reading He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

that

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

From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

the

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

From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

then

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

From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

to

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

From this reading He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

transparent

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

From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

twelve

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

From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

up

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

From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

walls

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

was

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

From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

went

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

From this reading To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped.

WHEN

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From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

window

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

From this reading WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.

with

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From this reading He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters.

Chapter Quiz

Use these questions to verify literal comprehension before continuing to the next chapter.

What is the central narrative or theme conveyed in this section of Stave II: The First of the Three Spirits?

Which core linguistic virtue or character attribute is emphasized in this passage?

According to the text: "STAVE II: THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS...", what tone does the author establish?

Shadowing Practice

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

Narrator: STAVE II: THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS
Narrator: "Was I apprenticed here!"