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Dave Porter and His Classmates
Dave Porter and His Classmates

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of Dave Porter and His Classmates is here in full — 142 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Dave Porter and His Classmates
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.
An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.
The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.
"Something is going on," he thought.
"Wonder if that is Phil or Roger?"
0:00 / 0:00
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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.

Dave Porter and His Classmates

Chapter XVII

Chapter 17 of Dave Porter and His Classmates is here in full — 142 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.
Line 2
An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.
/æn ˈɪnstənt ˈleɪtər ðə fɔːrm ˈɡlaɪdɪd ʌp ðə sterz təˈwɔːrd ðə θɜːrd flɔːr ʌv ðə skuːl ˈbɪldɪŋ/
Line 3
The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.
Line 4
"Something is going on," he thought.
/ˈsʌmθɪŋ ɪz ˈɡoʊɪŋ ɑːn hiː θɔːt/
Line 5
"Wonder if that is Phil or Roger?"

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.

burning noun US /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of burning something

From this reading “SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.”

dim adjective US /dɪm/

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading “SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.”

glided verb US /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/

past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly

From this reading “An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.”

hallway noun US /ˈhɔːlweɪ/

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading “SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.”

hamilton's noun US /ˈhæməltənz/

possessive form of “hamilton” — Irish mathematician (1806-1865)

From this reading “SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.”

peril noun US /ˈperəl/

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading “SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.”

stairs noun US /sterz/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading “SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.”

students noun US /ˈstuːdənts/

plural of “student” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution

From this reading “The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.”

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.

third floor noun + noun

In this reading “An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.”

lower end verb + noun

In this reading “SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.”

school building noun + noun

In this reading “An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.”

All words in this reading · 56

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 SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

AndeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.

buildingnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋ/

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.

burningnounUS /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of burning something

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

Dave

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

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

floornounUS /flɔːr/

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.

formnounUS /fɔːrm/

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/

past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly

From this reading An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading "Something is going on," he thought.

hallwaynounUS /ˈhɔːlweɪ/

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

HAMILTON'SnounUS /ˈhæməltənz/

possessive form of “hamilton” — Irish mathematician (1806-1865)

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Wonder if that is Phil or Roger?"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.

instantnounUS /ˈɪnstənt/

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Something is going on," he thought.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.

lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

lowerverbUS /ˈloʊər/

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

movingadjectiveUS /ˈmuːvɪŋ/

in motion

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.

nightdressnoun

lingerie consisting of a loose dress designed to be worn in bed by women

From this reading The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Something is going on," he thought.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "Wonder if that is Phil or Roger?"

PERILnounUS /ˈperəl/

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

Phil

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

From this reading "Wonder if that is Phil or Roger?"

reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

Roger

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

From this reading "Wonder if that is Phil or Roger?"

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

schoolnounUS /skuːl/

an educational institution

From this reading An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.

SHADOWnounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading "Something is going on," he thought.

stairsnounUS /sterz/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

studentsnounUS /ˈstuːdənts/

plural of “student” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution

From this reading The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

thirdnounUS /θɜːrd/

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading "Something is going on," he thought.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading An instant later the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school building.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning, a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his nightdress.

WondernounUS /ˈwʌndər/

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading "Wonder if that is Phil or Roger?"

Chapter 17 of Dave Porter and His Classmates by Edward Stratemeyer holds 142 sentences, grouped into 29 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 17 of Dave Porter and His Classmates contain?

Chapter 17 holds 142 sentences of Dave Porter and His Classmates, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of Dave Porter and His Classmates by Edward Stratemeyer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 142 sentences, grouped into 29 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 17 of Dave Porter and His Classmates?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 Dave Porter and His Classmates

Common questions about reading Dave Porter and His Classmates by Edward Stratemeyer on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Dave Porter and His Classmates?

Yes. All 4724 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #53414 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Dave Porter and His Classmates is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #53414, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Dave Porter and His Classmates take to read?

About 393 minutes of reading across 945 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Dave Porter and His Classmates section by section

How to work through Dave Porter and His Classmates section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 31 chapters of Dave Porter and His Classmates 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 Dave Porter and His Classmates

Words and structures a reader meets early in Dave Porter and His Classmates, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Suppose
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dave Porter and His Classmates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Happy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dave Porter and His Classmates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
To-day
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dave Porter and His Classmates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Roger
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dave Porter and His Classmates; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.