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Dick and Dolly
Dick and Dolly

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for Dick and Dolly
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PINKIE The days passed happily at Dana Dene.
There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.
Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.
It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.
But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.
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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.

Dick and Dolly

Chapter VII

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PINKIE The days passed happily at Dana Dene.
Line 2
There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.
Line 3
Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.
Line 4
It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.
Line 5
But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “PINKIE The days passed happily at Dana Dene.”

Required noun US /required/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.”

Start noun US /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.”

All words in this reading · 91

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 It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

all

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

arrived

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading PINKIE The days passed happily at Dana Dene.

aunties

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

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

big

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

boxes

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

boyish

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

came

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

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

chickens

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

children

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

closing

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

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

Dana

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

From this reading PINKIE The days passed happily at Dana Dene.

day

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

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

days

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

From this reading PINKIE The days passed happily at Dana Dene.

decided

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

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

Dene

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

From this reading PINKIE The days passed happily at Dana Dene.

Dick's

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

didn't

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

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

dolls

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

Dolly's

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

doors

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

drives

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

Fall

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

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

few

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

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

fun

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

gardens

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

give

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

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

go

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

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

going

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

happily

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

From this reading PINKIE The days passed happily at Dana Dene.

hour

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

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

lessons

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

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

more

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

much

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

nearly

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

neglected

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

often

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

once

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

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

open-air

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

out

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading PINKIE The days passed happily at Dana Dene.

piano

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

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

PINKIE

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

From this reading PINKIE The days passed happily at Dana Dene.

playroom

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

practise

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

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

rainy

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

requirednounUS /required/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

school

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

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

seem

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

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

startnounUS /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

teacher

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

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

term

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

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading PINKIE The days passed happily at Dana Dene.

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

There

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

treasures

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

twins

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

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

up

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

From this reading Their big boxes had arrived, and Dolly’s dolls, and Dick’s more boyish treasures, were up in the playroom, but were often neglected for open-air fun.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

week

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

From this reading But they were required to practise on the piano an hour each day, and a teacher came once a week to give them lessons.

weeks

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

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading There was so much to do, with the gardens and the chickens, and going for afternoon drives that, except on rainy days, the children were out of doors nearly all the time.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.

worth

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

From this reading It had been decided by the aunties that the twins should not go to school until Fall, for the term was within a few weeks of closing, and it didn’t seem worth while to start.