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Down the Slope
Down the Slope

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for Down the Slope
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.
One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.
For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.
"Here I am under the timber," he replied.
"Are you hurt much?"
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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.

Down the Slope

Chapter XIII

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

Line 1
BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.
Line 2
One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.
Line 3
For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.
Line 4
"Here I am under the timber," he replied.
Line 5
"Are you hurt much?"

Learner Dictionary

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

Although noun US /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading “One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.”

Center noun US /ˈsɛn.tər/

The middle point or core of an area.

From this reading “One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Here I am under the timber," he replied.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.”

Replied noun US /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Here I am under the timber," he replied.”

Saved noun US /saved/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “"Here I am under the timber," he replied.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.”

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 For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

afar

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

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

ALIVE

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading "Here I am under the timber," he replied.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

angle

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Are you hurt much?"

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

away

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

BURIED

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

calling

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

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/

The middle point or core of an area.

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

completely

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

covered

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

cutting

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

down

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

earth

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

end

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

Fred

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

happened

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

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

heard

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

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

held

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

HerenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Here I am under the timber," he replied.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

hurt

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

From this reading "Are you hurt much?"

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Here I am under the timber," he replied.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

instantly

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

Joe

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

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

joist

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

killed

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

knocked

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

loss

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

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

Miller

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

moment

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

much

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

From this reading "Are you hurt much?"

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

off

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

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

pick

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

pinning

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

placed

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

plank

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

position

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

repliednounUS /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Here I am under the timber," he replied.

savednounUS /saved/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

shoring

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

shovel

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

Skip

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

stooped

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

supported

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

then

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

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

timber

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

From this reading "Here I am under the timber," he replied.

timbers

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

top

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

tunnel

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading "Here I am under the timber," he replied.

up

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

upright

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading For a moment he was at a loss to know what had happened, and then he heard, as if from afar off, Joe calling him by name.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading BURIED ALIVE At the moment when Skip Miller knocked away the joist which supported the timbers at the top of the tunnel, Fred had stooped to pick up his shovel, and this position saved him from being instantly killed.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading One end of the shoring plank was yet held by the upright placed in the center of the cutting, and it remained at an angle, although pinning him down, while the earth covered him completely.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Are you hurt much?"