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Endurance Test
Endurance Test

Chapter XV

Cover illustration for Endurance Test
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SEARCHING THE HAY BARN.
"SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.
"I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.
"Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.
"One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.
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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.

Endurance Test

Chapter XV

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SEARCHING THE HAY BARN.
Line 2
"SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.
Line 3
"I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.
Line 4
"Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.
Line 5
"One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.”

Believe noun US /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading “"SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “"SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “"I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “"I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “"One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.”

Repeated noun US /repeated/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “"One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

BARN

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

From this reading SEARCHING THE HAY BARN.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

believenounUS /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

Benchley

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

Brady

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

bulky

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

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.

certain

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

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

Chief

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

describe

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

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

ears

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

enormously

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

From this reading "One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.

Er

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

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

farmer

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

fellow

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

From this reading "One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

gasped

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

hardly

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

HAY

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

From this reading SEARCHING THE HAY BARN.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

hired

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

like

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

looking

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

man

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

Mr

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

notebook

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

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

now

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.

opened

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

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

out

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

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

place

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

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

please

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

rascals

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

reason

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

repeatednounUS /repeated/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

said

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

SAY

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

SEARCHING

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

From this reading SEARCHING THE HAY BARN.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading "One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.

sort

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

From this reading "One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.

squatty

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

From this reading "One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.

stared

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

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

strong

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

From this reading "One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading SEARCHING THE HAY BARN.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

two

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

uniform

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

From this reading "Er--describe them, please?" said the man in uniform, as he drew out a bulky notebook, and opened it at a certain place.

very

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "One was very short, a squatty sort of fellow, but enormously strong.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "SAY that again, please!" gasped Chief Benchley, as he stared at the farmer, like a man who could hardly believe his ears.

yesterday

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

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I said I had reason to believe that the two hands I hired yesterday must be the very rascals you are looking for right now," repeated Mr. Brady.