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George at the Wheel
George at the Wheel

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for George at the Wheel
Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
DOWN THE RIVER ON A COAL-BARGE.
Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?
The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.
Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?
If so, what do you think of the following, which recently appeared in a Rochester paper?
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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.

George at the Wheel

Chapter XI

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
DOWN THE RIVER ON A COAL-BARGE.
Line 2
Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?
Line 3
The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.
Line 4
Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?
Line 5
If so, what do you think of the following, which recently appeared in a Rochester paper?

Learner Dictionary

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

Believe noun US /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading “Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If so, what do you think of the following, which recently appeared in a Rochester paper?”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 DOWN THE RIVER ON A COAL-BARGE.

affect

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

From this reading Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

appeared

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

From this reading If so, what do you think of the following, which recently appeared in a Rochester paper?

arise

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

believenounUS /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?

Bob

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

boy's

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

From this reading Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?

COAL-BARGE

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

From this reading DOWN THE RIVER ON A COAL-BARGE.

conversation

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading If so, what do you think of the following, which recently appeared in a Rochester paper?

don't

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

From this reading Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?

DOWN

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

From this reading DOWN THE RIVER ON A COAL-BARGE.

famous

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

fighter

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

five

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

following

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

From this reading If so, what do you think of the following, which recently appeared in a Rochester paper?

go

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

head

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

held

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

hunter

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

hurtful

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

idea

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If so, what do you think of the following, which recently appeared in a Rochester paper?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading If so, what do you think of the following, which recently appeared in a Rochester paper?

Indian

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

influence

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

inquiry

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?

made

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

minutes

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

naturally

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

ocean

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading DOWN THE RIVER ON A COAL-BARGE.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

out

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

Owens

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

paper

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

From this reading If so, what do you think of the following, which recently appeared in a Rochester paper?

Perhaps

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

From this reading Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?

put

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

reading

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

From this reading Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?

recently

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

From this reading If so, what do you think of the following, which recently appeared in a Rochester paper?

Richardson

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

RIVER

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

From this reading DOWN THE RIVER ON A COAL-BARGE.

Rochester

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

From this reading If so, what do you think of the following, which recently appeared in a Rochester paper?

sailor

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

sea

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

seen

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

sent

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

simple

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

From this reading Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?

story

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

From this reading Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?

suggested

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading DOWN THE RIVER ON A COAL-BARGE.

thief

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If so, what do you think of the following, which recently appeared in a Rochester paper?

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

Tony

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

very

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

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading If so, what do you think of the following, which recently appeared in a Rochester paper?

whole

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

From this reading Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Tony Richardson had never held five minutes conversation with a sailor, he had never seen the ocean or a ship, and the inquiry will very naturally arise: What could have put it into his head to go to sea?

world

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

From this reading The idea was suggested to him through the same hurtful influence that had made a thief of Bob Owens, and sent him out into the world to make himself famous as a hunter and Indian fighter.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Perhaps you don't believe that so simple a thing as reading a story could affect a boy's whole life?