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His Big Opportunity
His Big Opportunity

Chapter I

Cover illustration for His Big Opportunity
Context Illustration Reading 1/97 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Author of "Probable Sons," "The Odd One," "Teddy's Button," etc, etc.
They were sitting astride on the top of the old garden wall.
Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.
In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.
It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.
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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.

His Big Opportunity

Chapter I

Reading 1/97 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Author of "Probable Sons," "The Odd One," "Teddy's Button," etc, etc.
Line 2
They were sitting astride on the top of the old garden wall.
Line 3
Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.
Line 4
In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.
Line 5
It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

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 “It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Author of "Probable Sons," "The Odd One," "Teddy's Button," etc, etc.”

Pipe noun US /pipe/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.”

Smoking noun US /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading “It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.

asleep

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

astride

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

From this reading They were sitting astride on the top of the old garden wall.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

August

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

From this reading Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

Author

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

From this reading Author of "Probable Sons," "The Odd One," "Teddy's Button," etc, etc.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.

BelowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

birds

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

blaze

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

From this reading Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

Button

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

From this reading Author of "Probable Sons," "The Odd One," "Teddy's Button," etc, etc.

creepers

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

From this reading In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.

dirge

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

distance

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

From this reading In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.

dogs

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

drowsy

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

edge

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

English

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

From this reading Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

etc

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

From this reading Author of "Probable Sons," "The Odd One," "Teddy's Button," etc, etc.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

example

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

fast

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

following

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.

garden

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

From this reading They were sitting astride on the top of the old garden wall.

gardener

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

green

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

hour

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

house

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

From this reading In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

insects

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

ivy

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

From this reading In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.

kept

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

lawn

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

lay

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

lying

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

From this reading Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

monotonous

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

Odd

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

From this reading Author of "Probable Sons," "The Odd One," "Teddy's Button," etc, etc.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of "Probable Sons," "The Odd One," "Teddy's Button," etc, etc.

old

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

From this reading They were sitting astride on the top of the old garden wall.

old-fashioned

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

From this reading Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They were sitting astride on the top of the old garden wall.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Author of "Probable Sons," "The Odd One," "Teddy's Button," etc, etc.

only

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

peeping

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

From this reading In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.

pipe

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

Probable

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

From this reading Author of "Probable Sons," "The Odd One," "Teddy's Button," etc, etc.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

side

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

From this reading Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

sitting

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

From this reading They were sitting astride on the top of the old garden wall.

smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

soft

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

Sons

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

From this reading Author of "Probable Sons," "The Odd One," "Teddy's Button," etc, etc.

standstill

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

stone

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

From this reading In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.

stretched

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

From this reading Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

sun

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

From this reading Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

sweet

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

From this reading Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

Teddy's

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

From this reading Author of "Probable Sons," "The Odd One," "Teddy's Button," etc, etc.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Author of "Probable Sons," "The Odd One," "Teddy's Button," etc, etc.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Below them on the one side stretched a sweet old-fashioned English garden lying in the blaze of an August sun.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They were sitting astride on the top of the old garden wall.

three

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

top

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

From this reading They were sitting astride on the top of the old garden wall.

two

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

up

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

wall

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

From this reading They were sitting astride on the top of the old garden wall.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.

wealth

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

From this reading In the distance, peeping from behind a wealth of creepers and ivy was the old stone house.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were sitting astride on the top of the old garden wall.

wheelbarrow

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

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It was at an hour in the afternoon when everything seemed to be at a standstill: two or three dogs lay on the soft green lawn fast asleep, an old gardener smoking his pipe and sitting on the edge of a wheelbarrow seemed following their example; and birds and insects only kept up a monotonous and drowsy dirge.