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Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater
Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater

Chapter XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater is here in full — 143 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.
All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.
"Are you certain of this?" asked Joe.
"Positive!" was the answer.
"We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.
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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.

Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater

Chapter XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater is here in full — 143 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.
Line 2
All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.
/ɔːl ðə əˈtenʃən ʌv ðə jʌŋ məˈdʒɪʃ.ən wɑːz ˈsentərd ɑːn wʌt ðə ˈtreʒərər hæd sed/
Line 3
"Are you certain of this?" asked Joe.
Line 4
"Positive!" was the answer.
/ˈpɑːzətɪv wɑːz ðə ˈænsər/
Line 5
"We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

centered adjective US /ˈsentərd/

being or placed in the center

From this reading “All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.”

duplicates noun US /ˈdjuːpləkeɪts/

plural of “duplicate” — something additional of the same kind

From this reading “"We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.”

magician noun US /məˈdʒɪʃ.ən/

A practitioner of magic and ancient arcane arts, often wielding deception and powerful spells.

From this reading “All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.”

Positive adjective US /ˈpɑːzətɪv/

characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.

From this reading “"Positive!" was the answer.”

rings noun US /rɪŋz/

gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises

From this reading “RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.”

serial adjective US /ˈsɪriːəl/

in regular succession without gaps

From this reading “"We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.”

tramp noun US /træmp/

a vagrant

From this reading “RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.”

treasurer noun US /ˈtreʒərər/

an officer charged with receiving and disbursing funds

From this reading “All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.”

All words in this reading · 55

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

afterwardadverbUS /ˈæftərwərd/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

AlladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

answerverbUS /ˈænsər/

react verbally

From this reading "Positive!" was the answer.

Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Are you certain of this?" asked Joe.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "Are you certain of this?" asked Joe.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

callverbUS /kɔːl/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

carefuladjectiveUS /ˈkerfəl/

exercising caution or showing care or attention

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

centeredadjectiveUS /ˈsentərd/

being or placed in the center

From this reading All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading "Are you certain of this?" asked Joe.

duplicatesnounUS /ˈdjuːpləkeɪts/

plural of “duplicate” — something additional of the same kind

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

entrancenounUS /ˈentrəns/

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

FIREverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

fire-eaternoun

a member of a fire department who tries to extinguish fires

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

InstantlyadverbUS /ˈɪnstəntli/

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

Joe

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

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

keepingnounUS /ˈkiːpɪŋ/

conformity or harmony

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

magiciannounUS /məˈdʒɪʃ.ən/

A practitioner of magic and ancient arcane arts, often wielding deception and powerful spells.

From this reading All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.

mainadjectiveUS /meɪn/

most important element

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

numbersnounUS /ˈnʌmbərz/

the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.

payingadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪɪŋ/

yielding a fair profit

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

PositiveadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːzətɪv/

characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.

From this reading "Positive!" was the answer.

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

RINGSnounUS /rɪŋz/

gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.

serialadjectiveUS /ˈsɪriːəl/

in regular succession without gaps

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

specialadjectiveUS /ˈspeʃəl/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

StrongadjectiveUS /strɔːŋ/

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "Are you certain of this?" asked Joe.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

trampnounUS /træmp/

a vagrant

From this reading RINGS OF FIRE Instantly Joe Strong lost interest in the "tramp fire-eater," as he afterward came to call the man.

treasurernounUS /ˈtreʒərər/

an officer charged with receiving and disbursing funds

From this reading All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.

watchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/

look attentively

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

We've

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

From this reading "We've been keeping careful watch, paying special attention to the red serial numbers, and some duplicates have been taken in at the main entrance.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Are you certain of this?" asked Joe.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading All the attention of the young magician was centered on what the treasurer had said.

Chapter 15 of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater by Vance Barnum holds 143 sentences, grouped into 29 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 15 of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater contain?

Chapter 15 holds 143 sentences of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater by Vance Barnum exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 143 sentences, grouped into 29 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 15 of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 15 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater

Common questions about reading Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater by Vance Barnum on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater?

Yes. All 3160 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #10579 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #10579, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater take to read?

About 263 minutes of reading across 632 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater section by section

How to work through Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 24 chapters of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater

Words and structures a reader meets early in Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Startles
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Average
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Circus
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Audience
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.