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Loafing Along Death Valley Trails
Loafing Along Death Valley Trails

Chapter II · What Caused Death Valley?

Chapter II of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails, “What Caused Death Valley?,” is here in full — 122 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Loafing Along Death Valley Trails
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.
Scientists assert that all lifeboth animal and vegetable began in these buried seasprobably two and one-half billion years ago.
It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.
Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.
Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.
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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.

Loafing Along Death Valley Trails

Chapter II · What Caused Death Valley?

Chapter II of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails, “What Caused Death Valley?,” is here in full — 122 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.
/wen juː ˈtrævəl θruː ðə ˌdesəˈleɪʃən ʌv deθ ˈvæli əˈlɔːŋ ðə ˈfjuːnərəl reɪndʒ juː meɪ faɪnd ɪt ˈdɪfəkəlt tuː bɪˈliːv ðæt ˈsevrəl ˈθaʊzənd fiːt əˈbʌv ðə tɑːp ʌv jɔːr kɑːr wɑːz wʌns ə kuːl ˌɪnˈvaɪtɪŋ lænd wɪð ˈrɪvərz ənd ˈfɔːrəsts ənd leɪks ənd ðæt ˈhʌndrədz ʌv fiːt bɪˈloʊ juː ɑːr ðə draɪ bedz ʌv siːz ðæt wɑːʃt ɪts ʃɔːrz/
Line 2
Scientists assert that all lifeboth animal and vegetable began in these buried seasprobably two and one-half billion years ago.
Line 3
It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.
/ɪt ɪz ˈsɜːrtən ðæt noʊ laɪf kʊd hæv ɪɡˈzɪstəd ɑːn ðə θɪn krʌst ʌv ɜːrθ ˈkʌvərd æz ɪt wɑːz wɪð ˈdedli ˈɡæsəz/
Line 4
Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.
/ˈðerfɔːr jɔːr rɪˈmoʊtəst ˈænsestərz mʌst hæv bɪn siː ˈkriːtʃərz ənˈtɪl ðeɪ krɔːld aʊt ɔːr wɜːr wɑːʃt əˈʃɔːr ɪn wʌn ʌv ˈneɪtʃərz kənˈvʌlʃənz tuː bɪˈkʌm lænd ˈdwelərz/
Line 5
Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.
/sɪns siː ˈwɔːtər kənˈteɪnz mɔːr ɡoʊld ðæn hæz ˈevər bɪn faʊnd ɑːn ðə ɜːrθ ɪt meɪ biː sed ðæt mæn ɑːn hɪz weɪ ʌp frʌm ðə ˈloʊəst fɔːrm ʌv laɪf wɑːz bɔːrn ɪn ə səˈluːʃən ʌv ɡoʊld/

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.

billion noun US /ˈbɪljən/

the number that is represented as a one followed by 12 zeros; in the United Kingdom the usage followed in the United States is frequently seen

From this reading “Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.”

convulsions noun US /kənˈvʌlʃənz/

plural of “convulsion” — a sudden uncontrollable attack

From this reading “Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.”

dwellers noun US /ˈdwelərz/

plural of “dweller” — a person who inhabits a particular place

From this reading “Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.”

gases noun US /ˈɡæsəz/

plural of “gas” — the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity

From this reading “It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.”

Nature's noun US /ˈneɪtʃərz/

possessive form of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

remotest adjective US /rɪˈmoʊtəst/

superlative of “remote” — located far away spatially

From this reading “Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.”

Scientists noun US /ˈsaɪəntɪsts/

plural of “scientist” — a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences

From this reading “Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.”

vegetable noun US /ˈvedʒtəbəl/

edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant

From this reading “Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

thousand feet noun + noun counted as “thousand foot”

In this reading “When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.”

crawled out verb + adjective counted as “crawl out”

In this reading “Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.”

several thousand adjective + noun

In this reading “When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.”

travel through verb + particle

In this reading “When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.”

dry beds noun + noun counted as “dry bed”

In this reading “When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.”

All words in this reading · 116

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/

in the past

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

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 Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/

plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

animalnounUS /ˈænəməl/

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

ashoreadverbUS /əˈʃɔːr/

towards the shore from the water

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

assertverbUS /əˈsɜːrt/

state categorically

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

bedsnounUS /bedz/

plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

billionnounUS /ˈbɪljən/

the number that is represented as a one followed by 12 zeros; in the United Kingdom the usage followed in the United States is frequently seen

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/

brought into existence

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

buriedadjectiveUS /ˈberid/

placed in a grave

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

carnounUS /kɑːr/

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

containsverbUS /kənˈteɪnz/

third-person singular of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

convulsionsnounUS /kənˈvʌlʃənz/

plural of “convulsion” — a sudden uncontrollable attack

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

cooladjectiveUS /kuːl/

neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

crawledverbUS /krɔːld/

past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

creaturesnounUS /ˈkriːtʃərz/

plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

crustnounUS /krʌst/

the outer layer of the Earth

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

deadlyadjectiveUS /ˈdedli/

causing or capable of causing death

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

DeathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/

the state of being decayed or destroyed

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

difficultadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfəkəlt/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

dryadjectiveUS /draɪ/

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

dwellersnounUS /ˈdwelərz/

plural of “dweller” — a person who inhabits a particular place

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

existedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪstəd/

past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

forestsnounUS /ˈfɔːrəsts/

plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

formnounUS /fɔːrm/

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

FuneralnounUS /ˈfjuːnərəl/

a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

gasesnounUS /ˈɡæsəz/

plural of “gas” — the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/

coins made of gold

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

hundredsnounUS /ˈhʌndrədz/

plural of “hundred” — ten 10s

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

invitingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪtɪŋ/

attractive and tempting

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

lakesnounUS /leɪks/

plural of “lake” — a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

landnounUS /lænd/

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

lowestadjectiveUS /ˈloʊəst/

lowest in rank or importance

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

Nature'snounUS /ˈneɪtʃərz/

possessive form of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

one-halfnoun

one of two equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

RangenounUS /reɪndʒ/

an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

remotestadjectiveUS /rɪˈmoʊtəst/

superlative of “remote” — located far away spatially

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

riversnounUS /ˈrɪvərz/

plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

ScientistsnounUS /ˈsaɪəntɪsts/

plural of “scientist” — a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

seanounUS /siː/

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

seasnounUS /siːz/

plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

shoresnounUS /ʃɔːrz/

plural of “shore” — the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

solutionnounUS /səˈluːʃən/

a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

ThereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading It is certain that no life could have existed on the thin crust of earth covered as it was with deadly gases.

thousandnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

topnounUS /tɑːp/

the upper part of anything

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

travelverbUS /ˈtrævəl/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

ValleynounUS /ˈvæli/

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

vegetablenounUS /ˈvedʒtəbəl/

edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

washedadjectiveUS /wɑːʃt/

clean by virtue of having been washed in water

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Since sea water contains more gold than has ever been found on the earth, it may be said that man on his way up from the lowest form of life was born in a solution of gold.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Therefore, your remotest ancestors must have been sea creatures until they crawled out or were washed ashore in one of Nature’s convulsions to become land dwellers.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading Scientists assert that all life—both animal and vegetable began in these buried seas—probably two and one-half billion years ago.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading When you travel through the desolation of Death Valley along the Funeral Range, you may find it difficult to believe that several thousand feet above the top of your car was once a cool, inviting land with rivers and forests and lakes, and that hundreds of feet below you are the dry beds of seas that washed its shores.

Chapter 2 of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails by William Caruthers holds 122 sentences, grouped into 25 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 2 of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails contain?

Chapter 2 holds 122 sentences of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails by William Caruthers exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 122 sentences, grouped into 25 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 2 of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails?

Work through the 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 25 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Loafing Along Death Valley Trails

Common questions about reading Loafing Along Death Valley Trails by William Caruthers on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails?

Yes. All 4915 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51899 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #51899, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Loafing Along Death Valley Trails take to read?

About 409 minutes of reading across 983 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Loafing Along Death Valley Trails section by section

How to work through Loafing Along Death Valley Trails section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails 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 Loafing Along Death Valley Trails

Words and structures a reader meets early in Loafing Along Death Valley Trails, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Newspaper
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Office
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Where
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Writer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Loafing Along Death Valley Trails; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.