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Motor Matt's Close Call
Motor Matt's Close Call

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of Motor Matt's Close Call is here in full — 163 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Motor Matt's Close Call
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
DON RAMON ORTEGA.
The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.
His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.
Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.
Carl's own troubles faded into the background.
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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.

Motor Matt's Close Call

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of Motor Matt's Close Call is here in full — 163 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
DON RAMON ORTEGA.
Line 2
The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.
/ðə ˈɑːbdʒekt wɪtʃ hæd soʊ ˈstɑːrtəld ðə dʌtʃ bɔɪ wɑːz ðə ˈfɪɡjər ʌv ə ˈmɪdəleɪɡd mæn sprɔːld æt fʊl leŋkθ ɑːn ðə flɔːr ˈmætɪŋ/
Line 3
His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.
/hɪz hændz wɜːr sɪˈkjʊrd bɪˈhaɪnd hɪm ənd hɪz fiːt wɜːr baʊnd æt ðə ˈæŋkəlz wɪð ˈtwɪstɪd ˈtaʊəlz/
Line 4
Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.
Line 5
Carl's own troubles faded into the background.

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.

ankles noun US /ˈæŋkəlz/

plural of “ankle” — a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus

From this reading “His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.”

matting noun US /ˈmætɪŋ/

a covering of coarse fabric (usually of straw or hemp)

From this reading “The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.”

ortega noun US /ɔːrˈteɪɡə/

Nicaraguan statesman (born in 1945)

From this reading “DON RAMON ORTEGA.”

outcry noun US /ˈaʊtkraɪ/

a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition

From this reading “Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.”

preventing verb US /prɪˈventɪŋ/

-ing form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible

From this reading “Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.”

sprawled verb US /sprɔːld/

past form of “sprawl” — sit or lie with one's limbs spread out

From this reading “The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.”

towel noun US /ˈtaʊəl/

a rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping

From this reading “Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.”

towels noun US /ˈtaʊəlz/

plural of “towel” — a rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping

From this reading “His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.”

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.

lower part verb + noun

In this reading “Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.”

full length adjective + noun

In this reading “The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.”

middle-aged man adjective + noun

a man who is roughly between 45 and 65 years old

In this reading “The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.”

on the floor preposition + article + noun counted as “on … floor”

In this reading “The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.”

into the background preposition + article + noun counted as “into … background”

In this reading “Carl's own troubles faded into the background.”

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.

anklesnounUS /ˈæŋkəlz/

plural of “ankle” — a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus

From this reading His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/

a person's social heritage: previous experience or training

From this reading Carl's own troubles faded into the background.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.

boundadjectiveUS /baʊnd/

confined by bonds

From this reading His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.

boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

Carl's

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

From this reading Carl's own troubles faded into the background.

DONnounUS /dɑːn/

a Spanish gentleman or nobleman

From this reading DON RAMON ORTEGA.

DutchadjectiveUS /dʌtʃ/

of or relating to the Netherlands or its people or culture

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

effectuallyadverb

in an effectual manner

From this reading Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.

fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

From this reading Carl's own troubles faded into the background.

feetnounUS /fiːt/

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

From this reading His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.

figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

floornounUS /flɔːr/

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Carl's own troubles faded into the background.

lengthnounUS /leŋkθ/

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

lowerverbUS /ˈloʊər/

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.

mannounUS /mæn/

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

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

mattingnounUS /ˈmætɪŋ/

a covering of coarse fabric (usually of straw or hemp)

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

middle-agedadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdəleɪɡd/

being roughly between 45 and 65 years old

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

objectnounUS /ˈɑːbdʒekt/

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

ORTEGAnounUS /ɔːrˈteɪɡə/

Nicaraguan statesman (born in 1945)

From this reading DON RAMON ORTEGA.

outcrynounUS /ˈaʊtkraɪ/

a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition

From this reading Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.

OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Carl's own troubles faded into the background.

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.

preventingverbUS /prɪˈventɪŋ/

-ing form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible

From this reading Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.

RAMON

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

From this reading DON RAMON ORTEGA.

securedverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrd/

past form of “secure” — get by special effort

From this reading His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

sprawledverbUS /sprɔːld/

past form of “sprawl” — sit or lie with one's limbs spread out

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

startledadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtəld/

excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

thusadverbUS /ðʌs/

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.

tiedadjectiveUS /taɪd/

bound or secured closely

From this reading Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.

towelnounUS /ˈtaʊəl/

a rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping

From this reading Over the lower part of his face another towel had been tied, thus effectually preventing outcry.

towelsnounUS /ˈtaʊəlz/

plural of “towel” — a rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping

From this reading His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.

troublesnounUS /ˈtrʌbəlz/

plural of “trouble” — a source of difficulty

From this reading Carl's own troubles faded into the background.

twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/

having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented

From this reading His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The object which had so startled the Dutch boy was the figure of a middle-aged man, sprawled at full length on the floor matting.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading His hands were secured behind him and his feet were bound at the ankles with twisted towels.

Chapter 3 of Motor Matt's Close Call by Stanley R. Matthews holds 163 sentences, grouped into 33 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 3 of Motor Matt's Close Call contain?

Chapter 3 holds 163 sentences of Motor Matt's Close Call, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Motor Matt's Close Call by Stanley R. Matthews exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 163 sentences, grouped into 33 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 3 of Motor Matt's Close Call?

Work through the 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 33 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Motor Matt's Close Call

Common questions about reading Motor Matt's Close Call by Stanley R. Matthews on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Motor Matt's Close Call?

Yes. All 2358 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #49695 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Motor Matt's Close Call is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #49695, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Motor Matt's Close Call take to read?

About 196 minutes of reading across 472 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Motor Matt's Close Call section by section

How to work through Motor Matt's Close Call section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of Motor Matt's Close Call 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 Motor Matt's Close Call

Words and structures a reader meets early in Motor Matt's Close Call, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Issued
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Motor Matt's Close Call; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Weekly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Motor Matt's Close Call; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Subscription
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Motor Matt's Close Call; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Entered
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Motor Matt's Close Call; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.