Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia
Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia is here in full — 88 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Fedor Alexis Postnikov • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!
Get your spearing fork!
There's fish in the grass."
Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.
Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia is here in full — 88 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!
/ə bɪɡ kætʃ ənd nuː ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz wʌn ˈiːvnɪŋ ˈleɪtər ɪn ðə sprɪŋ wen ˈaʊər ˈrɪvərz wɜːr ɪnˈtaɪərli friː frʌm aɪs ənd ðə bæŋks wɜːr ˈkʌvərd wɪð ɡriːn ɡræs ənd ˈprɪmroʊzəz ˈpiːtər keɪm ˈsʌdənli ˈɪntuː ˈaʊər ˈbɑːrnjɑːrd wɪð kwɪk/
Line 2
Get your spearing fork!
/ɡet jɔːr ˈspɪrɪŋ fɔːrk/
Line 3
There's fish in the grass."
Line 4
Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.
/wɪˈθaʊt ə wɜːrd aɪ meɪd ˈsevrəl liːps tuː ðə bɑːrn wer maɪ ˈfɑːðər kept hɪz ˈfɪʃɪŋ ˈɪmpləmənts snætʃt ə fɔːrk ənd ˈfɑːloʊd ˈpiːtər ɪn ə reɪs tuː ðə ˈrɪvər/
Line 5
Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.
/dʒʌst bɪˈfɔːr wiː riːtʃt ðə bæŋk ˈpiːtər ɡræbd hoʊld ʌv maɪ hænd/

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.

barnyard noun US /ˈbɑːrnjɑːrd/

a yard adjoining a barn

From this reading “A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fork noun US /fɔːrk/

cutlery used for serving and eating food

From this reading “Get your spearing fork!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
grabbed verb US /ɡræbd/

inflected form of “grab” — take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of

From this reading “Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
implements noun US /ˈɪmpləmənts/

plural of “implement” — instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end

From this reading “Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leaps noun US /liːps/

plural of “leap” — a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards

From this reading “Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
primroses noun US /ˈprɪmroʊzəz/

plural of “primrose” — any of numerous short-stemmed plants of the genus Primula having tufted basal leaves and showy flowers clustered in umbels or heads

From this reading “A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
snatched verb US /snætʃt/

past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly

From this reading “Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
spearing verb US /ˈspɪrɪŋ/

-ing form of “spear” — pierce with a spear

From this reading “Get your spearing fork!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

Without a word preposition + article + noun counted as “without … word”

In this reading “Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.”

13,193 times in 426,211 chapters
free from verb + particle

In this reading “A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!”

19,939 times in 426,211 chapters
reached the bank verb + article + noun counted as “reach … bank”

In this reading “Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.”

543 times in 426,211 chapters
hold of verb + particle

In this reading “Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.”

41,704 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 66

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 A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
banknounUS /bæŋk/

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
banksnounUS /bæŋks/

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/

an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
barnyardnounUS /ˈbɑːrnjɑːrd/

a yard adjoining a barn

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BIGadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cameverbUS /keɪm/

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

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CATCHverbUS /kætʃ/

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/

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

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
entirelyadverbUS /ɪnˈtaɪərli/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fishnounUS /fɪʃ/

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

From this reading There's fish in the grass."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fishingnounUS /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/

the act of someone who fishes as a diversion

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forknounUS /fɔːrk/

cutlery used for serving and eating food

From this reading Get your spearing fork!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
freeverbUS /friː/

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
GetverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Get your spearing fork!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
grabbedverbUS /ɡræbd/

inflected form of “grab” — take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of

From this reading Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
grassverbUS /ɡræs/

shoot down, of birds

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
holdverbUS /hoʊld/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
icenounUS /aɪs/

water frozen in the solid state

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
implementsnounUS /ˈɪmpləmənts/

plural of “implement” — instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JustadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
keptadjectiveUS /kept/

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leapsnounUS /liːps/

plural of “leap” — a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
NEWadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
PeternounUS /ˈpiːtər/

disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PREPARATIONSnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/

plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
primrosesnounUS /ˈprɪmroʊzəz/

plural of “primrose” — any of numerous short-stemmed plants of the genus Primula having tufted basal leaves and showy flowers clustered in umbels or heads

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
QuickadjectiveUS /kwɪk/

accomplished rapidly and without delay

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
racenounUS /reɪs/

any competition

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
riversnounUS /ˈrɪvərz/

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

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/

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

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/

past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
spearingverbUS /ˈspɪrɪŋ/

-ing form of “spear” — pierce with a spear

From this reading Get your spearing fork!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/

happening unexpectedly

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
There's

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

From this reading There's fish in the grass."

Pending verification
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Just before we reached the bank, Peter grabbed hold of my hand.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A BIG CATCH AND NEW PREPARATIONS One evening, later in the spring, when our rivers were entirely free from ice, and the banks were covered with green grass and primroses, Peter came suddenly into our barnyard with: "Quick!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WithoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Without a word, I made several leaps to the barn where my father kept his fishing implements, snatched a fork, and followed Peter in a race to the river.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Get your spearing fork!

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 4 of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia by Fedor Alexis Postnikov holds 88 sentences, grouped into 18 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 4 of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia contain?

Chapter 4 holds 88 sentences of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia, unabridged, divided into 18 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia by Fedor Alexis Postnikov exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 88 sentences, grouped into 18 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 4 of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia?

Work through the 18 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 18 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia

Common questions about reading Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia by Fedor Alexis Postnikov on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia?

Yes. All 1321 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #45994 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #45994, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia take to read?

About 110 minutes of reading across 265 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia section by section

How to work through Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 15 chapters of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia 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 Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia

Words and structures a reader meets early in Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Little
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cossack
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cousin
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Siberia
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Our Little Cossack Cousin in Siberia; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.