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Pluck on the Long Trail
Pluck on the Long Trail

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Pluck on the Long Trail
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.
Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.
Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.
We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.
About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.
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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.

Pluck on the Long Trail

Chapter I

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.
Line 2
Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.
Line 3
Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.
Line 4
We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.
Line 5
About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.”

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.”

Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.”

Whistle noun US /ˈwhistle/

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

From this reading “Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.”

All words in this reading · 83

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

14th

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

From this reading We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.

AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

America

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

From this reading We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

Boy

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

From this reading We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.

brand

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

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

call

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

From this reading Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.

carry

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

Colorado

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

From this reading We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.

colors

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

From this reading Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.

dark

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

From this reading Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.

days

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

Elk

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

From this reading We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.

elks

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

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

fifteen

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

finding

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

green

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

From this reading Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.

hardest

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

head

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

From this reading Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.

high

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

From this reading Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.

hundred

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.

including

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

like

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

From this reading Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.

locomotive

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

From this reading Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.

message

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

miles

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

mountains

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

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

only

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

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

Oooooooooooo

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

From this reading Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.

out

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

outfit

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

own

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

pack

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

Patrol

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

From this reading We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.

pines

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

From this reading Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.

range

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

From this reading Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

say

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

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

Scouts

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

From this reading We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

set

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

sign

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

From this reading Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.

snowy

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

From this reading Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.

Sundays

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

totem

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

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

town

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

trail

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

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

trail-makers

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

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

Troop

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

From this reading We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.

up

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

From this reading Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We are the Elk Patrol, 14th Colorado Troop, Boy Scouts of America.

West

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

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.

whistlenounUS /ˈwhistle/

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

From this reading Our patrol call is the whistle of an elk, which is an "Oooooooooooo!" high up in the head, like a locomotive whistle.

white

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

From this reading Our sign is and our colors are dark green and white, like the pines and the snowy range.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading About the hardest thing that we have set out to do yet has been to carry a secret message across the mountains, one hundred miles, from our town to another town, with our own pack outfit, and finding our own trail, and do it in fifteen days including Sundays.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading We took the Elk brand (that is the same as totem, you know, only we say "brand," in the West), because elks are the great trail-makers in the mountains.