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Quest of the Golden Ape
Quest of the Golden Ape

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Quest of the Golden Ape is here in full — 73 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Quest of the Golden Ape
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.
From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.
Every nation on the planet was represented in greater or lesser number.
The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.
The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.
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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.

Quest of the Golden Ape

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Quest of the Golden Ape is here in full — 73 sentences across 15 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.
Line 2
From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.
Line 3
Every nation on the planet was represented in greater or lesser number.
/ˈevəri ˈneɪʃən ɑːn ðə ˈplænət wɑːz ˌreprɪˈzentɪd ɪn ˈɡreɪtər ɔːr ˈlesər ˈnʌmbər/
Line 4
The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.
Line 5
The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.

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.

brilliance noun US /ˈbrɪljəns/

a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted

From this reading “_The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.”

grazed adjective US /ɡreɪzd/

scraped or touched lightly in passing

From this reading “_The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.”

herds noun US /hɜːrdz/

plural of “herd” — a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans

From this reading “_The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.”

jeweled adjective US /ˈdʒuː.əld/

Adorned or decorated with precious gems, diamonds, and emeralds.

From this reading “The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.”

muscled verb US /ˈmʌsəld/

past form of “muscle” — make one's way by force

From this reading “The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.”

skim verb US /skɪm/

travel on the surface of water

From this reading “The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.”

uniforms noun US /ˈjuːnəfɔːrmz/

plural of “uniform” — clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a particular group as a means of identification

From this reading “The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.”

vied verb US /vaɪd/

past form of “vie” — compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

From this reading “_The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.”

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.

hang motionless verb + adjective

In this reading “The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.”

various groups adjective + noun counted as “various group”

In this reading “From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.”

Great Clock adjective + noun

In this reading “_The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.”

All words in this reading · 102

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 Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

Abarian

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

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

Abarians

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

From this reading The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.

birdsnounUS /bɜːrdz/

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

bright-hued

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

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

brilliancenounUS /ˈbrɪljəns/

a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

carsnounUS /kɑːrz/

plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/

The middle point or core of an area.

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

ClocknounUS /klɑːk/

a timepiece that shows the time of day

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/

construct, build, or erect

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every nation on the planet was represented in greater or lesser number.

exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/

Strictly particular and correct.

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

eyenounUS /aɪ/

the organ of sight

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

FieldsnounUS /fiːldz/

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

finelyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnli/

in tiny pieces

From this reading The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.

flamingadjectiveUS /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/

informal intensifiers

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

flashingnounUS /ˈflæʃɪŋ/

a short vivid experience

From this reading The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.

flatadjectiveUS /flæt/

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

flat-bottomedadjective

having a flat bottom

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

ForestsnounUS /ˈfɔːrəsts/

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

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

gentlyadverbUS /ˈdʒentli/

in a gradual manner

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

glorynounUS /ˈɡlɔːri/

a state of high honor

From this reading The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.

grassverbUS /ɡræs/

shoot down, of birds

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

graynounUS /ɡreɪ/

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

grazedadjectiveUS /ɡreɪzd/

scraped or touched lightly in passing

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

GreatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

greateradjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtər/

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading Every nation on the planet was represented in greater or lesser number.

grim-faced

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

From this reading The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.

groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/

plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

hangverbUS /hæŋ/

be suspended or hanging

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

heavensnounUS /ˈhevənz/

the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected

From this reading The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.

herdsnounUS /hɜːrdz/

plural of “herd” — a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

IcenounUS /aɪs/

water frozen in the solid state

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

jeks

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

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

jeweledadjectiveUS /ˈdʒuː.əld/

Adorned or decorated with precious gems, diamonds, and emeralds.

From this reading The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.

knee-highnoun

a sock or stocking that reaches up to just below the knees

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

lesseradjectiveUS /ˈlesər/

of less size or importance

From this reading Every nation on the planet was represented in greater or lesser number.

monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/

tediously repetitious or lacking in variety

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

motionlessadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊʃənləs/

not in physical motion

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

movingadjectiveUS /ˈmuːvɪŋ/

in motion

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

muscledverbUS /ˈmʌsəld/

past form of “muscle” — make one's way by force

From this reading The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.

Nadia

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

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

Nadians

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

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

nationnounUS /ˈneɪʃən/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Every nation on the planet was represented in greater or lesser number.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

numbernounUS /ˈnʌmbər/

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading Every nation on the planet was represented in greater or lesser number.

oceannounUS /ˈoʊʃən/

a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

Ofrid

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

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Every nation on the planet was represented in greater or lesser number.

plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

PlainsnounUS /pleɪnz/

plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

planetnounUS /ˈplænət/

(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

powerfuladjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərfəl/

having great power or force or potency or effect

From this reading The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.

reachverbUS /riːtʃ/

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

representedadjectiveUS /ˌreprɪˈzentɪd/

represented accurately or precisely

From this reading Every nation on the planet was represented in greater or lesser number.

skimverbUS /skɪm/

travel on the surface of water

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/

being of delicate or slender build

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

spacenounUS /speɪs/

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

stads

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

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

stretchedadjectiveUS /stretʃt/

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

sunnounUS /sʌn/

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

surfacenounUS /ˈsɜːrfəs/

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

Tarth

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

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

Tarthans

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

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

thousandnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading The slim, erect Nadians in their flat-bottomed air cars that could hang motionless in space or skim the surface of the planet at a thousand jeks an hour.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

towernounUS /ˈtaʊər/

a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

unbrokenadjectiveUS /ənˈbroʊkən/

marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

uniformsnounUS /ˈjuːnəfɔːrmz/

plural of “uniform” — clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a particular group as a means of identification

From this reading The grim-faced Abarians, tall and finely muscled on their powerful stads, their jeweled uniforms flashing back the glory of the heavens.

variousadjectiveUS /ˈveriəs/

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

viedverbUS /vaɪd/

past form of “vie” — compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/

the act of signaling by a movement of the hand

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading From the dark Abarian Forests to the Ice Fields of Nadia, the plain stretched unbroken except for the tall, gray tower in its exact center and it was toward this tower that various groups of Tarthans were now moving.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading _The Great Clock of Tarth_ The Plains of Ofrid on the planet Tarth stretched flat and monotonous as far as the eye could reach, a gently waving ocean of soft, knee-high grass where herds of wild stads grazed and bright-hued birds vied in brilliance with the flaming sun.

Chapter 2 of Quest of the Golden Ape by Paul W. Fairman holds 73 sentences, grouped into 15 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 Quest of the Golden Ape contain?

Chapter 2 holds 73 sentences of Quest of the Golden Ape, unabridged, divided into 15 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Quest of the Golden Ape by Paul W. Fairman exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 73 sentences, grouped into 15 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 Quest of the Golden Ape?

Work through the 15 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 15 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 Quest of the Golden Ape

Common questions about reading Quest of the Golden Ape by Paul W. Fairman on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Quest of the Golden Ape?

Yes. All 2859 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32953 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Quest of the Golden Ape is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #32953, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Quest of the Golden Ape take to read?

About 238 minutes of reading across 572 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Quest of the Golden Ape section by section

How to work through Quest of the Golden Ape section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of Quest of the Golden Ape 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 Quest of the Golden Ape

Words and structures a reader meets early in Quest of the Golden Ape, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Etext
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Quest of the Golden Ape; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Produced
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Quest of the Golden Ape; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Amazing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Quest of the Golden Ape; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stories
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Quest of the Golden Ape; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.