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Radio Boys in the Flying Service
Radio Boys in the Flying Service

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Radio Boys in the Flying Service is here in full — 107 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By J. W. Duffield • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Radio Boys in the Flying Service
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.
RADIO BOYS IN THE FLYING SERVICE or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits.
RADIO BOYS IN THE THOUSAND ISLANDS or, The Yankee-Canadian Wireless Trail.
RADIO BOYS UNDER THE SEA or, The Hunt for Sunken Treasure.
The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.
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.

Radio Boys in the Flying Service

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Radio Boys in the Flying Service is here in full — 107 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.
/ˈreɪdioʊ bɔɪz ɪn ðə ˈflaɪɪŋ ˈsɜːrvəs ɔːr held fɔːr ˈrænsəm baɪ ˈmeksəkən ˈbændəts ˈreɪdioʊ bɔɪz ɪn ðə ˈsiː.krət ˈsɜːrvəs ɔːr kæst əˈweɪ ɑːn æn ˈaɪsbərɡ/
Line 2
RADIO BOYS IN THE FLYING SERVICE or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits.
/ˈreɪdioʊ bɔɪz ɪn ðə ˈflaɪɪŋ ˈsɜːrvəs ɔːr held fɔːr ˈrænsəm baɪ ˈmeksəkən ˈbændəts/
Line 3
RADIO BOYS IN THE THOUSAND ISLANDS or, The Yankee-Canadian Wireless Trail.
Line 4
RADIO BOYS UNDER THE SEA or, The Hunt for Sunken Treasure.
/ˈreɪdioʊ bɔɪz ˈʌndər ðə siː ɔːr ðə hʌnt fɔːr ˈsʌŋkən ˈtreʒər/
Line 5
The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

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.

Bandits noun US /ˈbændəts/

plural of “bandit” — an armed thief who is (usually) a member of a band

From this reading “Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
barked verb US /bɑːrkt/

past form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone

From this reading “The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
emphasized adjective US /ˈemfəsaɪzd/

spoken with emphasis

From this reading “The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Iceberg noun US /ˈaɪsbərɡ/

a large mass of ice floating at sea; usually broken off of a polar glacier

From this reading “Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
muzzle noun US /ˈmʌzəl/

the open circular discharging end of a gun

From this reading “The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Sunken adjective US /ˈsʌŋkən/

having a sunken area

From this reading “RADIO BOYS UNDER THE SEA or, The Hunt for Sunken Treasure.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
teller noun US /ˈtelər/

United States physicist (born in Hungary) who worked on the first atom bomb and the first hydrogen bomb (1908-2003)

From this reading “The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Wireless noun US /ˈwaɪrlɪs/

medium for communication

From this reading “RADIO BOYS IN THE THOUSAND ISLANDS or, The Yankee-Canadian Wireless Trail.”

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.

SECRET SERVICE noun + noun

the United States intelligence agency that protects current and former presidents and vice presidents and their immediate families and protects distinguished foreign visitors; detects and apprehends counterfeiters; suppresses forgery of government securities and documents

In this reading “Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.”

2,390 times in 426,211 chapters
through the window preposition + article + noun counted as “through … window”

In this reading “The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.”

8,438 times in 426,211 chapters
Cast Away verb + particle

throw or cast away

In this reading “Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.”

2,453 times in 426,211 chapters
thrust through verb + particle

In this reading “The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.”

785 times in 426,211 chapters
Hunt for verb + particle

In this reading “RADIO BOYS UNDER THE SEA or, The Hunt for Sunken Treasure.”

4,018 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 47

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 command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AwayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BanditsnounUS /ˈbændəts/

plural of “bandit” — an armed thief who is (usually) a member of a band

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
barkedverbUS /bɑːrkt/

past form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BoysnounUS /bɔɪz/

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CastverbUS /kæst/

put or send forth

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
commandnounUS /kəˈmænd/

an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
emphasizedadjectiveUS /ˈemfəsaɪzd/

spoken with emphasis

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FlyingadjectiveUS /ˈflaɪɪŋ/

moving swiftly

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HeldadjectiveUS /held/

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HuntverbUS /hʌnt/

pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)

From this reading RADIO BOYS UNDER THE SEA or, The Hunt for Sunken Treasure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IcebergnounUS /ˈaɪsbərɡ/

a large mass of ice floating at sea; usually broken off of a polar glacier

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ISLANDSnounUS /ˈaɪləndz/

plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading RADIO BOYS IN THE THOUSAND ISLANDS or, The Yankee-Canadian Wireless Trail.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MexicannounUS /ˈmeksəkən/

a native or inhabitant of Mexico

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
muzzlenounUS /ˈmʌzəl/

the open circular discharging end of a gun

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
payingadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪɪŋ/

yielding a fair profit

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RadionounUS /ˈreɪdioʊ/

medium for communication

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RansomnounUS /ˈrænsəm/

money demanded for the return of a captured person

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/

a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SEAnounUS /siː/

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

From this reading RADIO BOYS UNDER THE SEA or, The Hunt for Sunken Treasure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SECRETnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

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

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

Velmora curated lexicon
ServicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
staccatto

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

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

Pending verification
SunkenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌŋkən/

having a sunken area

From this reading RADIO BOYS UNDER THE SEA or, The Hunt for Sunken Treasure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tellernounUS /ˈtelər/

United States physicist (born in Hungary) who worked on the first atom bomb and the first hydrogen bomb (1908-2003)

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

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 Radio Boys in the Flying Service or, Held For Ransom by Mexican Bandits RADIO BOYS IN THE SECRET SERVICE or, Cast Away on an Iceberg.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THOUSANDnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading RADIO BOYS IN THE THOUSAND ISLANDS or, The Yankee-Canadian Wireless Trail.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thrustverbUS /θrʌst/

push forcefully

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tonesnounUS /toʊnz/

plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TrailnounUS /treɪl/

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading RADIO BOYS IN THE THOUSAND ISLANDS or, The Yankee-Canadian Wireless Trail.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TreasurenounUS /ˈtreʒər/

accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.

From this reading RADIO BOYS UNDER THE SEA or, The Hunt for Sunken Treasure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
uglyadjectiveUS /ˈʌɡli/

displeasing to the senses

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading RADIO BOYS UNDER THE SEA or, The Hunt for Sunken Treasure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading The command, barked out in sharp, staccatto tones, was emphasized by the ugly muzzle of a revolver thrust through the window of the paying teller.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WirelessnounUS /ˈwaɪrlɪs/

medium for communication

From this reading RADIO BOYS IN THE THOUSAND ISLANDS or, The Yankee-Canadian Wireless Trail.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Yankee-Canadian

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

From this reading RADIO BOYS IN THE THOUSAND ISLANDS or, The Yankee-Canadian Wireless Trail.

Pending verification

Chapter 1 of Radio Boys in the Flying Service by J. W. Duffield holds 107 sentences, grouped into 22 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 1 of Radio Boys in the Flying Service contain?

Chapter 1 holds 107 sentences of Radio Boys in the Flying Service, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Radio Boys in the Flying Service by J. W. Duffield exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 107 sentences, grouped into 22 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 1 of Radio Boys in the Flying Service?

Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 22 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Radio Boys in the Flying Service

Common questions about reading Radio Boys in the Flying Service by J. W. Duffield on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Radio Boys in the Flying Service?

Yes. All 2908 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #62110 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Radio Boys in the Flying Service is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #62110, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Radio Boys in the Flying Service take to read?

About 242 minutes of reading across 582 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Radio Boys in the Flying Service section by section

How to work through Radio Boys in the Flying Service section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  3. Listen and tap

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Vocabulary met early in Radio Boys in the Flying Service

Words and structures a reader meets early in Radio Boys in the Flying Service, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Radio
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Radio Boys in the Flying Service; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Flying
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Radio Boys in the Flying Service; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Service
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Radio Boys in the Flying Service; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ransom
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Radio Boys in the Flying Service; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.