Chapter 25 of Ralph, the Train Dispatcher is here in full — 84 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXV
Chapter 25 of Ralph, the Train Dispatcher is here in full — 84 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap." "Fast freight derailed--switch 19 outside of Abingdon." "Whew!" exploded the first trick man at dispatcher's headquarters. "Did you get all that, Fairbanks?" Ralph nodded, but did not speak.
Chapter 25 of Ralph, the Train Dispatcher is here in full — 84 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
declare invalid
From this reading “A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."”
a war measure that isolates some area of importance to the enemy
From this reading “A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."”
past form of “derail” — cause to run off the tracks
From this reading “"Fast freight derailed--switch 19 outside of Abingdon."”
possessive form of “dispatcher” — the official who signals the beginning of a race or competition
From this reading “"Whew!" exploded the first trick man at dispatcher's headquarters.”
showing the parts of something separated but in positions that show their correct relation to one another
From this reading “"Whew!" exploded the first trick man at dispatcher's headquarters.”
United States film actor; son of Douglas Elton Fairbanks, (1909-2000)
From this reading “"Did you get all that, Fairbanks?"”
past form of “stall” — postpone doing what one should be doing
From this reading “A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."”
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading “"Fast freight derailed--switch 19 outside of Abingdon."”
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.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fast freight derailed--switch 19 outside of Abingdon."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fast freight derailed--switch 19 outside of Abingdon."
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "Did you get all that, Fairbanks?"
declare invalid
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
a war measure that isolates some area of importance to the enemy
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Ralph nodded, but did not speak.
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
past form of “derail” — cause to run off the tracks
From this reading "Fast freight derailed--switch 19 outside of Abingdon."
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Did you get all that, Fairbanks?"
possessive form of “dispatcher” — the official who signals the beginning of a race or competition
From this reading "Whew!" exploded the first trick man at dispatcher's headquarters.
showing the parts of something separated but in positions that show their correct relation to one another
From this reading "Whew!" exploded the first trick man at dispatcher's headquarters.
United States film actor; son of Douglas Elton Fairbanks, (1909-2000)
From this reading "Did you get all that, Fairbanks?"
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading "Fast freight derailed--switch 19 outside of Abingdon."
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "Whew!" exploded the first trick man at dispatcher's headquarters.
alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading "Fast freight derailed--switch 19 outside of Abingdon."
a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Did you get all that, Fairbanks?"
(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
From this reading "Whew!" exploded the first trick man at dispatcher's headquarters.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Whew!" exploded the first trick man at dispatcher's headquarters.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading Ralph nodded, but did not speak.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Ralph nodded, but did not speak.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Fast freight derailed--switch 19 outside of Abingdon."
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading "Fast freight derailed--switch 19 outside of Abingdon."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph nodded, but did not speak.
express in speech
From this reading Ralph nodded, but did not speak.
past form of “stall” — postpone doing what one should be doing
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading "Fast freight derailed--switch 19 outside of Abingdon."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Did you get all that, Fairbanks?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Whew!" exploded the first trick man at dispatcher's headquarters.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
create by training and teaching
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading "Whew!" exploded the first trick man at dispatcher's headquarters.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Whew!" exploded the first trick man at dispatcher's headquarters.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading A WILD NIGHT "Tic-tac!"--"annul train 22--blockade at Fox Center"--"25-25-25-45 stalled at Morey Gap."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Did you get all that, Fairbanks?"
Chapter 25 of Ralph, the Train Dispatcher by Allen Chapman holds 84 sentences, grouped into 17 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.
Chapter 25 holds 84 sentences of Ralph, the Train Dispatcher, unabridged, divided into 17 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 25 of Ralph, the Train Dispatcher by Allen Chapman exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 84 sentences, grouped into 17 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.
Work through the 17 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 17 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 25 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.
Common questions about reading Ralph, the Train Dispatcher by Allen Chapman on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3993 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #38969 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #38969, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 332 minutes of reading across 799 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Ralph, the Train Dispatcher section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 32 chapters of Ralph, the Train Dispatcher to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Ralph, the Train Dispatcher, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
