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The Book of Stars
The Book of Stars

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Book of Stars is here in full — 67 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Book of Stars
Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.
The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.
In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellationsthat of the Big Dipperand to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.
=The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.
Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.
0:00 / 0:00
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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.

The Book of Stars

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Book of Stars is here in full — 67 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.
Line 2
The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.
/ðə wɜːrd ˌkɑːnstəˈleɪʃən ɪz fɔːrmd frʌm tuː ˈlætən wɜːrdz ðə fɜːrst ˈbiːɪŋ kɑːn wɪtʃ miːnz təˈɡeðər ənd ðə læst ˈbiːɪŋ ˈstelə wɪtʃ miːnz stɑːr ɔːr ɪn pleɪn ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ ˌkɑːnstəˈleɪʃən miːnz stɑːrz təˈɡeðər/
Line 3
In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellationsthat of the Big Dipperand to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.
Line 4
=The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.
Line 5
Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.
/riˈmuːv ɔːl ðə stɑːrz frʌm ðə ˈblækənd ˈkɑːrdbɔːrd ənd ˌriːərˈeɪndʒ ðem soʊ ðæt ðə nɔːrθ stɑːr ɪz ɪn ðə ˈsɛn.tər ʌv ðə bɔːrd ənd ðə bɪɡ ˈdɪpər ɪz ɑːn ðə left hænd saɪd wɪð ðə tuː ˈpɔɪntər stɑːrz ɪn ə laɪn wɪð ðə nɔːrθ stɑːr/

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.

Cas noun US /kæs/

plural of “ca” — a white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light; the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust; an important component of most plants and animals

From this reading “=The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.”

Cassiopeia noun US /ˌkʌsiəˈpiːə/

(Greek mythology) the wife of Cepheus and mother of Andromeda

From this reading “=The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.”

constellation noun US /ˌkɑːnstəˈleɪʃən/

an arrangement of parts or elements

From this reading “The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.”

constellations noun US /ˌkɑːnstəˈleɪʃənz/

plural of “constellation” — an arrangement of parts or elements

From this reading “HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.”

Dipper noun US /ˈdɪpər/

a ladle that has a cup with a long handle

From this reading “In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.”

finder noun US /ˈfaɪndər/

someone who comes upon something after searching

From this reading “=The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.”

pointer noun US /ˈpɔɪntər/

a mark to indicate a direction or relation

From this reading “Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.”

rearrange verb US /ˌriːərˈeɪndʒ/

put into a new order or arrangement

From this reading “Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.”

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.

same thing adjective + noun

In this reading “HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.”

already learned adverb + adjective

In this reading “In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.”

left hand noun + noun

the hand that is on the left side of the body

In this reading “Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.”

make use verb + noun

In this reading “=The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.”

much more adverb + adjective

In this reading “In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.”

in order preposition + noun

in a state of proper readiness or preparation or arrangement

In this reading “HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.”

in the center preposition + article + noun counted as “in … center”

In this reading “Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.”

All words in this reading · 105

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 HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading =The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.

ah

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

From this reading =The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(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 Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

badgenounUS /bædʒ/

an emblem (a small piece of plastic or cloth or metal) that signifies your status (rank or membership or affiliation etc.)

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

BigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

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

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

blackenedadjectiveUS /ˈblækənd/

darkened by smoke

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

boardnounUS /bɔːrd/

a committee having supervisory powers

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

BoynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

cardboardnounUS /ˈkɑːrdbɔːrd/

a stiff moderately thick paper

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

CasnounUS /kæs/

plural of “ca” — a white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light; the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust; an important component of most plants and animals

From this reading =The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.

CassiopeianounUS /ˌkʌsiəˈpiːə/

(Greek mythology) the wife of Cepheus and mother of Andromeda

From this reading =The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.

centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/

The middle point or core of an area.

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

connounUS /kɑːn/

an argument opposed to a proposal

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

constellationnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈleɪʃən/

an arrangement of parts or elements

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

constellationsnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈleɪʃənz/

plural of “constellation” — an arrangement of parts or elements

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

DippernounUS /ˈdɪpər/

a ladle that has a cup with a long handle

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

easieradjectiveUS /ˈiːziər/

comparative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

effortsnounUS /ˈefərts/

plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

EnglishnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

findernounUS /ˈfaɪndər/

someone who comes upon something after searching

From this reading =The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

formedadjectiveUS /fɔːrmd/

having or given a form or shape

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

funnounUS /fʌn/

activities that are enjoyable or amusing

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

gamenounUS /ɡeɪm/

a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

HOW

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

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

i-o-pe

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

From this reading =The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

KNOWverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

LatinadjectiveUS /ˈlætən/

of or relating to the ancient Latins or the Latin language

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

learnverbUS /lɜːrn/

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

learnedadjectiveUS /lɜːrnd/

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

linenounUS /laɪn/

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading =The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.

meansnounUS /miːnz/

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

meritnounUS /ˈmerət/

any admirable quality or attribute

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

NorthnounUS /nɔːrθ/

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

obtainverbUS /əbˈteɪn/

come into possession of

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

passverbUS /pæs/

go across or through

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

pointernounUS /ˈpɔɪntər/

a mark to indicate a direction or relation

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

principalnounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəl/

the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

pronouncedadjectiveUS /prəˈnaʊnst/

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading =The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.

rearrangeverbUS /ˌriːərˈeɪndʒ/

put into a new order or arrangement

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

RemoveverbUS /riˈmuːv/

remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

ScoutnounUS /skaʊt/

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

starnounUS /stɑːr/

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

starcraft

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

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

STARSnounUS /stɑːrz/

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

stellanounUS /ˈstelə/

United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

testsnounUS /tests/

plural of “test” — trying something to find out about it

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

twelvenounUS /twelv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading =The Constellation of Cassiopeia.=—To find the constellation of _Cassiopeia_ (pronounced Cas´-i-o-pe´-ah) again make use of your star finder.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading HOW TO KNOW THE STARS One of the tests a Boy Scout must pass in order to obtain his badge of merit for starcraft is to be able to name and point out twelve principal constellations, and every boy, whether he is a scout or not, should be able to do the same thing for his own good.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Remove all the stars from the blackened cardboard and rearrange them so that the North Star is in the center of the board and the Big Dipper is on the left hand side with the two pointer stars in a line with the North Star.

wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading The word _constellation_ is formed from two Latin words, the first being _con_ which means _together_, and the last being _stella_ which means _star_, or in plain English, constellation means _stars together_.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading In your efforts to find the North Star you have already learned one of the principal constellations—that of the Big Dipper—and to learn more of them will be even easier and much more fun, for now you have learned the game.

Chapter 3 of The Book of Stars by A. Frederick (Archie Frederick) Collins holds 67 sentences, grouped into 14 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 3 of The Book of Stars contain?

Chapter 3 holds 67 sentences of The Book of Stars, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Book of Stars by A. Frederick (Archie Frederick) Collins exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 67 sentences, grouped into 14 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 3 of The Book of Stars?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 The Book of Stars

Common questions about reading The Book of Stars by A. Frederick (Archie Frederick) Collins on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Book of Stars?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Book of Stars is used?

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

How long does The Book of Stars take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Book of Stars section by section

How to work through The Book of Stars section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of The Book of Stars 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 The Book of Stars

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Book of Stars, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The Book of Stars, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of The Book of Stars, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The Book of Stars, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.