Chapter 18 of The Boy Ranchers is here in full — 83 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVIII
Chapter 18 of The Boy Ranchers is here in full — 83 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable. "Not specially," answered Dick. "I'm thinking too much of all that's happened lately." "So 'm I. But I'm not worried because we're here; are you?" "Not a bit of it!
Chapter 18 of The Boy Ranchers is here in full — 83 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.
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading “QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.”
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading “QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.”
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading “QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.”
in the recent past
From this reading “"I'm thinking too much of all that's happened lately."”
financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records
From this reading “QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.”
ready to fall asleep
From this reading “QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.”
in a special manner
From this reading “"Not specially," answered Dick.”
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
From this reading “"So 'm I. But I'm not worried because we're here; are you?"”
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.
In this reading “QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.”
refrain from certain foods or beverages
In this reading “QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Not a bit of it!
(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 "I'm thinking too much of all that's happened lately."
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "Not specially," answered Dick.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "So 'm I. But I'm not worried because we're here; are you?"
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
for the reason that
From this reading "So 'm I. But I'm not worried because we're here; are you?"
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading "Not a bit of it!
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
someone who is a detective
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading "I'm thinking too much of all that's happened lately."
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "So 'm I. But I'm not worried because we're here; are you?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "So 'm I. But I'm not worried because we're here; are you?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm thinking too much of all that's happened lately."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Not a bit of it!
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
in the recent past
From this reading "I'm thinking too much of all that's happened lately."
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading "So 'm I. But I'm not worried because we're here; are you?"
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "I'm thinking too much of all that's happened lately."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
ready to fall asleep
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "So 'm I. But I'm not worried because we're here; are you?"
in a special manner
From this reading "Not specially," answered Dick.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm thinking too much of all that's happened lately."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading "I'm thinking too much of all that's happened lately."
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "I'm thinking too much of all that's happened lately."
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
precisely as stated
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "So 'm I. But I'm not worried because we're here; are you?"
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
at the time that
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading QUEER OPERATIONS "Feel sleepy?" asked Nort of Dick when they had stretched out under their canvas blankets, which might keep off the dew, but which were not very comfortable.
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
From this reading "So 'm I. But I'm not worried because we're here; are you?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "So 'm I. But I'm not worried because we're here; are you?"
Chapter 18 of The Boy Ranchers by Willard F. Baker holds 83 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 18 holds 83 sentences of The Boy Ranchers, unabridged, divided into 17 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 18 of The Boy Ranchers by Willard F. Baker exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 83 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 18 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.
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Yes. All 2886 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #27093 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #27093, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 240 minutes of reading across 578 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Boy Ranchers section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 25 chapters of The Boy Ranchers 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 The Boy Ranchers, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
