The Boy Whaleman

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of The Boy Whaleman is here in full — 154 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By George Fox Tucker • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

It was not our fortune to take a right whale during the voyage, as we were to cruise partly for sperm whales, but chiefly for the right whale’s great brother, the bowhead, to be found in the Northern Pacific and the Arctic Oceans.

We were privileged, however, to see a right whale feed.

One day we passed through a great stretch of “brit.”

The sea presented the appearance of an extensive field of grain.

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Chapter IX Reading 1/30

The Boy Whaleman George Fox Tucker

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of The Boy Whaleman is here in full — 154 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home. It was not our fortune to take a right whale during the voyage, as we were to cruise partly for sperm whales, but chiefly for the right whale’s great brother, the bowhead, to be found in the Northern Pacific and the Arctic Oceans. We were privileged, however, to see a right whale feed. One day we passed through a great stretch of “brit.” The sea presented the appearance of an extensive field of grain.

The Boy Whaleman

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of The Boy Whaleman is here in full — 154 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

/ˌhɑːnəˈluːluː ənd ɔːf tuː ðə ˈɑːrktɪk wiː wɜːr duː ɪn ðə ˈɑːrktɪk ˈoʊʃən ðə læst ʌv dʒuːn ənd wɜːr tuː tʌtʃ fɜːrst æt ˌhɑːnəˈluːluː wer moʊst ʌv ʌs ɪkˈspektəd ˈletərz frʌm hoʊm/

Line 2

Line 3

We were privileged, however, to see a right whale feed.

/wiː wɜːr ˈprɪvlədʒd ˌhaʊˈevər tuː siː ə raɪt weɪl fiːd/

Line 4

One day we passed through a great stretch of “brit.”

/wʌn deɪ wiː pæst θruː ə ɡreɪt stretʃ ʌv brɪt/

Line 5

The sea presented the appearance of an extensive field of grain.

/ðə siː priˈzentɪd ðə əˈpɪrəns ʌv æn ɪkˈstensɪv fiːld ʌv ɡreɪn/

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.

arctic noun US /ˈɑːrktɪk/

the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole

From this reading “HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.”

brit noun US /brɪt/

a native or inhabitant of Great Britain

From this reading “One day we passed through a great stretch of “brit.””

honolulu noun US /ˌhɑːnəˈluːluː/

the capital and largest city of Hawaii; located on a large bay on the island of Oahu

From this reading “HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.”

Oceans noun US /ˈoʊʃənz/

plural of “ocean” — a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

From this reading “It was not our fortune to take a right whale during the voyage, as we were to cruise partly for sperm whales, but chiefly for the right whale’s great brother, the bowhead, to be found in the Northern Pacific and the Arctic Oceans.”

privileged adjective US /ˈprɪvlədʒd/

blessed with privileges

From this reading “We were privileged, however, to see a right whale feed.”

sperm noun US /spɜːrm/

the male reproductive cell; the male gamete

whale's noun US /weɪlz/

possessive form of “whale” — a very large person; impressive in size or qualities

whales noun US /weɪlz/

plural of “whale” — a very large person; impressive in size or qualities

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.

sperm whales noun + noun counted as “sperm whale”

large whale with a large cavity in the head containing spermaceti and oil; also a source of ambergris

In this reading “It was not our fortune to take a right whale during the voyage, as we were to cruise partly for sperm whales, but chiefly for the right whale’s great brother, the bowhead, to be found in the Northern Pacific and the Arctic Oceans.”

during the voyage preposition + article + noun counted as “during … voyage”

passed through verb + particle counted as “pass through”

make a passage or journey from one place to another

In this reading “One day we passed through a great stretch of “brit.””

presented the appearance verb + article + noun counted as “present … appearance”

In this reading “The sea presented the appearance of an extensive field of grain.”

stretch of verb + particle

In this reading “One day we passed through a great stretch of “brit.””

from home preposition + noun

In this reading “HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 It was not our fortune to take a right whale during the voyage, as we were to cruise partly for sperm whales, but chiefly for the right whale’s great brother, the bowhead, to be found in the Northern Pacific and the Arctic Oceans.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The sea presented the appearance of an extensive field of grain.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

appearancenounUS /əˈpɪrəns/

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading The sea presented the appearance of an extensive field of grain.

ARCTICnounUS /ˈɑːrktɪk/

the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

bowheadnoun

large-mouthed Arctic whale

britnounUS /brɪt/

a native or inhabitant of Great Britain

From this reading One day we passed through a great stretch of “brit.”

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

chieflyadverbUS /ˈtʃiːfli/

for the most part

cruiseverbUS /kruːz/

drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading One day we passed through a great stretch of “brit.”

dueadjectiveUS /duː/

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

expectedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektəd/

considered likely or probable to happen or arrive

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

extensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstensɪv/

large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity

From this reading The sea presented the appearance of an extensive field of grain.

feedverbUS /fiːd/

provide as food

From this reading We were privileged, however, to see a right whale feed.

fieldnounUS /fiːld/

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading The sea presented the appearance of an extensive field of grain.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

fortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

grainnounUS /ɡreɪn/

a relatively small granular particle of a substance

From this reading The sea presented the appearance of an extensive field of grain.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

HONOLULUnounUS /ˌhɑːnəˈluːluː/

the capital and largest city of Hawaii; located on a large bay on the island of Oahu

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading We were privileged, however, to see a right whale feed.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

JunenounUS /dʒuːn/

the month following May and preceding July

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

lettersnounUS /ˈletərz/

the literary culture

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

NorthernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

OceannounUS /ˈoʊʃən/

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

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

OceansnounUS /ˈoʊʃənz/

plural of “ocean” — a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

OFFadverbUS /ɔːf/

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

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One day we passed through a great stretch of “brit.”

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

PacificnounUS /pəˈsɪfɪk/

the largest ocean in the world

partlyadverbUS /ˈpɑːrtli/

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading One day we passed through a great stretch of “brit.”

presentedverbUS /priˈzentɪd/

past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The sea presented the appearance of an extensive field of grain.

privilegedadjectiveUS /ˈprɪvlədʒd/

blessed with privileges

From this reading We were privileged, however, to see a right whale feed.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

seanounUS /siː/

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

From this reading The sea presented the appearance of an extensive field of grain.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading We were privileged, however, to see a right whale feed.

spermnounUS /spɜːrm/

the male reproductive cell; the male gamete

stretchverbUS /stretʃ/

occupy a large, elongated area

From this reading One day we passed through a great stretch of “brit.”

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading One day we passed through a great stretch of “brit.”

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

touchverbUS /tʌtʃ/

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

voyagenounUS /ˈvɔɪədʒ/

an act of traveling by water

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

whalenounUS /weɪl/

a very large person; impressive in size or qualities

whale'snounUS /weɪlz/

possessive form of “whale” — a very large person; impressive in size or qualities

whalesnounUS /weɪlz/

plural of “whale” — a very large person; impressive in size or qualities

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading HONOLULU AND OFF TO THE ARCTIC We were due in the Arctic Ocean the last of June, and were to touch first at Honolulu, where most of us expected letters from home.

Chapter 9 of The Boy Whaleman by George Fox Tucker holds 154 sentences, grouped into 31 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 9 of The Boy Whaleman contain?

Chapter 9 holds 154 sentences of The Boy Whaleman, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of The Boy Whaleman by George Fox Tucker exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 154 sentences, grouped into 31 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 9 of The Boy Whaleman?

Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 31 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 Boy Whaleman

Common questions about reading The Boy Whaleman by George Fox Tucker on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Boy Whaleman?

Yes. All 3160 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #62689 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Boy Whaleman is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #62689, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Boy Whaleman take to read?

About 263 minutes of reading across 632 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Boy Whaleman

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Boy Whaleman, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Bedford: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Whaleman; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Great: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Whaleman; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Manufacturing: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Whaleman; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Known: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Boy Whaleman; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter IX

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