The boys of Columbia High on the river

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of The boys of Columbia High on the river is here in full — 123 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Graham B. Forbes • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The boys of Columbia High on the river

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

THE STOLEN EIGHT-OARED SHELL Ting-a-ling!

Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

"Hello! hello!" he called.

"Is this Mr. Allen's house?" came the question.

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

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Chapter V Reading 1/24

The boys of Columbia High on the river

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of The boys of Columbia High on the river is here in full — 123 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

THE STOLEN EIGHT-OARED SHELL Ting-a-ling!

Line 2

Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

/fræŋk ˈælən wɑːz dʒʌst ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ hɪz ˈbrekfəst æt əˈbaʊt ˈsevən əˈklɑːk wen ðə ˈteləfoʊn bel ræŋ/

Line 3

He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

Line 4

"Hello! hello!" he called.

/həˈloʊ həˈloʊ hiː kɔːld/

Line 5

"Is this Mr. Allen's house?" came the question.

/ɪz ðɪs ˈmɪstər ˈælənz haʊs keɪm ðə ˈkwestʃən/

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.

Allen noun US /ˈælən/

United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)

From this reading “Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.”

Allen's noun US /ˈælənz/

possessive form of “allen” — United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)

From this reading “"Is this Mr. Allen's house?" came the question.”

chums noun US /tʃʌmz/

plural of “chum” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities

From this reading “He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.”

finishing noun US /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/

a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)

From this reading “Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.”

hello noun US /həˈloʊ/

an expression of greeting

From this reading “"Hello! hello!" he called.”

Lanky adjective US /ˈlæŋki/

tall and thin and having long slender limbs

From this reading “He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.”

leisurely adverb US /ˈliːzərli/

in an unhurried way or at one's convenience

From this reading “He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.”

receiver noun US /rəˈsiːvər/

set that receives radio or tv signals

From this reading “He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.”

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.

telephone bell noun + noun

electric bell that rings to signal a call

In this reading “Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.”

pick up verb + adjective

take and lift upward

In this reading “He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.”

into the hall preposition + article + noun counted as “into … hall”

In this reading “He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.”

about seven preposition + noun

In this reading “Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.”

All words in this reading · 55

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.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

AllennounUS /ˈælən/

United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

Allen'snounUS /ˈælənz/

possessive form of “allen” — United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)

From this reading "Is this Mr. Allen's house?" came the question.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

aroseverbUS /ərˈoʊz/

inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

bellnounUS /bel/

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

BirdnounUS /bɜːrd/

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/

eat an early morning meal

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading "Hello! hello!" he called.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "Is this Mr. Allen's house?" came the question.

chumsnounUS /tʃʌmz/

plural of “chum” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

EIGHT-OARED

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

From this reading THE STOLEN EIGHT-OARED SHELL Ting-a-ling!

finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/

a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

FrankadjectiveUS /fræŋk/

characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

hallnounUS /hɔːl/

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

HellonounUS /həˈloʊ/

an expression of greeting

From this reading "Hello! hello!" he called.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading "Is this Mr. Allen's house?" came the question.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Is this Mr. Allen's house?" came the question.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

LankyadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋki/

tall and thin and having long slender limbs

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

leisurelyadverbUS /ˈliːzərli/

in an unhurried way or at one's convenience

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading "Is this Mr. Allen's house?" came the question.

o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

PaulnounUS /pɔːl/

United States feminist (1885-1977)

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

pickverbUS /pɪk/

select carefully from a group

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading "Is this Mr. Allen's house?" came the question.

Ralph

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

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

rangverbUS /ræŋ/

inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

receivernounUS /rəˈsiːvər/

set that receives radio or tv signals

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

sevennounUS /ˈsevən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

SHELLnounUS /ʃel/

ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun

From this reading THE STOLEN EIGHT-OARED SHELL Ting-a-ling!

steppedverbUS /stept/

inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

STOLENverbUS /ˈstoʊlən/

inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent

From this reading THE STOLEN EIGHT-OARED SHELL Ting-a-ling!

telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/

electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE STOLEN EIGHT-OARED SHELL Ting-a-ling!

thinkingnounUS /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "Is this Mr. Allen's house?" came the question.

Ting-a-ling

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

From this reading THE STOLEN EIGHT-OARED SHELL Ting-a-ling!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

WestnounUS /west/

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading He leisurely arose, and stepped into the hall to pick up the receiver, thinking that it might be Lanky, or one of his other chums, Paul Bird or Ralph West.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Frank Allen was just finishing his breakfast at about seven o'clock when the telephone bell rang.

Chapter 5 of The boys of Columbia High on the river by Graham B. Forbes holds 123 sentences, grouped into 25 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 5 of The boys of Columbia High on the river contain?

Chapter 5 holds 123 sentences of The boys of Columbia High on the river, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The boys of Columbia High on the river by Graham B. Forbes exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 123 sentences, grouped into 25 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.

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Work through the 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 25 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.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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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Chapter V

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