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The Burgess Bird Book for Children
The Burgess Bird Book for Children

Chapter XL · Chapter 40

Chapter 40 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children is here in full — 122 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Burgess Bird Book for Children
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.
In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.
There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.
You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.
He is hungry most of the time, and he is forever hunting for Peter Rabbit.
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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 Burgess Bird Book for Children

Chapter XL · Chapter 40

Chapter 40 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children is here in full — 122 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.
/waɪl ɪt ɪz truː ðæt ˈpiːtər ˈræbət laɪks ˈwɪntər ɪt ɪz ˈɔːlsoʊ truː ðæt laɪf ɪz ˈeniθɪŋ bʌt ˈiːzi fɔːr hɪm ðæt ˈsiːzən/
Line 2
In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.
/ɪn ðə fɜːrst pleɪs hiː hæz tuː ˈtrævəl əˈbaʊt ə ɡreɪt diːl tuː ɡet səˈfɪʃənt fuːd ənd ðæt miːnz ðæt hiː mʌst rʌn mɔːr rɪsks/
Line 3
There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.
Line 4
You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.
Line 5
He is hungry most of the time, and he is forever hunting for Peter Rabbit.
/hiː ɪz ˈhʌŋɡri moʊst ʌv ðə taɪm ənd hiː ɪz fərˈevər ˈhʌntɪŋ fɔːr ˈpiːtər ˈræbət/

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.

afford verb US /əˈfɔːrd/

be able to spare or give up

From this reading “There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.”

finds noun US /faɪndz/

plural of “find” — a productive insight

From this reading “You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.”

Fox noun US /fɑːks/

alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs

From this reading “You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.”

hunting noun US /ˈhʌntɪŋ/

the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport

From this reading “He is hungry most of the time, and he is forever hunting for Peter Rabbit.”

likes noun US /laɪks/

plural of “like” — a similar kind

From this reading “While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.”

Rabbit noun US /ˈræbət/

any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food

From this reading “While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.”

risks noun US /rɪsks/

plural of “risk” — a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading “In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.”

travel verb US /ˈtrævəl/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading “In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

affordverbUS /əˈfɔːrd/

be able to spare or give up

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.

Briar-patch

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

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

dangernounUS /ˈdeɪndʒər/

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

dealverbUS /diːl/

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

difficultadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfəkəlt/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.

easyadjectiveUS /ˈiːzi/

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

findsnounUS /faɪndz/

plural of “find” — a productive insight

From this reading You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

foodnounUS /fuːd/

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

foreveradverbUS /fərˈevər/

for a limitless time

From this reading He is hungry most of the time, and he is forever hunting for Peter Rabbit.

FoxnounUS /fɑːks/

alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs

From this reading You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

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

From this reading You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

hungryadjectiveUS /ˈhʌŋɡri/

feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food

From this reading He is hungry most of the time, and he is forever hunting for Peter Rabbit.

huntingnounUS /ˈhʌntɪŋ/

the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport

From this reading He is hungry most of the time, and he is forever hunting for Peter Rabbit.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

isn't

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

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

likesnounUS /laɪks/

plural of “like” — a similar kind

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

listenverbUS /ˈlɪsən/

hear with intention

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

mealnounUS /miːl/

the food served and eaten at one time

From this reading You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.

meansnounUS /miːnz/

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

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

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 the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading He is hungry most of the time, and he is forever hunting for Peter Rabbit.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.

OldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

PeternounUS /ˈpiːtər/

disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

RabbitnounUS /ˈræbət/

any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

Reddy

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

From this reading You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.

risksnounUS /rɪsks/

plural of “risk” — a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

runverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

seasonnounUS /ˈsiːzən/

a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.

sufficientadjectiveUS /səˈfɪʃənt/

of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He is hungry most of the time, and he is forever hunting for Peter Rabbit.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

travelverbUS /ˈtrævəl/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading In the first place he has to travel about a great deal to get sufficient food, and that means that he must run more risks.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

watchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/

look attentively

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading There isn't a minute of day or night that he is outside of the dear Old Briar-patch when he can afford not to watch and listen for danger.

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading While it is true that Peter Rabbit likes winter, it is also true that life is anything but easy for him that season.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You see, at this season of the year, Reddy Fox often finds it difficult to get a good meal.

Chapter 40 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess holds 122 sentences, grouped into 25 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 40 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children contain?

Chapter 40 holds 122 sentences of The Burgess Bird Book for Children, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 40 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 122 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.

How do I study chapter 40 of The Burgess Bird Book for Children?

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.

Can chapter 40 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 40 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 Burgess Bird Book for Children

Common questions about reading The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Burgess Bird Book for Children?

Yes. All 5090 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3074 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Burgess Bird Book for Children is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3074, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Burgess Bird Book for Children take to read?

About 424 minutes of reading across 1018 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Burgess Bird Book for Children section by section

How to work through The Burgess Bird Book for Children section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Burgess Bird Book for Children 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 Burgess Bird Book for Children

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Burgess Bird Book for Children, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Lipperty-lipperty-lip
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Burgess Bird Book for Children; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Scampered
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Burgess Bird Book for Children; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Peter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Burgess Bird Book for Children; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rabbit
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Burgess Bird Book for Children; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.