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The Crest of the Continent
The Crest of the Continent

Chapter XI

Chapter 11 of The Crest of the Continent is here in full — 391 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/78 · 5 lines
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A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.
This honest little circular, toward its end, contains the following paragraph:
We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.
Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.
The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Crest of the Continent

Chapter XI

Chapter 11 of The Crest of the Continent is here in full — 391 sentences across 79 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/78 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.
Line 2
This honest little circular, toward its end, contains the following paragraph:
/ðɪs ˈɑːnəst ˈlɪtəl ˈsɜːrkjələr təˈwɔːrd ɪts end kənˈteɪnz ðə ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ ˈpærəɡræf/
Line 3
We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.
/wiː dɪˈzaɪər ˌhaʊˈevər tuː ˌɪnˈfɔːrm ɔːl ˈiːstərn ˈpiːpəl huː meɪ biː ˈθɪŋkɪŋ ʌv ˈkʌmɪŋ west ðæt waɪl ðɪs ɪz wʌn ʌv ðə moʊst prəˈdʌktɪv ˈvæliz ɪn ˌkɑːlərˈɑːdoʊ ɪt ɪz ˈeniθɪŋ bʌt ðɪs ɪn əˈpɪrəns naʊ/
Line 4
Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.
/ˌekˈseptɪŋ əˈlɔːŋ ðə bæŋks ʌv ðə striːmz ɔːr nɪr ðem ðer ɪz ˈprɑːbəbliː nɑːt ə triː tuː biː siːn ɪn ðə ˈvæli ənˈles ɪt wɑːz ˈplæntɪd sɪns ðə ˈvæli wɑːz ˈsetəld ɔːr wɪˈðɪn ðə pæst eɪˈtiːn mʌnθs/
Line 5
The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.
/ðə sɔɪl hæz ə dʌl ˈɡreɪɪʃ əˈpɪrəns wɪð ˈhɑːrdli ə bleɪd ʌv ɡræs ˈɡroʊɪŋ ɪn ɪt fɔːr ˈsevrəl maɪlz bæk frʌm ðə ˈrɪvər ənd ɪt prəˈduːsəz ˈnætʃərəli ˈoʊnli ˈseɪdʒbrʌʃ ənd ˈɡriːswʊd/

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.

Colorado noun US /ˌkɑːlərˈɑːdoʊ/

a state in west central United States in the Rocky Mountains

From this reading “A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.”

grayish adjective US /ˈɡreɪɪʃ/

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading “The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.”

greasewood noun US /ˈɡriːswʊd/

low hardy much-branched spiny shrub common in alkaline soils of western America

From this reading “The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.”

produces noun US /prəˈduːsəz/

plural of “produce” — fresh fruits and vegetable grown for the market

From this reading “The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.”

productive adjective US /prəˈdʌktɪv/

producing or capable of producing (especially abundantly)

From this reading “We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.”

prospectuses noun US /prəˈspektəsɪz/

plural of “prospectus” — a formal written offer to sell securities (filed with the SEC) that sets forth a plan for a (proposed) business enterprise

From this reading “A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.”

sagebrush noun US /ˈseɪdʒbrʌʃ/

any of several North American composite subshrubs of the genera Artemis or Seriphidium

From this reading “The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.”

terse adjective US /tɜːrs/

brief and to the point; effectively cut short

From this reading “A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.”

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.

eighteen months adjective + noun counted as “eighteen month”

In this reading “Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.”

following paragraph adjective + noun

In this reading “This honest little circular, toward its end, contains the following paragraph:”

along the banks preposition + article + noun counted as “along … banks”

In this reading “Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.”

grass growing verb + noun

In this reading “The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.”

several miles adjective + noun counted as “several mile”

In this reading “The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.”

come into verb + particle

obtain, especially accidentally

In this reading “A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.”

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

In this reading “Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.”

All words in this reading · 111

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 A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

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 We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

appearancenounUS /əˈpɪrəns/

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

banksnounUS /bæŋks/

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

bladenounUS /bleɪd/

especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

circularadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrkjələr/

having the shape or form of a circle

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

claimsnounUS /kleɪmz/

plural of “claim” — an assertion of a right (as to money or property)

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

ColoradonounUS /ˌkɑːlərˈɑːdoʊ/

a state in west central United States in the Rocky Mountains

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

containsverbUS /kənˈteɪnz/

third-person singular of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component

From this reading This honest little circular, toward its end, contains the following paragraph:

desirenounUS /dɪˈzaɪər/

the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/

lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

easternadjectiveUS /ˈiːstərn/

lying toward or situated in the east

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/

being one more than seventeen

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading This honest little circular, toward its end, contains the following paragraph:

ExceptingverbUS /ˌekˈseptɪŋ/

-ing form of “except” — take exception to

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading This honest little circular, toward its end, contains the following paragraph:

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

GrandadjectiveUS /ɡrænd/

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

grassverbUS /ɡræs/

shoot down, of birds

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

grayishadjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪɪʃ/

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

greasewoodnounUS /ˈɡriːswʊd/

low hardy much-branched spiny shrub common in alkaline soils of western America

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

growingnounUS /ˈɡroʊɪŋ/

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

hardlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdli/

only a very short time before

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnəst/

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

informverbUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrm/

impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading This honest little circular, toward its end, contains the following paragraph:

JunctionnounUS /ˈdʒʌŋkʃən/

the place where two or more things come together

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

languagenounUS /ˈlæŋɡwədʒ/

a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

milesnounUS /maɪlz/

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

naturallyadverbUS /ˈnætʃərəli/

as might be expected

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

paragraphnounUS /ˈpærəɡræf/

one of several distinct subdivisions of a text intended to separate ideas; the beginning is usually marked by a new indented line

From this reading This honest little circular, toward its end, contains the following paragraph:

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

phenomenonnounUS /fəˈnɑːmənɑːn/

any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

plantedadjectiveUS /ˈplæntɪd/

(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

producesnounUS /prəˈduːsəz/

plural of “produce” — fresh fruits and vegetable grown for the market

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

productiveadjectiveUS /prəˈdʌktɪv/

producing or capable of producing (especially abundantly)

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

prospectusesnounUS /prəˈspektəsɪz/

plural of “prospectus” — a formal written offer to sell securities (filed with the SEC) that sets forth a plan for a (proposed) business enterprise

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

residencenounUS /ˈrezɪdəns/

any address at which you dwell more than temporarily

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

sagebrushnounUS /ˈseɪdʒbrʌʃ/

any of several North American composite subshrubs of the genera Artemis or Seriphidium

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

settledadjectiveUS /ˈsetəld/

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

soilnounUS /sɔɪl/

the state of being covered with unclean things

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

streamsnounUS /striːmz/

plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

terseadjectiveUS /tɜːrs/

brief and to the point; effectively cut short

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

thinkingnounUS /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This honest little circular, toward its end, contains the following paragraph:

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading This honest little circular, toward its end, contains the following paragraph:

treenounUS /triː/

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

valleynounUS /ˈvæli/

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

valleysnounUS /ˈvæliz/

plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

westnounUS /west/

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

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

westernadjectiveUS /ˈwestərn/

relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading We desire, however, to inform all eastern people who may be thinking of coming west, that, while this is one of the most productive valleys in Colorado, it is anything but this in appearance now.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The soil has a dull grayish appearance, with hardly a blade of grass growing in it for several miles back from the river, and it produces naturally only sagebrush and greasewood.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Excepting along the banks of the streams or near them, there is probably not a tree to be seen in the valley, unless it was planted since the valley was settled, or within the past eighteen months.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading A very honest little circular--quite a phenomenon among prospectuses--had come into our hands, which gave in terse language the claims that Grand Junction made to the notice of the world and upon the attention of the man who was looking for a place of residence in western Colorado.

Chapter 11 of The Crest of the Continent by Ernest Ingersoll holds 391 sentences, grouped into 79 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 11 of The Crest of the Continent contain?

Chapter 11 holds 391 sentences of The Crest of the Continent, unabridged, divided into 79 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of The Crest of the Continent by Ernest Ingersoll exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 391 sentences, grouped into 79 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 11 of The Crest of the Continent?

Work through the 79 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 79 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 11 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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 Crest of the Continent

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Yes. All 4743 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #43020 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Crest of the Continent is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #43020, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Crest of the Continent take to read?

About 395 minutes of reading across 949 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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

  1. Open a chapter

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    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Crest of the Continent

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Crest of the Continent, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Footnotes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Crest of the Continent; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Positioned
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Crest of the Continent; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Directly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Crest of the Continent; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Following
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Crest of the Continent; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.