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The Flying U's Last Stand
The Flying U's Last Stand

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Flying U's Last Stand is here in full — 96 sentences across 20 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Flying U's Last Stand
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.
The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.
The whole of Northern Montana waited anxiously for news of him.
The ranch had been turned into a rendezvous for searchers.
Men rode as long as they could sit in the saddle.
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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 Flying U's Last Stand

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Flying U's Last Stand is here in full — 96 sentences across 20 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.
Line 2
The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.
Line 3
The whole of Northern Montana waited anxiously for news of him.
/ðə hoʊl ʌv ˈnɔːrðərn mɑːnˈtænə ˈweɪtɪd ˈæŋkʃəsli fɔːr nuːz ʌv hɪm/
Line 4
The ranch had been turned into a rendezvous for searchers.
/ðə ræntʃ hæd bɪn tɜːrnd ˈɪntuː ə ˈrɑːndɪvuː fɔːr ˈsɜːrtʃərz/
Line 5
Men rode as long as they could sit in the saddle.
/men roʊd æz lɔːŋ æz ðeɪ kʊd sɪt ɪn ðə ˈsædəl/

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.

aplomb noun US /əˈplɑːm/

great coolness and composure under strain

From this reading “I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.”

Kid verb US /kɪd/

tell false information to for fun

From this reading “The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.”

Montana noun US /mɑːnˈtænə/

a state in northwestern United States on the Canadian border

From this reading “The whole of Northern Montana waited anxiously for news of him.”

normally adverb US /ˈnɔːrməli/

under normal conditions

From this reading “I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.”

ranch noun US /ræntʃ/

farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)

From this reading “The ranch had been turned into a rendezvous for searchers.”

rendezvous noun US /ˈrɑːndɪvuː/

a meeting planned at a certain time and place

From this reading “The ranch had been turned into a rendezvous for searchers.”

searchers noun US /ˈsɜːrtʃərz/

plural of “searcher” — someone making a search or inquiry

From this reading “The ranch had been turned into a rendezvous for searchers.”

sixth adjective US /sɪksθ/

coming next after the fifth and just before the seventh in position

From this reading “The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.”

All words in this reading · 54

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 I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

anxiouslyadverbUS /ˈæŋkʃəsli/

with anxiety or apprehension

From this reading The whole of Northern Montana waited anxiously for news of him.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

aplombnounUS /əˈplɑːm/

great coolness and composure under strain

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Men rode as long as they could sit in the saddle.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

childnounUS /tʃaɪld/

a young person of either sex

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Men rode as long as they could sit in the saddle.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.

developedadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpt/

being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

don't

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

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

equalverbUS /ˈiːkwəl/

be identical or equivalent to

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The whole of Northern Montana waited anxiously for news of him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.

instancenounUS /ˈɪnstəns/

an occurrence of something

From this reading The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The ranch had been turned into a rendezvous for searchers.

KidverbUS /kɪd/

tell false information to for fun

From this reading The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Men rode as long as they could sit in the saddle.

MennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading Men rode as long as they could sit in the saddle.

MontananounUS /mɑːnˈtænə/

a state in northwestern United States on the Canadian border

From this reading The whole of Northern Montana waited anxiously for news of him.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.

newsnounUS /nuːz/

information about recent and important events

From this reading The whole of Northern Montana waited anxiously for news of him.

normallyadverbUS /ˈnɔːrməli/

under normal conditions

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

NorthernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/

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

From this reading The whole of Northern Montana waited anxiously for news of him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

placesnounUS /ˈpleɪsəz/

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.

ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/

farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)

From this reading The ranch had been turned into a rendezvous for searchers.

rendezvousnounUS /ˈrɑːndɪvuː/

a meeting planned at a certain time and place

From this reading The ranch had been turned into a rendezvous for searchers.

rodeverbUS /roʊd/

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading Men rode as long as they could sit in the saddle.

saddleverbUS /ˈsædəl/

put a saddle on

From this reading Men rode as long as they could sit in the saddle.

searchersnounUS /ˈsɜːrtʃərz/

plural of “searcher” — someone making a search or inquiry

From this reading The ranch had been turned into a rendezvous for searchers.

sitverbUS /sɪt/

be seated

From this reading Men rode as long as they could sit in the saddle.

sixthadjectiveUS /sɪksθ/

coming next after the fifth and just before the seventh in position

From this reading The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.

supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/

express a supposition

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Men rode as long as they could sit in the saddle.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading The ranch had been turned into a rendezvous for searchers.

waitedverbUS /ˈweɪtɪd/

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading The whole of Northern Montana waited anxiously for news of him.

wanderingadjectiveUS /ˈwɑːndərɪŋ/

migratory

From this reading The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading I don't suppose anything can equal the aplomb of a child that has always had his own way and has developed normally.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading The whole of Northern Montana waited anxiously for news of him.

wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading The Kid, for instance, had been wandering in the wild places--this was the morning of the sixth day.

Chapter 20 of The Flying U's Last Stand by B. M. Bower holds 96 sentences, grouped into 20 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 20 of The Flying U's Last Stand contain?

Chapter 20 holds 96 sentences of The Flying U's Last Stand, unabridged, divided into 20 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of The Flying U's Last Stand by B. M. Bower exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 96 sentences, grouped into 20 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 20 of The Flying U's Last Stand?

Work through the 20 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 20 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Flying U's Last Stand

Common questions about reading The Flying U's Last Stand by B. M. Bower on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Flying U's Last Stand?

Yes. All 4456 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1740 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Flying U's Last Stand is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1740, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Flying U's Last Stand take to read?

About 371 minutes of reading across 892 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Flying U's Last Stand section by section

How to work through The Flying U's Last Stand section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in The Flying U's Last Stand

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Flying U's Last Stand, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Progress
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Flying U's Last Stand; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Insidious
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Flying U's Last Stand; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Change
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Flying U's Last Stand; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Youth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Flying U's Last Stand; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.