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The Killer
The Killer

Chapter XXVII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/5 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.
To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."
There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.
But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.
About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.
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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 Killer

Chapter XXVII

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

Line 1
THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.
Line 2
To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."
Line 3
There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.
Line 4
But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.
Line 5
About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."”

Stand noun US /stand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.”

All words in this reading · 80

Every word is available to listen to. 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 To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

all

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

apparent

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

From this reading But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

buildings

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.

California

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

cattle

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

chance

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

days

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

delightful

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

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

eager

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

East

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

estate

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

exceptions

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

From this reading But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.

farmers

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

farms

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

few

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

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

game

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

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

going

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

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

gone

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

group

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

haunted

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

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

hills

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

hospitable

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

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.

intents

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

large

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

like

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

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

many

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

men

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

month

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.

NEW

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

OLD

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

past

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

pour

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

purposes

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

ranch

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

ranching

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

rate

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

real

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

remain

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

single

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

small

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

spite

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

From this reading But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.

stand

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

From this reading But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.

statement

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

From this reading But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

subdivide

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

supporting

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

swarm

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

From this reading About the large tracts swarm real estate men, eager for the chance to subdivide into small farms--and the small farmers pour in from the East at the rate of a thousand a month.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

there

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading But in spite of these apparent exceptions, my first statement must stand.

thousand

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE NEW AND THE OLD The old ranching days of California are to all intents and purposes past and gone.

tracts

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

undivided

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

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

very

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

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.

wander

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading To be sure there remain many large tracts supporting a single group of ranch buildings, and over which the cattle wander "on a thousand hills."

write

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

From this reading There are even a few, a very few--like the ranch of which I am going to write--that are still undivided, still game haunted, still hospitable, still delightful.