Chapter 31 of The Motor Boys in Mexico is here in full — 340 sentences across 68 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter XXXI
Chapter 31 of The Motor Boys in Mexico is here in full — 340 sentences across 68 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
HOMEWARD BOUND. Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away. "Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver. "No; you might hit Bob," replied Jerry. "I'll catch him."
Chapter 31 of The Motor Boys in Mexico is here in full — 340 sentences across 68 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/68 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
the placement of the fingers for playing different notes (or sequences of notes) on a musical instrument
From this reading “"Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.”
toward home
From this reading “HOMEWARD BOUND.”
not permitting extrication; incapable of being disentangled or untied
From this reading “Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.”
plural of “kidnapper” — someone who unlawfully seizes and detains a victim (usually for ransom)
From this reading “Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.”
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading “"Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.”
changing location rapidly
From this reading “Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.”
the act of guiding or showing the way
From this reading “Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.”
plural of “tire” — hoop that covers a wheel
From this reading “"Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.”
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.
In this reading “HOMEWARD BOUND.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.
later than; following
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading "No; you might hit Bob," replied Jerry.
confined by bonds
From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "I'll catch him."
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
the placement of the fingers for playing different notes (or sequences of notes) on a musical instrument
From this reading "Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I'll catch him."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
cause to move by striking
From this reading "No; you might hit Bob," replied Jerry.
toward home
From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'll catch him."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
not permitting extrication; incapable of being disentangled or untied
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
plural of “kidnapper” — someone who unlawfully seizes and detains a victim (usually for ransom)
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
the force of workers available
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "No; you might hit Bob," replied Jerry.
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.
not any; not one
From this reading "No; you might hit Bob," replied Jerry.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "No; you might hit Bob," replied Jerry.
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading "Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading "Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
changing location rapidly
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
the act of guiding or showing the way
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
plural of “tire” — hoop that covers a wheel
From this reading "Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading "Shall I try a shot at the tires?" asked Ned, fingering his revolver.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Steering to one side, to avoid running into the mass of men, soldiers and kidnappers that seemed to be mixed up in inextricable confusion, Jerry sent his machine after Noddy's, which was speeding away.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "No; you might hit Bob," replied Jerry.
Chapter 31 of The Motor Boys in Mexico by Clarence Young holds 340 sentences, grouped into 68 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.
Chapter 31 holds 340 sentences of The Motor Boys in Mexico, unabridged, divided into 68 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 31 of The Motor Boys in Mexico by Clarence Young exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 340 sentences, grouped into 68 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.
Work through the 68 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 68 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 31 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.
Common questions about reading The Motor Boys in Mexico by Clarence Young on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3950 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #43204 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #43204, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 329 minutes of reading across 790 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Motor Boys in Mexico section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 31 chapters of The Motor Boys in Mexico to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Motor Boys in Mexico, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
