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The Motor Boys on a Ranch
The Motor Boys on a Ranch

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16 of The Motor Boys on a Ranch is here in full — 126 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Clarence Young • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Motor Boys on a Ranch
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.
“What noise?” asked the Parson, lazily flicking the ashes from his cigarette.
“Sounds like a lot of firecrackers going off.”
The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.
“I don’t _see_ anything,” observed Gimp.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Motor Boys on a Ranch

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16 of The Motor Boys on a Ranch is here in full — 126 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.
Line 2
“What noise?” asked the Parson, lazily flicking the ashes from his cigarette.
/wʌt nɔɪz æskt ðə ˈpɑːrsən ˈlæzəli ˈflɪkɪŋ ðə ˈæʃ.ɪz frʌm hɪz ˌsɪɡərˈet/
Line 3
“Sounds like a lot of firecrackers going off.”
/saʊndz laɪk ə lɑːt ʌv ˈfaɪərkrækərz ˈɡoʊɪŋ ɔːf/
Line 4
The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.
Line 5
“I don’t _see_ anything,” observed Gimp.

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.

benches noun US /ˈbentʃɪz/

plural of “bench” — a long seat for more than one person

From this reading “The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cowboys noun US /ˈkaʊbɔɪz/

plural of “cowboy” — a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback

From this reading “THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
firecrackers noun US /ˈfaɪərkrækərz/

plural of “firecracker” — firework consisting of a small explosive charge and fuse in a heavy paper casing

From this reading ““Sounds like a lot of firecrackers going off.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flicking verb US /ˈflɪkɪŋ/

-ing form of “flick” — flash intermittently

From this reading ““What noise?” asked the Parson, lazily flicking the ashes from his cigarette.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lazily adverb US /ˈlæzəli/

in a slow and lazy manner

From this reading ““What noise?” asked the Parson, lazily flicking the ashes from his cigarette.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
positions noun US /pəˈzɪʃənz/

plural of “position” — the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading “The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
siesta noun US /siˈestə/

a nap in the early afternoon (especially in hot countries)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sprawling noun US /ˈsprɔːlɪŋ/

an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about

From this reading “The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

roused from verb + particle counted as “rouse from”

In this reading “The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.”

1,875 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 52

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 “Sounds like a lot of firecrackers going off.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “I don’t _see_ anything,” observed Gimp.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading “What noise?” asked the Parson, lazily flicking the ashes from his cigarette.

Velmora curated lexicon
askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
benchesnounUS /ˈbentʃɪz/

plural of “bench” — a long seat for more than one person

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/

finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking

From this reading “What noise?” asked the Parson, lazily flicking the ashes from his cigarette.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cowboysnounUS /ˈkaʊbɔɪz/

plural of “cowboy” — a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
don't

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

From this reading “I don’t _see_ anything,” observed Gimp.

Pending verification
firecrackersnounUS /ˈfaɪərkrækərz/

plural of “firecracker” — firework consisting of a small explosive charge and fuse in a heavy paper casing

From this reading “Sounds like a lot of firecrackers going off.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flickingverbUS /ˈflɪkɪŋ/

-ing form of “flick” — flash intermittently

From this reading “What noise?” asked the Parson, lazily flicking the ashes from his cigarette.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “What noise?” asked the Parson, lazily flicking the ashes from his cigarette.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
gazingverbUS /ˈɡeɪzɪŋ/

-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Gimpnoun

disability of walking due to crippling of the legs or feet

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading “Sounds like a lot of firecrackers going off.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
grassverbUS /ɡræs/

shoot down, of birds

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading “What noise?” asked the Parson, lazily flicking the ashes from his cigarette.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I don’t _see_ anything,” observed Gimp.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
lazilyadverbUS /ˈlæzəli/

in a slow and lazy manner

From this reading “What noise?” asked the Parson, lazily flicking the ashes from his cigarette.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading “Sounds like a lot of firecrackers going off.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lotnounUS /lɑːt/

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading “Sounds like a lot of firecrackers going off.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
noisenounUS /nɔɪz/

sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
noon-day

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

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

Pending verification
observedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading “I don’t _see_ anything,” observed Gimp.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading “Sounds like a lot of firecrackers going off.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ParsonnounUS /ˈpɑːrsən/

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading “What noise?” asked the Parson, lazily flicking the ashes from his cigarette.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PONYnounUS /ˈpoʊniː/

a range horse of the western United States

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
positionsnounUS /pəˈzɪʃənz/

plural of “position” — the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/

(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rousedverbUS /raʊzd/

past form of “rouse” — become active

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading “I don’t _see_ anything,” observed Gimp.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
siestanounUS /siˈestə/

a nap in the early afternoon (especially in hot countries)

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoʊkɪŋ/

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SoundsnounUS /saʊndz/

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading “Sounds like a lot of firecrackers going off.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sprawlingnounUS /ˈsprɔːlɪŋ/

an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The cowboys, roused from their noon-day _siesta_, had risen from benches or from sprawling positions on the grass, and were gazing about.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “What noise?” asked the Parson, lazily flicking the ashes from his cigarette.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
What's

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

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

Pending verification
whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WRONGadjectiveUS /rɔːŋ/

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading THE WRONG PONY “What’s that noise?” asked Gimp, seated with the other cowboys, most of whom were smoking.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 16 of The Motor Boys on a Ranch by Clarence Young holds 126 sentences, grouped into 26 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 16 of The Motor Boys on a Ranch contain?

Chapter 16 holds 126 sentences of The Motor Boys on a Ranch, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of The Motor Boys on a Ranch by Clarence Young exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 126 sentences, grouped into 26 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 16 of The Motor Boys on a Ranch?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 Motor Boys on a Ranch

Common questions about reading The Motor Boys on a Ranch by Clarence Young on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Motor Boys on a Ranch?

Yes. All 3877 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #52153 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Motor Boys on a Ranch is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #52153, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Motor Boys on a Ranch take to read?

About 323 minutes of reading across 776 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Motor Boys on a Ranch section by section

How to work through The Motor Boys on a Ranch section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 30 chapters of The Motor Boys on a Ranch to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in The Motor Boys on a Ranch

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Motor Boys on a Ranch, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Jerry
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Motor Boys on a Ranch; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Among
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Motor Boys on a Ranch; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cowboys
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Motor Boys on a Ranch; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Motor Boys on a Ranch; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.