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The Sky Detectives
The Sky Detectives

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of The Sky Detectives is here in full — 70 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.
This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.
With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.
Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.
Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.
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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 Sky Detectives

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of The Sky Detectives is here in full — 70 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.
/ˈperəʃuːt ˈdʒʌmpərz dʒʌst ðen dʒæk ˈhɜːridli bæŋkt ənd swʌŋ ərˈaʊnd æz ðoʊ tuː ˈdʌbəl bæk ɑːn ðer leɪt kɔːrs/
Line 2
This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.
/ðɪs ʌv kɔːrs toʊld pɜːrk ðə ˈpaɪlət mʌst biː ɔːlˈredi əˈwer ʌv ðə ˈterəbəl ˈtrædʒədi ðæt wɑːz ˈbiːɪŋ eˈnæktəd kloʊs æt hænd ənd ment tuː siː ɪts ˈfɪnɪʃ wɪð hɪz oʊn aɪz/
Line 3
With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.
Line 4
Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.
Line 5
Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

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.

banked verb US /bæŋkt/

past form of “bank” — tip laterally

From this reading “PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.”

billow verb US /ˈbɪloʊ/

rise up as if in waves

From this reading “With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.”

inflammable adjective US /ɪnˈflæməbəl/

easily ignited

From this reading “Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.”

jumpers noun US /ˈdʒʌmpərz/

plural of “jumper” — a person who jumps

From this reading “PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.”

parachute noun US /ˈperəʃuːt/

rescue equipment consisting of a device that fills with air and retards your fall

From this reading “PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.”

Perk noun US /pɜːrk/

an incidental benefit awarded for certain types of employment (especially if it is regarded as a right)

From this reading “This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.”

spiraling adjective US /ˈspaɪrəlɪŋ/

in the shape of a coil

From this reading “With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.”

stationary adjective US /ˈsteɪʃəneri/

standing still

From this reading “Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.”

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.

catch a glimpse verb + article + noun counted as “catch … glimpse”

see something for a brief time

In this reading “With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.”

devouring flames adjective + noun counted as “devouring flame”

In this reading “Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.”

swung around verb + particle counted as “swing around”

turn abruptly and face the other way, either physically or metaphorically

In this reading “PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.”

terrible tragedy adjective + noun

In this reading “This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.”

of course preposition + noun

as might be expected

In this reading “This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.”

already aware adverb + adjective

In this reading “This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.”

created by verb + particle counted as “create by”

In this reading “Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.”

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

In this reading “With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.”

All words in this reading · 113

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 With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/

marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

awareadjectiveUS /əˈwer/

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

bankedverbUS /bæŋkt/

past form of “bank” — tip laterally

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

billowverbUS /ˈbɪloʊ/

rise up as if in waves

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

catchverbUS /kætʃ/

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

conflagrationnounUS /ˌkɑːnfləˈɡreɪʃən/

a very intense and uncontrolled fire

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

coursenounUS /kɔːrs/

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

createdverbUS /kriˈeɪtəd/

past form of “create” — make or cause to be or to become

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

devouringadjectiveUS /dɪˈvaʊərɪŋ/

(often followed by “for”) ardently or excessively desirous

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

doubleverbUS /ˈdʌbəl/

increase twofold

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

earthwards

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

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

enactedverbUS /eˈnæktəd/

past form of “enact” — order by virtue of superior authority; decree

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

enginenounUS /ˈendʒən/

motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

EvidentlyadverbUS /ˈevədəntli/

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

feedverbUS /fiːd/

provide as food

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

finishverbUS /ˈfɪnɪʃ/

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/

plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

flamingadjectiveUS /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/

informal intensifiers

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

furtheradverbUS /ˈfɜːrðər/

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

furynounUS /ˈfjʊri/

a feeling of intense anger

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

glimpsenounUS /ɡlɪmps/

a quick look

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

glowedverbUS /ɡloʊd/

past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

haughtyadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːti/

having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/

in a hurried or hasty manner

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/

becoming greater or larger

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

inflammableadjectiveUS /ɪnˈflæməbəl/

easily ignited

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

JacknounUS /dʒæk/

a small worthless amount

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

JUMPERSnounUS /ˈdʒʌmpərz/

plural of “jumper” — a person who jumps

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

JustadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/

for more time

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

masterpiecenounUS /ˈmæstərpiːs/

the most outstanding work of a creative artist or craftsman

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

materialadjectiveUS /məˈtɪriəl/

concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

meantverbUS /ment/

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/

any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

objectnounUS /ˈɑːbdʒekt/

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

PARACHUTEnounUS /ˈperəʃuːt/

rescue equipment consisting of a device that fills with air and retards your fall

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

partsnounUS /pɑːrts/

the local environment

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

passagenounUS /ˈpæsədʒ/

the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

PerknounUS /pɜːrk/

an incidental benefit awarded for certain types of employment (especially if it is regarded as a right)

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

pilotverbUS /ˈpaɪlət/

operate an airplane

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

Ryan

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

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

soundnounUS /saʊnd/

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

spiralingadjectiveUS /ˈspaɪrəlɪŋ/

in the shape of a coil

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

stationaryadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪʃəneri/

standing still

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

strikeverbUS /straɪk/

deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

suggestivelyadverb

in a suggestive manner

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

swungverbUS /swʌŋ/

inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

terribleadjectiveUS /ˈterəbəl/

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading With the abrupt change in their course he was in time to catch a glimpse of the flaming object still spiraling earthwards, a billow of fire that glowed suggestively in the darkness.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading PARACHUTE JUMPERS Just then Jack hurriedly banked, and swung around as though to double back on their late course.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

tragedynounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/

an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

whippedverbUS /wɪpt/

inflected form of “whip” — beat severely with a whip or rod

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

windnounUS /waɪnd/

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading Then far below it seemed to strike the ground—they heard no sound whatever, but the fire became stationary; although increasing in fury, since the wind created by its passage no longer whipped the devouring flames.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading This of course told Perk the pilot must be already aware of the terrible tragedy that was being enacted close at hand, and meant to see its finish with his own eyes.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Evidently by the time the conflagration stopped for want of further material on which to feed, nothing inflammable would be left of the once haughty little Ryan masterpiece save the engine, and other metal parts.

Chapter 6 of The Sky Detectives by Ambrose Newcomb holds 70 sentences, grouped into 14 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 6 of The Sky Detectives contain?

Chapter 6 holds 70 sentences of The Sky Detectives, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of The Sky Detectives by Ambrose Newcomb exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 70 sentences, grouped into 14 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 6 of The Sky Detectives?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 6 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 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 Sky Detectives

Common questions about reading The Sky Detectives by Ambrose Newcomb on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Sky Detectives?

Yes. All 1516 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #45776 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Sky Detectives is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #45776, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Sky Detectives take to read?

About 126 minutes of reading across 304 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Sky Detectives section by section

How to work through The Sky Detectives section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 30 chapters of The Sky Detectives 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 Sky Detectives

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Sky Detectives, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Ralston
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Sky Detectives; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Sky Detectives; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Eagles
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Sky Detectives; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Goldsmith
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Sky Detectives; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.