The source of the Blue Nile

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of The source of the Blue Nile is here in full — 183 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Arthur J. Hayes • Curated US English Learning Edition

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Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

I saw no water-weed upon the surface.

The lake lies at an altitude of 1942 metres (6372 feet) above the sea-level.

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

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/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter VI Reading 1/36

The source of the Blue Nile

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of The source of the Blue Nile is here in full — 183 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

Line 2

The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

Line 3

At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

Line 4

I saw no water-weed upon the surface.

Line 5

The lake lies at an altitude of 1942 metres (6372 feet) above the sea-level.

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.

altitude noun US /ˈæltətuːd/

elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface

From this reading “The lake lies at an altitude of 1942 metres (6372 feet) above the sea-level.”

expanse noun US /ɪkˈspæns/

a wide scope

From this reading “Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.”

incline noun US /ˌɪnˈklaɪn/

an elevated geological formation

From this reading “At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.”

metres noun US /ˈmiːtərz/

plural of “metre” — the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading “The lake lies at an altitude of 1942 metres (6372 feet) above the sea-level.”

perceptible adjective US /pərˈseptəbəl/

capable of being perceived by the mind or senses

From this reading “At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.”

shelving verb US /ˈʃelvɪŋ/

-ing form of “shelve” — hold back to a later time

From this reading “At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.”

stretches noun US /ˈstretʃəz/

plural of “stretch” — a large and unbroken expanse or distance

From this reading “At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.”

swampy adjective US /ˈswɑːmpi/

(of soil) soft and watery

From this reading “At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.”

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.

vast expanse adjective + noun

In this reading “Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.”

scarcely perceptible adverb + adjective

In this reading “At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.”

clear water verb + noun

In this reading “At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.”

blue water adjective + noun

In this reading “Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.”

upon the surface preposition + article + noun counted as “upon … surface”

In this reading “I saw no water-weed upon the surface.”

lay before verb + particle

In this reading “Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.”

stretches of verb + particle counted as “stretch of”

In this reading “At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.”

All words in this reading · 65

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.

1942

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

From this reading The lake lies at an altitude of 1942 metres (6372 feet) above the sea-level.

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

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

6372

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

From this reading The lake lies at an altitude of 1942 metres (6372 feet) above the sea-level.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The lake lies at an altitude of 1942 metres (6372 feet) above the sea-level.

altitudenounUS /ˈæltətuːd/

elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface

From this reading The lake lies at an altitude of 1942 metres (6372 feet) above the sea-level.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The lake lies at an altitude of 1942 metres (6372 feet) above the sea-level.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

banknounUS /bæŋk/

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

blueadjectiveUS /bluː/

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

clearverbUS /klɪr/

rid of obstructions

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

Delgi

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

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

edgenounUS /edʒ/

the boundary of a surface

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/

a wide scope

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading The lake lies at an altitude of 1942 metres (6372 feet) above the sea-level.

grassverbUS /ɡræs/

shoot down, of birds

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

horizonnounUS /hərˈaɪzən/

the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I saw no water-weed upon the surface.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

inclinenounUS /ˌɪnˈklaɪn/

an elevated geological formation

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

LakenounUS /leɪk/

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

layverbUS /leɪ/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

leadsnounUS /liːdz/

plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

liesnounUS /laɪz/

plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth

From this reading The lake lies at an altitude of 1942 metres (6372 feet) above the sea-level.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

metresnounUS /ˈmiːtərz/

plural of “metre” — the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading The lake lies at an altitude of 1942 metres (6372 feet) above the sea-level.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading I saw no water-weed upon the surface.

northnounUS /nɔːrθ/

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

others

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

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

perceptibleadjectiveUS /pərˈseptəbəl/

capable of being perceived by the mind or senses

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

placesnounUS /ˈpleɪsəz/

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

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

pointsnounUS /pɔɪnts/

plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

reed-grown

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

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

sandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading I saw no water-weed upon the surface.

scarcelyadverbUS /ˈskersli/

only a very short time before

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

sea-leveladjective

lying below the normal level

From this reading The lake lies at an altitude of 1942 metres (6372 feet) above the sea-level.

shelvingverbUS /ˈʃelvɪŋ/

-ing form of “shelve” — hold back to a later time

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

shorenounUS /ʃɔːr/

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

stretchesnounUS /ˈstretʃəz/

plural of “stretch” — a large and unbroken expanse or distance

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/

act of expanding by lengthening or widening

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

surfacenounUS /ˈsɜːrfəs/

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading I saw no water-weed upon the surface.

swampyadjectiveUS /ˈswɑːmpi/

(of soil) soft and watery

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

Tsana

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

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading I saw no water-weed upon the surface.

vastadjectiveUS /væst/

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

villagenounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

walknounUS /wɔːk/

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading At some points one can walk to the edge of the clear water, at others the shelving bank leads, by a scarcely perceptible incline, to stretches of reed-grown, swampy ground.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading Lake Tsana lay before me as a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the horizon.

water-weed

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

From this reading I saw no water-weed upon the surface.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The shore here, near the village of Delgi at the north of the lake,[42] is in places sandy, in others covered with grass.

Chapter 6 of The source of the Blue Nile by Arthur J. Hayes holds 183 sentences, grouped into 37 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 source of the Blue Nile contain?

Chapter 6 holds 183 sentences of The source of the Blue Nile, unabridged, divided into 37 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of The source of the Blue Nile by Arthur J. Hayes exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 183 sentences, grouped into 37 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.

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Work through the 37 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 can be played aloud in United States English.

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Words and structures a reader meets early in The source of the Blue Nile, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

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Chapter VI

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