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The Strange Adventures of a Pebble
The Strange Adventures of a Pebble

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble is here in full — 161 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Hallam Hawksworth • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Strange Adventures of a Pebble
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
(JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.
They tumbled about like rain.
--_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.
In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.
But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?
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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 Strange Adventures of a Pebble

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble is here in full — 161 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
(JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.
Line 2
They tumbled about like rain.
/ðeɪ ˈtʌmbəld əˈbaʊt laɪk reɪn/
Line 3
--_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.
Line 4
In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.
Line 5
But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

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.

Ballad noun US /ˈbæləd/

a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

From this reading “--_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
boulders noun US /ˈboʊldərz/

plural of “boulder” — a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin

From this reading “--_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
giants noun US /ˈdʒaɪənts/

plural of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size

From this reading “(JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lumps noun US /lʌmps/

plural of “lump” — a compact mass

From this reading “(JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Milton noun US /ˈmɪltən/

English poet; remembered primarily as the author of an epic poem describing humanity's fall from grace (1608-1674)

From this reading “(JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
prairies noun US /ˈpreɪriz/

plural of “prairie” — a treeless grassy plain

From this reading “But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pudding noun US /ˈpʊdɪŋ/

any of various soft thick unsweetened baked dishes

From this reading “(JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
vacation noun US /veɪˈkeɪʃən/

leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading “--_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.”

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.

summer vacation noun + noun

In this reading “--_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.”

557 times in 426,211 chapters
during the summer preposition + article + noun counted as “during … summer”

In this reading “--_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.”

2,244 times in 426,211 chapters
Great lumps adjective + noun counted as “great lump”

In this reading “(JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.”

525 times in 426,211 chapters
on the prairies preposition + article + noun counted as “on … prairie”

In this reading “But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?”

1,931 times in 426,211 chapters
tumbled about verb + particle counted as “tumble about”

In this reading “They tumbled about like rain.”

591 times in 426,211 chapters
rock walls noun + noun counted as “rock wall”

In this reading “In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.”

608 times in 426,211 chapters
got out verb + adjective counted as “get out”

move out of or depart from

In this reading “But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?”

59,859 times in 426,211 chapters
too Great adverb + adjective

In this reading “(JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.”

10,205 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 75

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.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading They tumbled about like rain.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BalladnounUS /ˈbæləd/

a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BouldersnounUS /ˈboʊldərz/

plural of “boulder” — a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/

plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
constantlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnstəntli/

without variation or change, in every case

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Dorchester

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

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

Pending verification
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
evidentlyadverbUS /ˈevədəntli/

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

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FIELDnounUS /fiːld/

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fieldsnounUS /fiːldz/

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flungverbUS /flʌŋ/

inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
footnounUS /fʊt/

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
giantsnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənts/

plural of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
grantedadjectiveUS /ˈɡræntəd/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GreatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
haven't

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

From this reading But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

Pending verification
headlands

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

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

Pending verification
HillsnounUS /hɪlz/

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
how

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

From this reading But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

Pending verification
InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JULYnounUS /ˌdʒuːˈlaɪ/

the month following June and preceding August

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading They tumbled about like rain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lumpsnounUS /lʌmps/

plural of “lump” — a compact mass

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/

the common people generally

From this reading But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MiltonnounUS /ˈmɪltən/

English poet; remembered primarily as the author of an epic poem describing humanity's fall from grace (1608-1674)

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mountainsnounUS /ˈmaʊntənz/

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
prairiesnounUS /ˈpreɪriz/

plural of “prairie” — a treeless grassy plain

From this reading But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
puddingnounUS /ˈpʊdɪŋ/

any of various soft thick unsweetened baked dishes

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rainnounUS /reɪn/

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading They tumbled about like rain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rambles

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

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

Pending verification
rocknounUS /rɑːk/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/

abounding in rocks or stones

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Roxbury

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

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

Pending verification
seanounUS /siː/

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seasonnounUS /ˈsiːzən/

a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STONESnounUS /stoʊnz/

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
threwverbUS /θruː/

inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading (JULY) They flung them over to Roxbury Hills; They flung them over the plain; And all over Milton and Dorchester too Great lumps from the pudding the giants threw.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tumbledverbUS /ˈtʌmbəld/

past form of “tumble” — fall down, as if collapsing

From this reading They tumbled about like rain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
vacationnounUS /veɪˈkeɪʃən/

leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading In the mountains and near rocky headlands or at the foot of the cliffs we take them for granted; they have evidently fallen from the rock walls above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading --_The Ballad of the Boulders._ THE STONES OF THE FIELD In our rambles during the summer vacation season we are constantly coming across boulders; in the mountains, in the fields and by the sea.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wonderedverbUS /ˈwʌndərd/

past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something

From this reading But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading But haven't you often wondered how they got out on the prairies far from any rock masses?

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 8 of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble by Hallam Hawksworth holds 161 sentences, grouped into 33 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 8 of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble contain?

Chapter 8 holds 161 sentences of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble by Hallam Hawksworth exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 161 sentences, grouped into 33 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 8 of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble?

Work through the 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 33 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Strange Adventures of a Pebble

Common questions about reading The Strange Adventures of a Pebble by Hallam Hawksworth on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble?

Yes. All 3113 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #66818 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #66818, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Strange Adventures of a Pebble take to read?

About 259 minutes of reading across 623 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Strange Adventures of a Pebble section by section

How to work through The Strange Adventures of a Pebble section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 13 chapters of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble 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 Strange Adventures of a Pebble

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Strange Adventures of a Pebble, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Purpose
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Little
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Present
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chief
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Strange Adventures of a Pebble; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.