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The Twin Ventriloquists
The Twin Ventriloquists

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The Twin Ventriloquists is here in full — 209 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Twin Ventriloquists
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.
Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:
"Say, young fellow, who are you?"
"I asked first."
"Did you?"
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Twin Ventriloquists

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The Twin Ventriloquists is here in full — 209 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.
Line 2
Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:
/aɪk dɪd nɑːt kənˈkluːd tuː rɪˈviːl hɪz aɪˈdentɪtiː æt wʌns ənd met ðə ˈkwestʃən wɪð ə ˈsɪmələr wʌn/
Line 3
"Say, young fellow, who are you?"
/seɪ jʌŋ ˈfeloʊ huː ɑːr juː/
Line 4
"I asked first."
/aɪ æskt fɜːrst/
Line 5
"Did you?"
/dɪd juː/

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.

commence verb US /kəˈmens/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading “A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.”

conclude verb US /kənˈkluːd/

decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion

From this reading “Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:”

identity noun US /aɪˈdentɪtiː/

the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity

From this reading “Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:”

Ike noun US /aɪk/

United States general who supervised the invasion of Normandy and the defeat of Nazi Germany; 34th President of the United States (1890-1961)

From this reading “Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:”

mutual adjective US /ˈmjuːtʃuːəl/

common to or shared by two or more parties

From this reading “A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.”

pranks noun US /præŋks/

plural of “prank” — acting like a clown or buffoon

From this reading “A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.”

recognition noun US /ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃən/

the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged

From this reading “A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.”

reveal verb US /rɪˈviːl/

make visible

From this reading “Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:”

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.

young fellow adjective + noun

In this reading “"Say, young fellow, who are you?"”

AT ONCE preposition + adverb

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

In this reading “A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.”

BETWEEN TWO preposition + noun

In this reading “A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.”

All words in this reading · 40

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 A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Say, young fellow, who are you?"

askedverbUS /æskt/

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

From this reading "I asked first."

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

BETWEENprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

COMMENCEverbUS /kəˈmens/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

concludeverbUS /kənˈkluːd/

decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

EXTRAORDINARYadjectiveUS /ˌekstrəˈɔːrdəneri/

beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

fellownounUS /ˈfeloʊ/

a boy or man

From this reading "Say, young fellow, who are you?"

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading "I asked first."

FOLLOWSverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊz/

third-person singular of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I asked first."

identitynounUS /aɪˈdentɪtiː/

the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

IkenounUS /aɪk/

United States general who supervised the invasion of Normandy and the defeat of Nazi Germany; 34th President of the United States (1890-1961)

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

metverbUS /met/

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

MUTUALadjectiveUS /ˈmjuːtʃuːəl/

common to or shared by two or more parties

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

ONCEadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

PRANKSnounUS /præŋks/

plural of “prank” — acting like a clown or buffoon

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

RECOGNITIONnounUS /ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃən/

the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

revealverbUS /rɪˈviːl/

make visible

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

SayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading "Say, young fellow, who are you?"

similaradjectiveUS /ˈsɪmələr/

marked by correspondence or resemblance

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

THEIRdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

THEYpronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

TOGETHERadverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

TWOnounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

VENTRILOQUISTS

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

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "Say, young fellow, who are you?"

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Ike did not conclude to reveal his identity at once, and met the question with a similar one:

WONDERFULadjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərfəl/

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading A MUTUAL RECOGNITION FOLLOWS BETWEEN TWO WONDERFUL VENTRILOQUISTS AND AT ONCE THEY COMMENCE TOGETHER THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PRANKS.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Say, young fellow, who are you?"

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading "Say, young fellow, who are you?"

Chapter 2 of The Twin Ventriloquists by Old Sleuth holds 209 sentences, grouped into 42 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 2 of The Twin Ventriloquists contain?

Chapter 2 holds 209 sentences of The Twin Ventriloquists, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Twin Ventriloquists by Old Sleuth exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 209 sentences, grouped into 42 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 2 of The Twin Ventriloquists?

Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 42 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Twin Ventriloquists

Common questions about reading The Twin Ventriloquists by Old Sleuth on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Twin Ventriloquists?

Yes. All 2189 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #43765 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Twin Ventriloquists is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #43765, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Twin Ventriloquists take to read?

About 182 minutes of reading across 438 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Twin Ventriloquists section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 9 chapters of The Twin Ventriloquists 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 Twin Ventriloquists

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

Nimble
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Twin Ventriloquists; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Encounters
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Twin Ventriloquists; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Extraordinary
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Twin Ventriloquists; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Adventure
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Twin Ventriloquists; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.