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The Valley of Squinting Windows
The Valley of Squinting Windows

Chapter XXV

Chapter 25 of The Valley of Squinting Windows is here in full — 65 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Valley of Squinting Windows
Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:
"Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?
And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"
"That's quite so, ma'am.
It's a double fact!"
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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 Valley of Squinting Windows

Chapter XXV

Chapter 25 of The Valley of Squinting Windows is here in full — 65 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:
/weˈnevər ə ˈpɜːrsən frʌm ðə ˈvæli went əˈbrɔːd naʊ tuː fer ɔːr ˈmɑːrkət ðə ˈkwestʃən wɑːz ˈɔːlweɪz æskt/
Line 2
"Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?
Line 3
And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"
Line 4
"That's quite so, ma'am.
Line 5
It's a double fact!"

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.

abroad adverb US /əˈbrɔːd/

to or in a foreign country

From this reading “Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:”

double verb US /ˈdʌbəl/

increase twofold

From this reading “It's a double fact!"”

Dublin noun US /ˈdʌblɪn/

capital and largest city and major port of the Irish Republic

From this reading “"Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?”

expelled verb US /ɪkˈspeld/

inflected form of “expel” — force to leave or move out

From this reading “"Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?”

ma'am noun US /mæm/

a woman of refinement

From this reading “"That's quite so, ma'am.”

market noun US /ˈmɑːrkət/

the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold

From this reading “Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:”

Shannon noun US /ˈʃænən/

United States electrical engineer who pioneered mathematical communication theory (1916-2001)

From this reading “"Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?”

University noun US /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəti/

the body of faculty and students at a university

From this reading “"Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?”

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.

expelled from verb + particle counted as “expel from”

In this reading “"Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?”

went abroad verb + particle counted as “go abroad”

In this reading “Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:”

at home preposition + noun

a reception held in your own home

In this reading “"Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?”

spread far verb + particle

In this reading “And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"”

All words in this reading · 50

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 Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

abroadadverbUS /əˈbrɔːd/

to or in a foreign country

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?

askedverbUS /æskt/

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

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?

Brennan

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

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

collegenounUS /ˈkɑːlɪdʒ/

the body of faculty and students of a college

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

doubleverbUS /ˈdʌbəl/

increase twofold

From this reading It's a double fact!"

DublinnounUS /ˈdʌblɪn/

capital and largest city and major port of the Irish Republic

From this reading "Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?

EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

expelledverbUS /ɪkˈspeld/

inflected form of “expel” — force to leave or move out

From this reading "Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?

factnounUS /fækt/

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading "Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?

fairadjectiveUS /fer/

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

grandadjectiveUS /ɡrænd/

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading "Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?

It's

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

From this reading It's a double fact!"

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

ma'amnounUS /mæm/

a woman of refinement

From this reading "That's quite so, ma'am.

marketnounUS /ˈmɑːrkət/

the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading "That's quite so, ma'am.

ShannonnounUS /ˈʃænən/

United States electrical engineer who pioneered mathematical communication theory (1916-2001)

From this reading "Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "That's quite so, ma'am.

spreadverbUS /spred/

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?

That's

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

From this reading "That's quite so, ma'am.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

Ulick

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

From this reading "Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?

UniversitynounUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəti/

the body of faculty and students at a university

From this reading "Is it a fact that Ulick Shannon was expelled from the University in Dublin and is at home?

valleynounUS /ˈvæli/

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

WheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/

at any time that; every time that

From this reading Whenever a person from the valley went abroad now to fair or market the question was always asked:

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading And is it a fact that John Brennan is at home from the college he was at too, the grand college in England whose story his mother spread far and wide?"

Chapter 25 of The Valley of Squinting Windows by Brinsley MacNamara holds 65 sentences, grouped into 13 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 25 of The Valley of Squinting Windows contain?

Chapter 25 holds 65 sentences of The Valley of Squinting Windows, unabridged, divided into 13 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 25 of The Valley of Squinting Windows by Brinsley MacNamara exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 65 sentences, grouped into 13 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 25 of The Valley of Squinting Windows?

Work through the 13 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 13 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 25 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 25 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 Valley of Squinting Windows

Common questions about reading The Valley of Squinting Windows by Brinsley MacNamara on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Valley of Squinting Windows?

Yes. All 4490 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #61102 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Valley of Squinting Windows is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #61102, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Valley of Squinting Windows take to read?

About 374 minutes of reading across 898 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Valley of Squinting Windows section by section

How to work through The Valley of Squinting Windows section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 33 chapters of The Valley of Squinting Windows 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 Valley of Squinting Windows

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Valley of Squinting Windows, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Spake
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Valley of Squinting Windows; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Moses
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Valley of Squinting Windows; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Saying
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Valley of Squinting Windows; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Speak
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Valley of Squinting Windows; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.