Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Wonder Island Boys
The Wonder Island Boys

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Wonder Island Boys is here in full — 174 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Wonder Island Boys
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.
This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.
All these enterprises were now being operated by the natives.
The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.
It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.
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 Wonder Island Boys

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Wonder Island Boys is here in full — 174 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.
/ə mɪˈstɪriəs ˈmesədʒ ðə taʊn ʌv ˈjuːnəti wɑːz ˈloʊkeɪtəd əˈbaʊt ten maɪlz frʌm ðə siː ɑːn ə ˈlɪtəl striːm wɪtʃ hæd ə ˈwɔːtərfɔːl frʌm wɪtʃ ðeɪ dərˈaɪvd ðə ˈpaʊər fɔːr ˈtɜːrnɪŋ ðə məˈʃiːnəri wɪtʃ hæd bɪn pʊt ʌp/
Line 2
This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.
/ðɪs kənˈsɪstəd ʌv ə sɔː mɪl ə smɔːl ˈfaʊndri ə məˈʃiːn ʃɑːp æz wel æz ɡrɪst mɪl ənd ˈʌðər ˈmekənɪzəm ˈsuːtəbəl fɔːr ə taʊn/
Line 3
All these enterprises were now being operated by the natives.
/ɔːl ðiːz ˈentərpraɪzɪz wɜːr naʊ ˈbiːɪŋ ˈɑːpəreɪtəd baɪ ðə ˈneɪtɪvz/
Line 4
The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.
Line 5
It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

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.

cocoa noun US /ˈkoʊkoʊ/

a beverage made from cocoa powder and milk and sugar; usually drunk hot

From this reading “It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.”

fibres noun US /ˈfaɪbərz/

plural of “fibre” — a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn

From this reading “It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.”

foundry noun US /ˈfaʊndri/

factory where metal castings are produced

From this reading “This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.”

grist noun US /ɡrɪst/

grain intended to be or that has been ground

From this reading “This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.”

Investigator noun US /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪtər/

a scientist who devotes himself to doing research

monsoon noun US /mɑːnˈsuːn/

a seasonal wind in southern Asia; blows from the southwest (bringing rain) in summer and from the northeast in winter

From this reading “The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.”

operated verb US /ˈɑːpəreɪtəd/

past form of “operate” — direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.

From this reading “All these enterprises were now being operated by the natives.”

profitably adverb US /ˈprɑːfətəbli/

in a productive way

From this reading “It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.”

All words in this reading · 106

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 MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

advantagenounUS /ædˈvæntɪdʒ/

the quality of having a superior or more favorable position

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

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 All these enterprises were now being operated by the natives.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading All these enterprises were now being operated by the natives.

Blakely

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

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

Blakely's

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

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/

the lower side of anything

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading All these enterprises were now being operated by the natives.

cocoanounUS /ˈkoʊkoʊ/

a beverage made from cocoa powder and milk and sugar; usually drunk hot

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

coffeenounUS /ˈkɑːfi/

a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

commercialadjectiveUS /kəˈmɜːrʃəl/

connected with or engaged in or sponsored by or used in commerce or commercial enterprises

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/

the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

consistedverbUS /kənˈsɪstəd/

past form of “consist” — originate

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

cropsnounUS /krɑːps/

plural of “crop” — the yield from plants in a single growing season

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

derivedadjectiveUS /dərˈaɪvd/

formed or developed from something else; not original

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

differentadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfərənt/

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

enterprisesnounUS /ˈentərpraɪzɪz/

plural of “enterprise” — a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

From this reading All these enterprises were now being operated by the natives.

fibresnounUS /ˈfaɪbərz/

plural of “fibre” — a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

foundrynounUS /ˈfaʊndri/

factory where metal castings are produced

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

Francisco

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

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

geniusnounUS /ˈdʒiːnjəs/

someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

grewverbUS /ɡruː/

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

gristnounUS /ɡrɪst/

grain intended to be or that has been ground

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

grownadjectiveUS /ɡroʊn/

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

InvestigatornounUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪtər/

a scientist who devotes himself to doing research

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

islandnounUS /ˈaɪlənd/

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

leadingadjectiveUS /ˈliːdɪŋ/

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

locatedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkeɪtəd/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

machinenounUS /məˈʃiːn/

any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

machinerynounUS /məˈʃiːnəri/

machines or machine systems collectively

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

mechanismnounUS /ˈmekənɪzəm/

the atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

MESSAGEnounUS /ˈmesədʒ/

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

milesnounUS /maɪlz/

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

millverbUS /mɪl/

move about in a confused manner

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

monsoonnounUS /mɑːnˈsuːn/

a seasonal wind in southern Asia; blows from the southwest (bringing rain) in summer and from the northeast in winter

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

MYSTERIOUSadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/

of an obscure nature

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

nativesnounUS /ˈneɪtɪvz/

plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place

From this reading All these enterprises were now being operated by the natives.

naturallyadverbUS /ˈnætʃərəli/

as might be expected

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

necessaryadjectiveUS /ˈnesəseri/

absolutely essential

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading All these enterprises were now being operated by the natives.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

operatedverbUS /ˈɑːpəreɪtəd/

past form of “operate” — direct or control; projects, businesses, etc.

From this reading All these enterprises were now being operated by the natives.

ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

ownersnounUS /ˈoʊnərz/

plural of “owner” — (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/

possession of controlling influence

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

profitablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːfətəbli/

in a productive way

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

raisingnounUS /ˈreɪzɪŋ/

the event of something being raised upward

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

sailedverbUS /seɪld/

past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

San

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

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

schoolship

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

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

seanounUS /siː/

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

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

shopverbUS /ʃɑːp/

do one's shopping

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

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

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

streamnounUS /striːm/

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

suitableadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtəbəl/

meant or adapted for an occasion or use

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading All these enterprises were now being operated by the natives.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

turningnounUS /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

UnitynounUS /ˈjuːnəti/

an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

vesselnounUS /ˈvesəl/

a tube in which a body fluid circulates

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

waterfallnounUS /ˈwɔːtərfɔːl/

a steep descent of the water of a river

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading This consisted of a saw mill, a small foundry, a machine shop, as well as grist mill and other mechanism suitable for a town.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading All these enterprises were now being operated by the natives.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE The town of Unity was located about ten miles from the sea, on a little stream, which had a waterfall, from which they derived the power for turning the machinery which had been put up.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading It was Blakely's idea that the work of the natives could be profitably turned to raising coffee, cocoa, and the different fibres which naturally grew all over the island, and in order to take advantage of the crops which could be grown there it would be necessary to open communication with the outside world.

wreckedadjectiveUS /rekt/

destroyed in an accident

From this reading The leading commercial genius of the town was Blakely, who was one of the owners of the vessel on which John had sailed from San Francisco, and which was also wrecked by the same monsoon which sent the schoolship _Investigator_ to the bottom.

Chapter 3 of The Wonder Island Boys by Roger T. (Roger Thompson) Finlay holds 174 sentences, grouped into 35 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 3 of The Wonder Island Boys contain?

Chapter 3 holds 174 sentences of The Wonder Island Boys, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Wonder Island Boys by Roger T. (Roger Thompson) Finlay exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 174 sentences, grouped into 35 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 3 of The Wonder Island Boys?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Wonder Island Boys

Common questions about reading The Wonder Island Boys by Roger T. (Roger Thompson) Finlay on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Wonder Island Boys?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Wonder Island Boys is used?

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

How long does The Wonder Island Boys take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Wonder Island Boys section by section

How to work through The Wonder Island Boys section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of The Wonder Island Boys 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 Wonder Island Boys

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Wonder Island Boys, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The Wonder Island Boys, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of The Wonder Island Boys, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The Wonder Island Boys, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.