Tom Slade with the Colors

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Tom Slade with the Colors is here in full — 98 sentences across 20 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Percy Keese Fitzhugh • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Tom Slade with the Colors

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

THE MAIN TRAIL But a trail is a funny thing.

It is full of surprises and hard to follow.

For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out.

There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.

Yet you must determine this somehow, for the one may lead you to food and shelter, to triumph and honor perhaps; while the other, which may be ever so clear and inviting, will lead you into bog and mire; so you have to be careful.

Narrator

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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.

Chapter V Reading 1/19

Tom Slade with the Colors Percy Keese Fitzhugh

Chapter V

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Tom Slade with the Colors is here in full — 98 sentences across 20 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

THE MAIN TRAIL But a trail is a funny thing. It is full of surprises and hard to follow. For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out. There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch. Yet you must determine this somehow, for the one may lead you to food and shelter, to triumph and honor perhaps; while the other, which may be ever so clear and inviting, will lead you into bog and mire; so you have to be careful.

Tom Slade with the Colors

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of Tom Slade with the Colors is here in full — 98 sentences across 20 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

THE MAIN TRAIL But a trail is a funny thing.

/ðə meɪn treɪl bʌt ə treɪl ɪz ə ˈfʌni θɪŋ/

Line 2

It is full of surprises and hard to follow.

/ɪt ɪz fʊl ʌv sərˈpraɪzɪz ənd hɑːrd tuː ˈfɑːloʊ/

Line 3

For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out.

/fɔːr wʌn θɪŋ juː kæn ˈnevər tel dʒʌst wer ɪt ɪz ˈɡoʊɪŋ tuː brɪŋ juː aʊt/

Line 4

There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.

/ðer ɪz ðə meɪn treɪl ənd ðer ɑːr bræntʃ treɪlz ənd ɪt ɪz ˈɔːfən ˈpʌzəlɪŋ tuː dəˈtɜːrmən wɪtʃ ɪz ðə meɪn treɪl ənd wɪtʃ ðə bræntʃ/

Line 5

/jet juː mʌst dəˈtɜːrmən ðɪs ˈsʌmhaʊ fɔːr ðə wʌn meɪ led juː tuː fuːd ənd ˈʃeltər tuː ˈtraɪəmf ənd ˈɑːnər pərˈhæps waɪl ðə ˈʌðər wɪtʃ meɪ biː ˈevər soʊ klɪr ənd ˌɪnˈvaɪtɪŋ wɪl led juː ˈɪntuː bɑːɡ ənd maɪr soʊ juː hæv tuː biː ˈkerfəl/

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.

bog verb US /bɑːɡ/

cause to slow down or get stuck

From this reading “Yet you must determine this somehow, for the one may lead you to food and shelter, to triumph and honor perhaps; while the other, which may be ever so clear and inviting, will lead you into bog and mire; so you have to be careful.”

branch noun US /bræntʃ/

a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading “There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.”

determine verb US /dəˈtɜːrmən/

establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study

From this reading “There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.”

inviting adjective US /ˌɪnˈvaɪtɪŋ/

attractive and tempting

mire noun US /maɪr/

a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot

puzzling adjective US /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/

not clear to the understanding

From this reading “There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.”

surprises noun US /sərˈpraɪzɪz/

plural of “surprise” — the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading “It is full of surprises and hard to follow.”

trails noun US /treɪlz/

plural of “trail” — a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading “There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.”

All words in this reading · 59

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 THE MAIN TRAIL But a trail is a funny thing.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It is full of surprises and hard to follow.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Yet you must determine this somehow, for the one may lead you to food and shelter, to triumph and honor perhaps; while the other, which may be ever so clear and inviting, will lead you into bog and mire; so you have to be careful.

bogverbUS /bɑːɡ/

cause to slow down or get stuck

branchnounUS /bræntʃ/

a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.

bringverbUS /brɪŋ/

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading THE MAIN TRAIL But a trail is a funny thing.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out.

carefuladjectiveUS /ˈkerfəl/

exercising caution or showing care or attention

clearverbUS /klɪr/

rid of obstructions

determineverbUS /dəˈtɜːrmən/

establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study

From this reading There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

followverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊ/

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading It is full of surprises and hard to follow.

foodnounUS /fuːd/

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading It is full of surprises and hard to follow.

funnyadjectiveUS /ˈfʌni/

arousing or provoking laughter

From this reading THE MAIN TRAIL But a trail is a funny thing.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out.

hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading It is full of surprises and hard to follow.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

honornounUS /ˈɑːnər/

a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

invitingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪtɪŋ/

attractive and tempting

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading THE MAIN TRAIL But a trail is a funny thing.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is full of surprises and hard to follow.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out.

leadverbUS /led/

take somebody somewhere

MAINadjectiveUS /meɪn/

most important element

From this reading THE MAIN TRAIL But a trail is a funny thing.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

mirenounUS /maɪr/

a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It is full of surprises and hard to follow.

oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out.

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/

not clear to the understanding

From this reading There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.

shelternounUS /ˈʃeltər/

a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

somehowadverbUS /ˈsʌmhaʊ/

in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means

surprisesnounUS /sərˈpraɪzɪz/

plural of “surprise” — the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading It is full of surprises and hard to follow.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE MAIN TRAIL But a trail is a funny thing.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading THE MAIN TRAIL But a trail is a funny thing.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It is full of surprises and hard to follow.

TRAILnounUS /treɪl/

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading THE MAIN TRAIL But a trail is a funny thing.

trailsnounUS /treɪlz/

plural of “trail” — a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.

triumphnounUS /ˈtraɪəmf/

a successful ending of a struggle or contest

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading There is the main trail and there are branch trails, and it is often puzzling to determine which is the main trail and which the branch.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading For one thing, you can never tell just where it is going to bring you out.

Chapter 5 of Tom Slade with the Colors by Percy Keese Fitzhugh holds 98 sentences, grouped into 20 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 5 of Tom Slade with the Colors contain?

Chapter 5 holds 98 sentences of Tom Slade with the Colors, unabridged, divided into 20 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Tom Slade with the Colors by Percy Keese Fitzhugh exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 98 sentences, grouped into 20 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 5 of Tom Slade with the Colors?

Work through the 20 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 20 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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.

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Common questions about reading Tom Slade with the Colors by Percy Keese Fitzhugh on this page, its source edition and its audio.

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Yes. All 2557 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #20986 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #20986, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 213 minutes of reading across 512 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Tom Slade with the Colors

Words and structures a reader meets early in Tom Slade with the Colors, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Slade: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom Slade with the Colors; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hoisted: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom Slade with the Colors; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
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Tightened: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom Slade with the Colors; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter V · Chapter 5

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