Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Tom Swift and His War Tank
Tom Swift and His War Tank

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of Tom Swift and His War Tank is here in full — 94 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Tom Swift and His War Tank
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.
Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.
Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.
When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.
"Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."
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.

Tom Swift and His War Tank

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of Tom Swift and His War Tank is here in full — 94 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.
/veɪld θrets laɪk sʌm ˌpriːhɪˈstɔːrɪk ˈmɑːnstər əˈbaʊt tuː tʃɑːrdʒ daʊn əˈpɑːn əˈnʌðər ʌv ɪts kaɪnd tæŋk ə ˈʌndər ðə ˈɡaɪdəns ʌv tɑːm swɪft riːld ənd bʌmpt hɜːr weɪ ˈoʊvər ðə əˈniːvən fiːldz təˈwɔːrd ðə oʊld bɑːrn/
Line 2
Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.
Line 3
Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.
/ˈevəri ˈɔːrdər hæd tuː biː ˈɡɪvən baɪ saɪnz ənd tɑːm sent hɪz ɪˈlektrɪk ˈsɪɡnəlz frʌm ðə ˈkɑːnɪŋ ˈtaʊər ɪn ðə seɪm weɪ/
Line 4
When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.
/wen ˈrʌnɪŋ æt fʊl spiːd ɪt wɑːz ˈɔːlmoʊst ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl ˈiːvɪn ɪn ðə ˈtaʊər wɪtʃ wɑːz sʌm ˈdɪstəns riˈmuːvd frʌm ðə ˈendʒən ruːm tuː hiːr ˈvɔɪsəz ənˈles ðə wɜːrdz wɜːr ˈʃaʊtɪd/
Line 5
"Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."

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.

bumped verb US /bʌmpt/

past form of “bump” — knock against with force or violence

From this reading “Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.”

conning verb US /ˈkɑːnɪŋ/

inflected form of “con” — deprive of by deceit

From this reading “Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.”

gears noun US /ɡɪrz/

plural of “gear” — a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion

From this reading “Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.”

motors noun US /ˈmoʊtərz/

plural of “motor” — machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading “Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.”

prehistoric adjective US /ˌpriːhɪˈstɔːrɪk/

belonging to or existing in times before recorded history

From this reading “Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.”

raucous adjective US /ˈrɔːkəs/

unpleasantly loud and harsh

From this reading “Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.”

slot noun US /slɑːt/

a position in a grammatical linguistic construction in which a variety of alternative units are interchangeable

From this reading “"Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."”

uneven adjective US /əˈniːvən/

not even or uniform as e.g. in shape or texture

From this reading “Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.”

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 Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

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 Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

barnnounUS /bɑːrn/

an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

bumpedverbUS /bʌmpt/

past form of “bump” — knock against with force or violence

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

chargeverbUS /tʃɑːrdʒ/

to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

clangnounUS /klæŋ/

a loud resonant repeating noise

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

clatternounUS /ˈklætər/

a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

conningverbUS /ˈkɑːnɪŋ/

inflected form of “con” — deprive of by deceit

From this reading Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

criedverbUS /kraɪd/

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."

distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

don't

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

From this reading "Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/

using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity

From this reading Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

enginenounUS /ˈendʒən/

motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

fieldsnounUS /fiːldz/

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading "Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

gasolenenoun

a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

gearsnounUS /ɡɪrz/

plural of “gear” — a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."

guidancenounUS /ˈɡaɪdəns/

something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

hearverbUS /hiːr/

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

ironnounUS /ˈaɪərn/

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

LikeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

monsternounUS /ˈmɑːnstər/

an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

motorsnounUS /ˈmoʊtərz/

plural of “motor” — machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

Ned

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

From this reading "Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."

noisenounUS /nɔɪz/

sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/

plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

observationnounUS /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃən/

the act of making and recording a measurement

From this reading "Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

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 Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/

-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly

From this reading "Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."

powerfuladjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərfəl/

having great power or force or potency or effect

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

prehistoricadjectiveUS /ˌpriːhɪˈstɔːrɪk/

belonging to or existing in times before recorded history

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

properadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːpər/

marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/

make short successive sounds

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

raucousadjectiveUS /ˈrɔːkəs/

unpleasantly loud and harsh

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

reeledverbUS /riːld/

past form of “reel” — walk as if unable to control one's movements

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

removedadjectiveUS /riˈmuːvd/

separated in relationship by a given degree of descent

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

runningadjectiveUS /ˈrʌnɪŋ/

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

shoutedadjectiveUS /ˈʃaʊtɪd/

in a vehement outcry

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

signalsnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəlz/

plural of “signal” — any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

From this reading Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

signsnounUS /saɪnz/

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

slotnounUS /slɑːt/

a position in a grammatical linguistic construction in which a variety of alternative units are interchangeable

From this reading "Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

speedverbUS /spiːd/

move hurridly

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

steelnounUS /stiːl/

an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

SwiftadjectiveUS /swɪft/

moving very fast

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

TanknounUS /tæŋk/

an enclosed armored military vehicle; has a cannon and moves on caterpillar treads

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

ThreatsnounUS /θrets/

plural of “threat” — something that is a source of danger

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading "Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

TomnounUS /tɑːm/

male cat

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

towernounUS /ˈtaʊər/

a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building

From this reading Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in the same way.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

unevenadjectiveUS /əˈniːvən/

not even or uniform as e.g. in shape or texture

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

VeiledadjectiveUS /veɪld/

having or as if having a veil or concealing cover

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

voicesnounUS /ˈvɔɪsəz/

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Veiled Threats Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields toward the old barn.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/

plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading "Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."

WithinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Within the monster of steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could be heard.

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading When running at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the words were shouted.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering through the observation slot in the tower."

Chapter 17 of Tom Swift and His War Tank by Victor Appleton holds 94 sentences, grouped into 19 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 17 of Tom Swift and His War Tank contain?

Chapter 17 holds 94 sentences of Tom Swift and His War Tank, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of Tom Swift and His War Tank by Victor Appleton exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 94 sentences, grouped into 19 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 17 of Tom Swift and His War Tank?

Work through the 19 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 19 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 Tom Swift and His War Tank

Common questions about reading Tom Swift and His War Tank by Victor Appleton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Tom Swift and His War Tank?

Yes. All 3128 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #954 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Tom Swift and His War Tank is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #954, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Tom Swift and His War Tank take to read?

About 260 minutes of reading across 626 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Tom Swift and His War Tank section by section

How to work through Tom Swift and His War Tank section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of Tom Swift and His War Tank 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 Tom Swift and His War Tank

Words and structures a reader meets early in Tom Swift and His War Tank, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Ceasing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom Swift and His War Tank; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Restless
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom Swift and His War Tank; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Swift
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom Swift and His War Tank; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Strode
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom Swift and His War Tank; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.