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Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice
Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice is here in full — 100 sentences across 20 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.
For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.
"Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.
"I do," answered his son.
"That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave him the map; was it?"
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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.

Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice is here in full — 100 sentences across 20 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.
/ɡreɪv səˈspɪʃənz tɑːmz əˈnaʊnsmənt tʊk ðem ɔːl baɪ sərˈpraɪz/
Line 2
For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.
/fɔːr ə ˈmoʊmənt noʊ wʌn nuː wʌt tuː seɪ waɪl ðə jʌŋ ˌɪnˈventər lʊkt mɔːr ˈkloʊsli æt ðə ˈpɑːrtʃ.mənt mæp/
Line 3
"Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.
/duː juː ˈrɪli θɪŋk hiː hæz derd tuː meɪk ə ˈkɑːpi ʌv ɪt æskt ˈmɪstər swɪft/
Line 4
"I do," answered his son.
/aɪ duː ˈænsərd hɪz sʌn/
Line 5
"That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave him the map; was it?"

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.

announcement noun US /əˈnaʊnsmənt/

a formal public statement

From this reading “GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.”

copy noun US /ˈkɑːpi/

a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)

From this reading “"Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.”

ink noun US /ɪŋk/

a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing

From this reading “"That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave him the map; was it?"”

inventor noun US /ˌɪnˈventər/

someone who is the first to think of or make something

From this reading “For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.”

map verb US /mæp/

make a map of; show or establish the features of details of

From this reading “For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.”

parchment noun US /ˈpɑːrtʃ.mənt/

A stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal, used for writing.

From this reading “For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.”

suspicions noun US /səˈspɪʃənz/

plural of “suspicion” — an impression that something might be the case

From this reading “GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.”

Tom's noun US /tɑːmz/

possessive form of “tom” — male cat

From this reading “GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.”

All words in this reading · 56

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 For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

Abe

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

From this reading "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave him the map; was it?"

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 GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.

announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/

a formal public statement

From this reading GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.

answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading "I do," answered his son.

askedverbUS /æskt/

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

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.

closelyadverbUS /ˈkloʊsli/

in a close relation or position in time or space

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

copynounUS /ˈkɑːpi/

a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

daredverbUS /derd/

past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave him the map; was it?"

GRAVEnounUS /ɡreɪv/

death of a person

From this reading GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave him the map; was it?"

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "I do," answered his son.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I do," answered his son.

inknounUS /ɪŋk/

a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing

From this reading "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave him the map; was it?"

inventornounUS /ˌɪnˈventər/

someone who is the first to think of or make something

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

mapverbUS /mæp/

make a map of; show or establish the features of details of

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

parchmentnounUS /ˈpɑːrtʃ.mənt/

A stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal, used for writing.

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading "I do," answered his son.

spotnounUS /spɑːt/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave him the map; was it?"

surprisenounUS /sərˈpraɪz/

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.

SUSPICIONSnounUS /səˈspɪʃənz/

plural of “suspicion” — an impression that something might be the case

From this reading GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.

SwiftadjectiveUS /swɪft/

moving very fast

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave him the map; was it?"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave him the map; was it?"

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

Tom'snounUS /tɑːmz/

possessive form of “tom” — male cat

From this reading GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading GRAVE SUSPICIONS Tom's announcement took them all by surprise.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave him the map; was it?"

wasn't

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

From this reading "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave him the map; was it?"

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave him the map; was it?"

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. Swift.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

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

From this reading For a moment no one knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at the parchment map.

Chapter 4 of Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice by Victor Appleton holds 100 sentences, grouped into 20 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 4 of Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice contain?

Chapter 4 holds 100 sentences of Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice, unabridged, divided into 20 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice by Victor Appleton exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 100 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 4 of Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice?

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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 in the Caves of Ice

Common questions about reading Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice by Victor Appleton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice?

Yes. All 2826 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3734 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3734, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice take to read?

About 235 minutes of reading across 566 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice section by section

How to work through Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 in the Caves of Ice

Words and structures a reader meets early in Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Going
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Valley
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Remarked
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Newton
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.