Under Boy Scout Colors

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Under Boy Scout Colors is here in full — 93 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Joseph Bushnell Ames • Curated US English Learning Edition

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THE ACCIDENT It was on Thursday morning that Mr. Curtis sent for Dale, and in spite of his suspicions the boy brightened a little as he entered the scoutmaster's study and noticed the smile on the latter's face.

"Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

The boy pricked up his ears doubtfully.

"What is it, sir?" he asked quickly.

"Bird-houses.

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Chapter XX Reading 1/18

Under Boy Scout Colors

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Under Boy Scout Colors is here in full — 93 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1

Line 2

"Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

Line 3

The boy pricked up his ears doubtfully.

Line 4

"What is it, sir?" he asked quickly.

/wʌt ɪz ɪt sɜːr hiː æskt ˈkwɪkli/

Line 5

"Bird-houses.

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.

brightened verb US /ˈbraɪtənd/

past form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color

From this reading “THE ACCIDENT It was on Thursday morning that Mr. Curtis sent for Dale, and in spite of his suspicions the boy brightened a little as he entered the scoutmaster's study and noticed the smile on the latter's face.”

Curtis noun US /ˈkɜːrtəs/

English botanical writer and publisher (1746-1799)

Dale noun US /deɪl/

an open river valley (in a hilly area)

latter's noun US /ˈlætərz/

possessive form of “latter” — the second of two or the second mentioned of two

pricked verb US /prɪkt/

past form of “prick” — make a small hole into, as with a needle or a thorn

From this reading “The boy pricked up his ears doubtfully.”

puzzling adjective US /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/

not clear to the understanding

From this reading “"Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."”

suspicions noun US /səˈspɪʃənz/

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

Thursday noun US /ˈθɜːrzdeɪ/

the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

pricked up verb + adjective counted as “prick up”

raise

In this reading “The boy pricked up his ears doubtfully.”

in spite preposition + noun

In this reading “THE ACCIDENT It was on Thursday morning that Mr. Curtis sent for Dale, and in spite of his suspicions the boy brightened a little as he entered the scoutmaster's study and noticed the smile on the latter's face.”

asked quickly verb + particle counted as “ask quickly”

In this reading “"What is it, sir?" he asked quickly.”

smile on verb + particle

All words in this reading · 62

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 ACCIDENT It was on Thursday morning that Mr. Curtis sent for Dale, and in spite of his suspicions the boy brightened a little as he entered the scoutmaster's study and noticed the smile on the latter's face.

ACCIDENTnounUS /ˈæksədənt/

an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

answerverbUS /ˈænsər/

react verbally

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

askedverbUS /æskt/

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

From this reading "What is it, sir?" he asked quickly.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

Bird-houses

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

From this reading "Bird-houses.

boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

brainsnounUS /breɪnz/

plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

brightenedverbUS /ˈbraɪtənd/

past form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color

cheerilyadverb

in a cheerful manner

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

CurtisnounUS /ˈkɜːrtəs/

English botanical writer and publisher (1746-1799)

DalenounUS /deɪl/

an open river valley (in a hilly area)

doubtfullyadverb

in a doubtful manner

From this reading The boy pricked up his ears doubtfully.

earsnounUS /ɪrz/

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading The boy pricked up his ears doubtfully.

enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

fairlyadverbUS /ˈferli/

to certain extent or degree

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

I've

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

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "What is it, sir?" he asked quickly.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

latter'snounUS /ˈlætərz/

possessive form of “latter” — the second of two or the second mentioned of two

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

noticedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəst/

being perceived or observed

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

prickedverbUS /prɪkt/

past form of “prick” — make a small hole into, as with a needle or a thorn

From this reading The boy pricked up his ears doubtfully.

problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/

not clear to the understanding

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

quicklyadverbUS /ˈkwɪkli/

with speed

From this reading "What is it, sir?" he asked quickly.

scoutmaster's

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

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

sirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading "What is it, sir?" he asked quickly.

smileverbUS /smaɪl/

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

spitenounUS /spaɪt/

feeling a need to see others suffer

studynounUS /ˈstʌdi/

a detailed critical inspection

suspicionsnounUS /səˈspɪʃənz/

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

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

thrustverbUS /θrʌst/

push forcefully

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

ThursdaynounUS /ˈθɜːrzdeɪ/

the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading The boy pricked up his ears doubtfully.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

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 "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What is it, sir?" he asked quickly.

yesterdaynounUS /ˈjestərdeɪ/

the day immediately before today

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

yourspronounUS /jʊrz/

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading "Well, Dale," began Mr. Curtis, cheerily, "I've been puzzling my brains over that problem of yours ever since Monday night, and yesterday the answer was fairly thrust on me."

Chapter 20 of Under Boy Scout Colors by Joseph Bushnell Ames holds 93 sentences, grouped into 19 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 20 of Under Boy Scout Colors contain?

Chapter 20 holds 93 sentences of Under Boy Scout Colors, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of Under Boy Scout Colors by Joseph Bushnell Ames exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 93 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 20 of Under Boy Scout Colors?

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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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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Yes. All 3655 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32173 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #32173, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 304 minutes of reading across 731 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Under Boy Scout Colors

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Chapter XX · Chapter 20

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