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Youth Challenges
Youth Challenges

Chapter XXVI

Cover illustration for Youth Challenges
Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.
Orders outran production.
New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.
Lightener was forced to make contracts with other firms for parts of his cars.
From one plant he contracted for bodies, from another for wheels.
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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.

Youth Challenges

Chapter XXVI

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.
Line 2
Orders outran production.
Line 3
New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.
Line 4
Lightener was forced to make contracts with other firms for parts of his cars.
Line 5
From one plant he contracted for bodies, from another for wheels.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Added noun US /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “From one plant he contracted for bodies, from another for wheels.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lightener was forced to make contracts with other firms for parts of his cars.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “From one plant he contracted for bodies, from another for wheels.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.”

All words in this reading · 65

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

abreast

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

addednounUS /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading From one plant he contracted for bodies, from another for wheels.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

bodies

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

From this reading From one plant he contracted for bodies, from another for wheels.

buildings

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

car

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

cars

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

From this reading Lightener was forced to make contracts with other firms for parts of his cars.

completed

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

construction

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

contracted

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

From this reading From one plant he contracted for bodies, from another for wheels.

contracts

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

From this reading Lightener was forced to make contracts with other firms for parts of his cars.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

demand

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

demands

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

eaten

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

equipped

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

factory

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

firms

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

From this reading Lightener was forced to make contracts with other firms for parts of his cars.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

forced

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

From this reading Lightener was forced to make contracts with other firms for parts of his cars.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From one plant he contracted for bodies, from another for wheels.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Lightener was forced to make contracts with other firms for parts of his cars.

huge

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

keeping

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

Lightener

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

From this reading Lightener was forced to make contracts with other firms for parts of his cars.

Lightener's

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lightener was forced to make contracts with other firms for parts of his cars.

Malcolm

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

manufactured

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

meet

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

nearer

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

New

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading From one plant he contracted for bodies, from another for wheels.

Orders

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

From this reading Orders outran production.

other

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

From this reading Lightener was forced to make contracts with other firms for parts of his cars.

outran

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

From this reading Orders outran production.

parts

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

From this reading Lightener was forced to make contracts with other firms for parts of his cars.

plant

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

production

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

From this reading Orders outran production.

public

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

supply

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

up

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Malcolm Lightener's plant, huge as it was, could not meet the demands of the public for the car he manufactured.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.

wheels

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

From this reading From one plant he contracted for bodies, from another for wheels.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading New buildings had been under construction, but before they were completed and equipped their added production was eaten up and the factory was no nearer to keeping supply abreast with demand than it had been in the beginning.