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Broken Barriers
Broken Barriers

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for Broken Barriers
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.
“Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!
We’re all being tested all the time.
The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.
The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.
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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.

Broken Barriers

Chapter IV

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.
Line 2
“Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!
Line 3
We’re all being tested all the time.
Line 4
The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.
Line 5
The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.

Learner Dictionary

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

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading ““Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “We’re all being tested all the time.”

Different noun US /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading “The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading ““Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We’re all being tested all the time.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.”

All words in this reading · 74

Every word is available to listen to. 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 “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

ago

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

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

all

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

From this reading We’re all being tested all the time.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

angel

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

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

back

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading We’re all being tested all the time.

breast

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

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.

chance

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

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

city

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

corn

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

days

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

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

devil

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

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.

easy

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.

everything's

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

fifty

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

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

grows

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

habit

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

From this reading The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.

it's

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

lightly

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

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

like

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

lot

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

man

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

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

minimize

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

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

old

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

From this reading The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.

only

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

From this reading The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.

people

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

perfect

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

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

place

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

From this reading The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.

probably

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

RightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

safe

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

saying

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

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

seriousness

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

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

smiled

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

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

tall

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

tested

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

From this reading We’re all being tested all the time.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

that's

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

From this reading The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We’re all being tested all the time.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

touched

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

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

We're

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

From this reading We’re all being tested all the time.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He touched his breast lightly and smiled to minimize the seriousness of what he was saying.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

world

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

From this reading The world is a different place every morning; but that’s only an old habit the world has.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

years

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

From this reading The man who was an angel fifty years ago would probably be a perfect devil these days if he had half a chance.

yonder

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

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Right around here, where the corn grows tall, you might think--and probably a lot of people back yonder in the city like to think--that everything’s safe and it’s easy to be good!