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Center Rush Rowland
Center Rush Rowland

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for Center Rush Rowland
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.
Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.
And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.
Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.
"But I couldn't make a speech to save my life," declared Ira.
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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.

Center Rush Rowland

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.
Line 2
Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.
Line 3
And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.
Line 4
Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.
Line 5
"But I couldn't make a speech to save my life," declared Ira.

Learner Dictionary

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

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"But I couldn't make a speech to save my life," declared Ira.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"But I couldn't make a speech to save my life," declared Ira.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.”

Save preposition US /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading “"But I couldn't make a speech to save my life," declared Ira.”

Saved noun US /saved/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.”

Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

all

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

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

almost

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

back

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

became

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

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

bit

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

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

charge

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

class

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

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

confused

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

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

congratulated

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

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

couldn't

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

From this reading "But I couldn't make a speech to save my life," declared Ira.

day

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

Debating

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

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

declared

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

From this reading "But I couldn't make a speech to save my life," declared Ira.

earnestly

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

escaped

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

eventually

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

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

face

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

Fred

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

Gene

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

glasses

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

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

gratitude

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "But I couldn't make a speech to save my life," declared Ira.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

IRA

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

join

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

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

Later

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

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "But I couldn't make a speech to save my life," declared Ira.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

Lowell

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

Lyons

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "But I couldn't make a speech to save my life," declared Ira.

Manager

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

meeting

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "But I couldn't make a speech to save my life," declared Ira.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

night

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

nose

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

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

occasions

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

Parkinson

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

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

PLANS

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

presidents

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

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

recitations

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

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

repeatedly

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading "But I couldn't make a speech to save my life," declared Ira.

savednounUS /saved/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

separate

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

shook

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

slapped

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

Society

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

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

speech

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

From this reading "But I couldn't make a speech to save my life," declared Ira.

steps

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

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

tearful

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

three

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading IRA PLANS Ira escaped that night from the gratitude of those in charge of the meeting, but he had to face it next day.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And at least three of the class presidents if not all of them--Ira became a bit confused eventually--congratulated him and told him he had saved the meeting.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

waylaid

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

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Fred Lyons was almost tearful and Gene slapped him on the back repeatedly and Manager Lowell shook hands with him earnestly on three separate occasions.

youth

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

From this reading Later, between recitations, he was waylaid on the steps of Parkinson by a youth with glasses and a long, thin nose and asked to join the Debating Society.