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Air Monster
Air Monster

Chapter I

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Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Goldsmith Publishing Company New York Made in U. S. A.
Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.
It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.
Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.
The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.
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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.

Air Monster

Chapter I

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Goldsmith Publishing Company New York Made in U. S. A.
Line 2
Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.
Line 3
It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.
Line 4
Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.
Line 5
The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.”

Council noun US /council/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.”

Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.”

All words in this reading · 84

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 The Goldsmith Publishing Company New York Made in U. S. A.

all

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

bare

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

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

brightly

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

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

business

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

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

capital

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

Company

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

From this reading The Goldsmith Publishing Company New York Made in U. S. A.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

councilnounUS /council/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

creation

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

From this reading The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.

dangerous

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

east

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

From this reading The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.

Europe

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

From this reading The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.

fear

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

fertile

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

From this reading The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.

followed

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

From this reading The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

formation

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

From this reading The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.

Gerka

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

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

glowed

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

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

Goldsmith

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

From this reading The Goldsmith Publishing Company New York Made in U. S. A.

government

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

groups

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.

happened

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

headquarters

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

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

heads

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

hearts

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

hour

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

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

hurried

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The Goldsmith Publishing Company New York Made in U. S. A.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

Kratz

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

land

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

From this reading The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.

large

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

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

Lights

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

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

Made

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

From this reading The Goldsmith Publishing Company New York Made in U. S. A.

matter

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

mean

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

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

meeting

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

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

midnight

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

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

most

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

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

New

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

From this reading The Goldsmith Publishing Company New York Made in U. S. A.

night

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

only

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

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

organization

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

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

palace

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

police

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

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

powerful

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

Prussia

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

From this reading The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.

Publishing

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

From this reading The Goldsmith Publishing Company New York Made in U. S. A.

Residents

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

resulted

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

From this reading The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.

rich

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

From this reading The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.

room

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

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

Rubania

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

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

S

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

From this reading The Goldsmith Publishing Company New York Made in U. S. A.

saw

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

shook

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

streets

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

supreme

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

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Goldsmith Publishing Company New York Made in U. S. A.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

tower

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

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

U

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

From this reading The Goldsmith Publishing Company New York Made in U. S. A.

urgent

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

From this reading It was midnight and a meeting of the supreme council of the Gerka at that hour could mean only the most urgent business.

War

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

From this reading The creation of the new Europe which had followed the World War had resulted in the formation of Rubania, a rich, fertile land east of Prussia.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

way

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Lights glowed brightly in the large, bare tower room which was the headquarters of the Gerka, secret police organization of Rubania.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

whole

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

world

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

From this reading Residents of Kratz, the capital of Rubania, who happened to be in the streets that night and who saw the lights in the tower of the government palace shook their heads and hurried on their way with fear in their hearts for the Gerka was the most dangerous organization in all Rubania and for that matter one of the most powerful groups of secret police in the whole world.

York

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

From this reading The Goldsmith Publishing Company New York Made in U. S. A.