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Alien Minds
Alien Minds

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Alien Minds
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.
It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.
It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.
No, it was their mental processes--the way they thought.
He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.
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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.

Alien Minds

Chapter II

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.
Line 2
It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.
Line 3
It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.
Line 4
No, it was their mental processes--the way they thought.
Line 5
He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “No, it was their mental processes--the way they thought.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.”

All words in this reading · 68

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

ability

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

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.

called

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

connotations

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

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

devilishly

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

From this reading It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.

discern

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

From this reading It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.

easy

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

From this reading It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.

Estrella

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

fairly

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

From this reading It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.

find

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.

George

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.

Hanlon

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

hard

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

From this reading It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

held

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

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.

language

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

From this reading It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.

maddeningly

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

From this reading It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.

mental

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

From this reading No, it was their mental processes--the way they thought.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No, it was their mental processes--the way they thought.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

now

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

often

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

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

out

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

people

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

From this reading It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.

planet

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

processes

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

From this reading No, it was their mental processes--the way they thought.

read

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

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

really

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

From this reading It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.

reels

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

From this reading It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.

see

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

sleep-learn

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

From this reading It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

SSM

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

surface

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

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading No, it was their mental processes--the way they thought.

thoughts

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

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

too

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

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

trying

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

understood

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

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

wasn't

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

From this reading It wasn't their language--that had been fairly easy to sleep-learn from the reels.

way

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

From this reading No, it was their mental processes--the way they thought.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It was hard, devilishly and maddeningly hard, to discern what these people were really thinking.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading So now SSM George Hanlon was here on this planet they called Estrella, trying to see what he could find out.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading He was not too sure of himself yet, even with his ability to read their surface thoughts, for so often those thoughts held connotations he was not sure he understood.