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Bolden's Pets
Bolden's Pets

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Bolden's Pets
Context Illustration Reading 1/131 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.
If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.
But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had.
Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.
There were always different hazards to overcome as new planets were settled.
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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.

Bolden's Pets

Chapter I

Reading 1/131 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.
Line 2
If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.
Line 3
But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had.
Line 4
Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.
Line 5
There were always different hazards to overcome as new planets were settled.

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 “Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.”

Different noun US /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading “There were always different hazards to overcome as new planets were settled.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “_The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “_The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “_The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.”

Shaking noun US /ˈshaking/

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

From this reading “_The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

all

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

always

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

From this reading There were always different hazards to overcome as new planets were settled.

any

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

From this reading Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.

Bolden

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

From this reading But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had.

Centaurus

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

From this reading If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.

certain

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

From this reading If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.

couldn't

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

From this reading But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had.

Daamas

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

From this reading But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had.

degree

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

From this reading Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.

differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading There were always different hazards to overcome as new planets were settled.

diseases

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

From this reading Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.

Earth

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

From this reading If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.

enough

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

From this reading Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.

exhibited

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

flu

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

From this reading If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

gifts

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had.

hadn't

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

From this reading Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

hazards

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

From this reading There were always different hazards to overcome as new planets were settled.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.

investigate

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

From this reading Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.

kranken

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

From this reading If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.

Lee

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

From this reading But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

Man

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

From this reading Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.

new

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

From this reading There were always different hazards to overcome as new planets were settled.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.

overcome

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

From this reading There were always different hazards to overcome as new planets were settled.

planets

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

From this reading There were always different hazards to overcome as new planets were settled.

price

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

reward

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

say

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

From this reading But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had.

settled

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

From this reading There were always different hazards to overcome as new planets were settled.

shakingnounUS /ˈshaking/

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had.

system

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

From this reading If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

There

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

From this reading There were always different hazards to overcome as new planets were settled.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had.

thoroughness

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

From this reading Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.

Van

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

From this reading But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had.

victim

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading But this was Van Daamas, so Lee Bolden couldn't say what he had.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading _The price of life was a life for a life--which was all the reward the victim looked for!_ His hands were shaking as he exhibited the gifts.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Man hadn't been here long enough to investigate the diseases with any degree of thoroughness.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading If he were on Earth, he would be certain it was the flu; in the Centaurus system, kranken.