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Chapter VI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/86 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.
In the world of the Monitors, the human factor was very precariously balanced.
Certain basic human instincts had been repressed or denied.
But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.
The instinct which could not be repressed could not even be discussed in the world of the Monitors.
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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.

Mating center

Chapter VI

Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.
Line 2
In the world of the Monitors, the human factor was very precariously balanced.
Line 3
Certain basic human instincts had been repressed or denied.
Line 4
But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.
Line 5
The instinct which could not be repressed could not even be discussed in the world of the Monitors.

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 “Certain basic human instincts had been repressed or denied.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The instinct which could not be repressed could not even be discussed in the world of the Monitors.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.”

Impulse noun US /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading “But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.”

All words in this reading · 62

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

all

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

From this reading But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

balanced

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

From this reading In the world of the Monitors, the human factor was very precariously balanced.

basic

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

From this reading Certain basic human instincts had been repressed or denied.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Certain basic human instincts had been repressed or denied.

believed

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

building

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

From this reading But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.

Certain

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

From this reading Certain basic human instincts had been repressed or denied.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

courage

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

denied

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

From this reading Certain basic human instincts had been repressed or denied.

discussed

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

From this reading The instinct which could not be repressed could not even be discussed in the world of the Monitors.

elevate

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The instinct which could not be repressed could not even be discussed in the world of the Monitors.

event

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

factor

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

From this reading In the world of the Monitors, the human factor was very precariously balanced.

forever

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

From this reading But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.

greatness

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

human

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the world of the Monitors, the human factor was very precariously balanced.

instinct

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

From this reading The instinct which could not be repressed could not even be discussed in the world of the Monitors.

instincts

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

From this reading Certain basic human instincts had been repressed or denied.

intensity

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

From this reading But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.

known

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

Monitors

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

From this reading In the world of the Monitors, the human factor was very precariously balanced.

most

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

From this reading But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Certain basic human instincts had been repressed or denied.

own

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

place

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

precariously

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

From this reading In the world of the Monitors, the human factor was very precariously balanced.

qualities

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

repressed

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

From this reading Certain basic human instincts had been repressed or denied.

side

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

tensions

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

From this reading But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

up

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

From this reading But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.

very

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

volcanic

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

From this reading But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In the world of the Monitors, the human factor was very precariously balanced.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The instinct which could not be repressed could not even be discussed in the world of the Monitors.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading But they could not be repressed forever and the most basic impulse of all could not be repressed without building up tensions volcanic in intensity.

woman

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.

world

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

From this reading In the world of the Monitors, the human factor was very precariously balanced.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Had he known, he would not have believed that such an event could take place and that his own very human qualities and the courage of the woman at his side would elevate them both to greatness.