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Operation: Outer Space
Operation: Outer Space

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Operation: Outer Space
Context Illustration Reading 1/87 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.
The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.
There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.
He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.
All roofs were recreation-spaces nowadays.
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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.

Operation: Outer Space

Chapter I

Reading 1/87 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.
Line 2
The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.
Line 3
There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.
Line 4
He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.
Line 5
All roofs were recreation-spaces nowadays.

Learner Dictionary

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

Anybody pronoun US /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading “There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.”

All words in this reading · 72

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 He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.

All

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

From this reading All roofs were recreation-spaces nowadays.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

atop

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

From this reading He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

better

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

buildings

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

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

cab

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

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

canyons

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

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

city

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

Cochrane

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

cynical

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

dance

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

From this reading He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.

down

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

From this reading He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.

else

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

everywhere

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

feet

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

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

flew

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

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

going

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

From this reading He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

he'd

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

helicab

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

hummed

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

Jed

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

keep

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

lighted

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

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

lights

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.

night

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

nowadays

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

From this reading All roofs were recreation-spaces nowadays.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.

only

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

people

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

realizing

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

recreation-spaces

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

From this reading All roofs were recreation-spaces nowadays.

reminded

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

roof-tops

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

From this reading He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.

roofs

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

From this reading All roofs were recreation-spaces nowadays.

sardonically

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

shrubbery

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

From this reading He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.

soar

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

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

softly

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

streets

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

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

tallest

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

From this reading He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

There

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

thousand

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

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

trees

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

From this reading He looked down at the trees and shrubbery on the roof-tops, and at a dance that was going on atop one of the tallest buildings.

tried

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

From this reading Jed Cochrane tried to be cynical as the helicab hummed softly through the night over the city.

trying

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

two

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

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There were lights and people everywhere, and Cochrane sardonically reminded himself that he was no better than anybody else, only he'd been trying to keep from realizing it.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The cab flew at two thousand feet, where lighted buildings seemed to soar toward it from the canyons which were streets.