Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Planet explorer
Planet explorer

Chapter X

Cover illustration for Planet explorer
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
Another great paw.
The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Planet explorer

Chapter X

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
Line 2
A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
Line 3
Another great paw.
Line 4
The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
Line 5
Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

Learner Dictionary

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

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “Another great paw.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.”

Different noun US /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading “Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Another great paw.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.”

Reeled verb US /riːld/

moved unsteadily as if about to fall

From this reading “More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

actually

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.

AnothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading Another great paw.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

BecauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

crazily

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

From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.

creatures

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

detail

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

fascination

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

flapped

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

From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.

flittered

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

flying

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

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

glaring

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Another great paw.

gyrations

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

hairy

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

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.

hind

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

huge

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

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

human

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

From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.

impossible

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

insanely

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

Kodiaks

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

lamp

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

legs

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

light-beam

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

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

like

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

From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

monkeys

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

More

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

From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.

night-creatures

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

out

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

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

pallid

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

From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.

paw

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

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

plucked

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

reached

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

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

reeledverbUS /riːld/

moved unsteadily as if about to fall

From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.

resist

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

see

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

skin

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

From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.

snatched

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

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

strangely-shaped

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

From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.

swatting

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

things

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

From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

three

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.

unable

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

unpleasant

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

up

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

From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.

wild

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

From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.