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The programmed people
The programmed people

Chapter V

Cover illustration for The programmed people
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.
His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.
He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.
Bodger arrived at the door of his son's bedroom.
Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.
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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.

The programmed people

Chapter V

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.
Line 2
His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.
Line 3
He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.
Line 4
Bodger arrived at the door of his son's bedroom.
Line 5
Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.”

Dangerously adverb US /ˈdeɪn.dʒər.əs.li/

In a way that involves danger or risk.

From this reading “His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.”

Despite preposition US /dɪˈspaɪt/

although something is true; in spite of

From this reading “His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.”

Parlor noun US /ˈpɑːrlər/

an old-fashioned sitting room

From this reading “He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.”

All words in this reading · 57

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 Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

archway

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

From this reading He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.

arrived

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

From this reading Bodger arrived at the door of his son's bedroom.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.

B

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

From this reading Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.

bedroom

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

From this reading Bodger arrived at the door of his son's bedroom.

Bodger

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

From this reading Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.

corridor

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

From this reading He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.

crossed

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

From this reading He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.

dangerouslyadverbUS /ˈdeɪn.dʒər.əs.li/

In a way that involves danger or risk.

From this reading His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.

despiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/

although something is true; in spite of

From this reading His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.

distance

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

From this reading Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.

door

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

From this reading Bodger arrived at the door of his son's bedroom.

efforts

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

From this reading His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.

entered

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

From this reading His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.

features

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

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

foyer

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

From this reading His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.

froze

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

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

ghastly

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

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.

hand

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

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

knob

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

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

led

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

From this reading He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.

mammoth

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

From this reading He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Bodger arrived at the door of his son's bedroom.

office

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

From this reading Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.

only

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

From this reading Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.

pallor

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

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/

an old-fashioned sitting room

From this reading He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.

quarters

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

From this reading He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.

rear

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

From this reading He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.

rugged

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

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

seething

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

From this reading His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.

self-control

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

From this reading His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.

sleeping

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

From this reading He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.

son's

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

From this reading Bodger arrived at the door of his son's bedroom.

spread

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

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

temper

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

From this reading His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.

Then

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

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.

Unit

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

From this reading Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.

walk

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

From this reading Bodger had only a short distance to walk to Unit B from his office.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading His temper, despite his efforts at self-control, was seething dangerously when he entered his foyer.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading He crossed the mammoth parlor toward the archway at its rear, where a short corridor led to the sleeping quarters.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Then, with his hand upon the knob, he froze, and a ghastly pallor spread itself across his rugged features.