Chapter 1 of Badge of Infamy is here in full — 441 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Badge of Infamy is here in full — 441 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
This etext was produced from an Ace Books paperback, 1973. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. The computer seemed to work as it should. The speed was within acceptable limits. He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
Chapter 1 of Badge of Infamy is here in full — 441 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/88 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
worthy of acceptance or satisfactory
From this reading “The speed was within acceptable limits.”
the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading “This etext was produced from an Ace Books paperback, 1973.”
a machine for performing calculations automatically
From this reading “The computer seemed to work as it should.”
a document granting exclusive right to publish and sell literary or musical or artistic work
From this reading “Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.”
a book with paper covers
From this reading “This etext was produced from an Ace Books paperback, 1973.”
plural of “pilot” — someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight
From this reading “He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.”
systematic investigation to establish facts
From this reading “Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.”
remove all or part of one's clothes to show one's body
From this reading “Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This etext was produced from an Ace Books paperback, 1973.
worthy of acceptance or satisfactory
From this reading The speed was within acceptable limits.
the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading This etext was produced from an Ace Books paperback, 1973.
someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This etext was produced from an Ace Books paperback, 1973.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The computer seemed to work as it should.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading This etext was produced from an Ace Books paperback, 1973.
a machine for performing calculations automatically
From this reading The computer seemed to work as it should.
a document granting exclusive right to publish and sell literary or musical or artistic work
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
done or made or performed with purpose and intent
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This etext was produced from an Ace Books paperback, 1973.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This etext was produced from an Ace Books paperback, 1973.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The computer seemed to work as it should.
plural of “limit” — the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading The speed was within acceptable limits.
machines or machine systems collectively
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
a book with paper covers
From this reading This etext was produced from an Ace Books paperback, 1973.
plural of “pilot” — someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading This etext was produced from an Ace Books paperback, 1973.
a copy of a printed work offered for distribution
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
restored to a new condition
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
systematic investigation to establish facts
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The computer seemed to work as it should.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The computer seemed to work as it should.
move hurridly
From this reading The speed was within acceptable limits.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This etext was produced from an Ace Books paperback, 1973.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The computer seemed to work as it should.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
hard to endure
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
remove all or part of one's clothes to show one's body
From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He gave up trying to see the ground and was forced to trust the machinery designed for amateur pilots.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This etext was produced from an Ace Books paperback, 1973.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The speed was within acceptable limits.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The computer seemed to work as it should.
Chapter 1 of Badge of Infamy by Lester Del Rey holds 441 sentences, grouped into 89 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 1 holds 441 sentences of Badge of Infamy, unabridged, divided into 89 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Badge of Infamy by Lester Del Rey exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 441 sentences, grouped into 89 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 89 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 89 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading Badge of Infamy by Lester Del Rey on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2859 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #19471 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #19471, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 238 minutes of reading across 572 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Badge of Infamy section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 7 chapters of Badge of Infamy to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Badge of Infamy, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
