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Children of the lens
Children of the lens

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Children of the lens is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Children of the lens
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.
"I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.
So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"
Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.
Blocked.
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.

Children of the lens

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Children of the lens is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.
Line 2
"I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.
Line 3
So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"
Line 4
Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.
Line 5
Blocked.
/blɑːkt/

Learner Dictionary

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.

armor noun US /ˈɑːrmər/

protective covering made of metal and used in combat

From this reading “So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"”

armored adjective US /ˈɑːrmərd/

protected by armor (used of persons or things military)

From this reading “"Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.”

Blocked adjective US /blɑːkt/

closed to traffic

From this reading “Blocked.”

crisply adverb US /ˈkrɪspli/

in a well delineated manner

From this reading “"Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.”

lingua noun US /ˈlɪŋɡwə/

a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading “"Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.”

Patrol noun US /pəˈtroʊl/

a detachment used for security or reconnaissance

From this reading “"I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.”

strode verb US /stroʊd/

inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps

From this reading “"Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.”

tractors noun US /ˈtræktərz/

plural of “tractor” — a wheeled vehicle with large wheels; used in farming and other applications

From this reading “So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"”

All words in this reading · 59

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.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

apartadverbUS /əˈpɑːrt/

separated or at a distance in place or position or time

From this reading So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.

armornounUS /ˈɑːrmər/

protective covering made of metal and used in combat

From this reading So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"

armoredadjectiveUS /ˈɑːrmərd/

protected by armor (used of persons or things military)

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.

attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.

BlockedadjectiveUS /blɑːkt/

closed to traffic

From this reading Blocked.

Boskonian

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

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.

commandernounUS /kəˈmændər/

an officer in command of a military unit

From this reading Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.

crisplyadverbUS /ˈkrɪspli/

in a well delineated manner

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

deepadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

directedadjectiveUS /dərˈektəd/

(often used in combination) having a specified direction

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading "I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.

drovenounUS /droʊv/

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading "I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.

fastadverbUS /fæst/

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

fellownounUS /ˈfeloʊ/

a boy or man

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

forcenounUS /fɔːrs/

a powerful effect or influence

From this reading Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.

franca

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

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

Kinnison

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

From this reading Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.

linguanounUS /ˈlɪŋɡwə/

a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"

mentaladjectiveUS /ˈmentəl/

involving the mind or an intellectual process

From this reading Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

paidadjectiveUS /peɪd/

marked by the reception of pay

From this reading Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.

PatrolnounUS /pəˈtroʊl/

a detachment used for security or reconnaissance

From this reading "I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.

pullverbUS /pʊl/

cause to move by pulling

From this reading So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"

soldiersnounUS /ˈsoʊldʒərz/

plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

spacenounUS /speɪs/

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

StartverbUS /stɑːrt/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

strodeverbUS /stroʊd/

inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

talkverbUS /tɔːk/

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

talkingnounUS /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Start talking, fellow, and talk fast," the Boskonian directed crisply in the lingua franca of deep space as the armored soldiers strode out.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.

tractorsnounUS /ˈtræktərz/

plural of “tractor” — a wheeled vehicle with large wheels; used in farming and other applications

From this reading So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading "I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.

weaponnounUS /ˈwepən/

any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting

From this reading Kinnison paid no attention, but drove at the commander with his every mental force and weapon.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading So talk--or do you want me to pull you apart with these tractors, armor and all?"

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.

you've

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

From this reading "I want to know who you are, what you are, what you've done, and everything about you and the Patrol.

Chapter 4 of Children of the lens by E. E. (Edward Elmer) Smith holds 417 sentences, grouped into 84 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.

What does chapter 4 of Children of the lens contain?

Chapter 4 holds 417 sentences of Children of the lens, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Children of the lens by E. E. (Edward Elmer) Smith exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 417 sentences, grouped into 84 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.

How do I study chapter 4 of Children of the lens?

Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 84 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.

Can chapter 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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.

Questions about reading Children of the lens

Common questions about reading Children of the lens by E. E. (Edward Elmer) Smith on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Children of the lens?

Yes. All 6862 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #70483 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Children of the lens is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #70483, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Children of the lens take to read?

About 571 minutes of reading across 1373 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Children of the lens section by section

How to work through Children of the lens section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of Children of the lens to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Children of the lens

Words and structures a reader meets early in Children of the lens, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Subject
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Children of the lens; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Conclusion
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Children of the lens; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Boskonian
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Children of the lens; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Report
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Children of the lens; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.