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Collision Orbit
Collision Orbit

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Collision Orbit is here in full — 425 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Collision Orbit
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"What was the idea, Tom?
I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."
"Well, it would have been worth it, but that wasn't it.
I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.
Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.
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.

Collision Orbit

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Collision Orbit is here in full — 425 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"What was the idea, Tom?
/wʌt wɑːz ðə aɪˈdiːə tɑːm/
Line 2
I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."
Line 3
"Well, it would have been worth it, but that wasn't it.
Line 4
I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.
Line 5
Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.
/ðen aɪ broʊk daʊn ə fjuː ˈaʊərz aʊt ʌv mɑːrz wɪð tuː mʌtʃ vəˈlɑːsəti tuː ɡet bæk ɑːn ðə ˈkemɪkəlz/

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.

chemicals noun US /ˈkemɪkəlz/

plural of “chemical” — material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules

From this reading “Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.”

Jupiter noun US /ˈdʒuːpətər/

the largest planet and the 5th from the sun; has many satellites and is one of the brightest objects in the night sky

From this reading “I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.”

Mars noun US /mɑːrz/

a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color

From this reading “Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.”

pirates noun US /ˈpaɪrəts/

plural of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own

From this reading “I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.”

prove verb US /pruːv/

be shown or be found to be

From this reading “I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.”

velocity noun US /vəˈlɑːsəti/

distance travelled per unit time

From this reading “Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.”

Warp verb US /wɔːrp/

make false by mutilation or addition; as of a message or story

From this reading “I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.”

worth noun US /wɜːrθ/

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading “"Well, it would have been worth it, but that wasn't it.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

few hours adjective + noun

In this reading “Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.”

get back verb + particle

recover something or somebody that appeared to be lost

In this reading “Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.”

All words in this reading · 56

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

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 I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Well, it would have been worth it, but that wasn't it.

brokeadjectiveUS /broʊk/

lacking funds

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Well, it would have been worth it, but that wasn't it.

Callistonoun

the second largest of Jupiter's satellites

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

chemicalsnounUS /ˈkemɪkəlz/

plural of “chemical” — material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."

didn't

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

From this reading I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Well, it would have been worth it, but that wasn't it.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."

hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."

ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading "What was the idea, Tom?

isn't

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

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Well, it would have been worth it, but that wasn't it.

JupiternounUS /ˈdʒuːpətər/

the largest planet and the 5th from the sun; has many satellites and is one of the brightest objects in the night sky

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."

knowverbUS /noʊ/

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

From this reading I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."

MarsnounUS /mɑːrz/

a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."

piratesnounUS /ˈpaɪrəts/

plural of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

proveverbUS /pruːv/

be shown or be found to be

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

talkverbUS /tɔːk/

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Well, it would have been worth it, but that wasn't it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "What was the idea, Tom?

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."

TomnounUS /tɑːm/

male cat

From this reading "What was the idea, Tom?

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

velocitynounUS /vəˈlɑːsəti/

distance travelled per unit time

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

WarpverbUS /wɔːrp/

make false by mutilation or addition; as of a message or story

From this reading I was on my way to Jupiter to prove once and for all that there isn't any Warp and that there are pirates on Callisto.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "What was the idea, Tom?

wasn't

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

From this reading "Well, it would have been worth it, but that wasn't it.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."

WelladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Well, it would have been worth it, but that wasn't it.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What was the idea, Tom?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Then I broke down a few hours out of Mars, with too much velocity to get back on the chemicals.

worthnounUS /wɜːrθ/

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading "Well, it would have been worth it, but that wasn't it.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading "Well, it would have been worth it, but that wasn't it.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I know you didn't come all the way out here just to talk to me."

Chapter 2 of Collision Orbit by Clyde Beck holds 425 sentences, grouped into 85 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 2 of Collision Orbit contain?

Chapter 2 holds 425 sentences of Collision Orbit, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Collision Orbit by Clyde Beck exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 425 sentences, grouped into 85 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 2 of Collision Orbit?

Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 85 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Collision Orbit

Common questions about reading Collision Orbit by Clyde Beck on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Collision Orbit?

Yes. All 856 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #64746 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Collision Orbit is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #64746, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Collision Orbit take to read?

About 71 minutes of reading across 172 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Collision Orbit section by section

How to work through Collision Orbit section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 2 chapters of Collision Orbit 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 Collision Orbit

Words and structures a reader meets early in Collision Orbit, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Asteroid
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Collision Orbit; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Frightened
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Collision Orbit; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wrecked
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Collision Orbit; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Spacer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Collision Orbit; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.