Chapter 2 of Invasion is here in full — 427 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Invasion is here in full — 427 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen. We'll get across it. Then--out the door!" * * * * * She struggled to her feet, terrified, but instantly game. Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.
Chapter 2 of Invasion is here in full — 427 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/85 · 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.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading “Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.”
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading “Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.”
at an earlier time or formerly
From this reading “Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.”
a long thin implement made of metal or wood
From this reading “Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.”
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading “Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.”
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading “Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.”
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading “* * * * * She struggled to her feet, terrified, but instantly game.”
something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading “Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading We'll get across it.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading * * * * * She struggled to her feet, terrified, but instantly game.
travel across or pass over
From this reading Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Then--out the door!"
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading * * * * * She struggled to her feet, terrified, but instantly game.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading * * * * * She struggled to her feet, terrified, but instantly game.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading We'll get across it.
the act of departing
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading * * * * * She struggled to her feet, terrified, but instantly game.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading * * * * * She struggled to her feet, terrified, but instantly game.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We'll get across it.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then--out the door!"
at an earlier time or formerly
From this reading Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
a long thin implement made of metal or wood
From this reading Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading * * * * * She struggled to her feet, terrified, but instantly game.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading * * * * * She struggled to her feet, terrified, but instantly game.
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading * * * * * She struggled to her feet, terrified, but instantly game.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then--out the door!"
something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "Quick, now," he said in a low tone, "I'm going to short the induction-screen.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading Thorn slid the rod of metal across the stretch of flooring he had previously been unable to cross.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We'll get across it.
Chapter 2 of Invasion by Murray Leinster holds 427 sentences, grouped into 86 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 2 holds 427 sentences of Invasion, unabridged, divided into 86 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Invasion by Murray Leinster exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 427 sentences, grouped into 86 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 86 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 86 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 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.
Common questions about reading Invasion by Murray Leinster on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 851 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #29455 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #29455, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 70 minutes of reading across 171 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Invasion section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 2 chapters of Invasion 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 Invasion, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
