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No Moving Parts
No Moving Parts

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of No Moving Parts is here in full — 556 sentences across 112 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for No Moving Parts
Context Illustration Reading 1/111 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.
With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.
"This is Hansen on 43.4SC.
Put me through to Captain Fromer."
"Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"
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.

No Moving Parts

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of No Moving Parts is here in full — 556 sentences across 112 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/111 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.
Line 2
With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.
Line 3
"This is Hansen on 43.4SC.
Line 4
Put me through to Captain Fromer."
Line 5
"Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"

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.

Communications noun US /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃənz/

the discipline that studies the principles of transmiting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio or television etc.)

From this reading “Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.”

contact noun US /ˈkɑːntækt/

close interaction

From this reading “With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.”

emergency noun US /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/

a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action

From this reading “Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.”

identified adjective US /aɪˈdentəfaɪd/

having the identity known or established

From this reading “With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.”

incredible adjective US /ˌɪnˈkredəbəl/

beyond belief or understanding

From this reading “"Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"”

located adjective US /ˈloʊkeɪtəd/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading “With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.”

Relay noun US /ˈriːleɪ/

the act of passing something along from one person or group to another

From this reading “Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.”

swiftness noun US /ˈswɪftnəs/

a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens

From this reading “With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.”

All words in this reading · 61

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.

43.4

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

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

boardnounUS /bɔːrd/

a committee having supervisory powers

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

buildingnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋ/

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

callverbUS /kɔːl/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

captainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

CommunicationsnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃənz/

the discipline that studies the principles of transmiting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio or television etc.)

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/

close interaction

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

controlnounUS /kənˈtroʊl/

power to direct or determine

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

deepadjectiveUS /diːp/

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading "Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"

devilnounUS /ˈdevəl/

(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell

From this reading "Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"

emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/

a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

flashedverbUS /flæʃt/

past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

Fromer

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

From this reading Put me through to Captain Fromer."

Hansen

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

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

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

From this reading "Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"

hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

identifiedadjectiveUS /aɪˈdentəfaɪd/

having the identity known or established

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

incredibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbəl/

beyond belief or understanding

From this reading "Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "This is Hansen on 43.4SC.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

locatedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkeɪtəd/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Put me through to Captain Fromer."

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

PutverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Put me through to Captain Fromer."

RelaynounUS /ˈriːleɪ/

the act of passing something along from one person or group to another

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"

SCnoun

a white trivalent metallic element; sometimes classified in the rare earth group; occurs in the Scandinavian mineral thortveitite

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

sendingnounUS /ˈsendɪŋ/

the act of causing something to go (especially messages)

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

shipverbUS /ʃɪp/

transport commercially

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

singleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡəl/

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

StationnounUS /ˈsteɪʃən/

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

swiftnessnounUS /ˈswɪftnəs/

a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

textbook-recommended

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

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "This is Hansen on 43.4SC.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Put me through to Captain Fromer."

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Put me through to Captain Fromer."

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

voicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading "Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading "Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With textbook-recommended swiftness, he located the position of the ship sending the call, identified the ship and the name of its captain, and made contact.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading Hansen was sitting at the control board in the single building on Communications Relay Station 43.4SC, when the emergency light flashed on for the first time in two hundred years.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Fromer here," said an incredible deep voice, "what the devil do you want?"

Chapter 1 of No Moving Parts by Murray F. Yaco holds 556 sentences, grouped into 112 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 1 of No Moving Parts contain?

Chapter 1 holds 556 sentences of No Moving Parts, unabridged, divided into 112 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of No Moving Parts by Murray F. Yaco exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 556 sentences, grouped into 112 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 1 of No Moving Parts?

Work through the 112 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 112 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 1 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading No Moving Parts

Common questions about reading No Moving Parts by Murray F. Yaco on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of No Moving Parts?

Yes. All 556 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #25078 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of No Moving Parts is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #25078, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does No Moving Parts take to read?

About 46 minutes of reading across 112 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read No Moving Parts section by section

How to work through No Moving Parts section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of No Moving Parts 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 No Moving Parts

Words and structures a reader meets early in No Moving Parts, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Hansen
A word that appears in the opening chapter of No Moving Parts; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sitting
A word that appears in the opening chapter of No Moving Parts; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Control
A word that appears in the opening chapter of No Moving Parts; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Board
A word that appears in the opening chapter of No Moving Parts; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.