Chapter 5 of Null-ABC is here in full — 471 sentences across 95 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
Chapter 5 of Null-ABC is here in full — 471 sentences across 95 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"So that's how it was!" he said, straightening. "Now I get it! Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned." * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down. "That roof, over there, looks like a good place to land," he said.
Chapter 5 of Null-ABC is here in full — 471 sentences across 95 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/94 · 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.
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading “* * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.”
plural of “goon” — an awkward stupid person
From this reading “Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."”
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading “* * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.”
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading “Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."”
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading “* * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.”
-ing form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight
From this reading “"So that's how it was!" he said, straightening.”
an automotive vehicle suitable for hauling
From this reading “* * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.”
people who are wounded
From this reading “Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."”
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 "That roof, over there, looks like a good place to land," he said.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
a state at a particular time
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Now I get it!
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "That roof, over there, looks like a good place to land," he said.
plural of “goon” — an awkward stupid person
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "So that's how it was!" he said, straightening.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "So that's how it was!" he said, straightening.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Now I get it!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "So that's how it was!" he said, straightening.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading "That roof, over there, looks like a good place to land," he said.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "That roof, over there, looks like a good place to land," he said.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading "That roof, over there, looks like a good place to land," he said.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now I get it!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
above and across; more than
From this reading "That roof, over there, looks like a good place to land," he said.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading "That roof, over there, looks like a good place to land," he said.
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
precisely, exactly
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading "That roof, over there, looks like a good place to land," he said.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "So that's how it was!" he said, straightening.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "So that's how it was!" he said, straightening.
-ing form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight
From this reading "So that's how it was!" he said, straightening.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "That roof, over there, looks like a good place to land," he said.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "So that's how it was!" he said, straightening.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "That roof, over there, looks like a good place to land," he said.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
an automotive vehicle suitable for hauling
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "So that's how it was!" he said, straightening.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
people who are wounded
From this reading Let's go see if any of those wounded goons are in condition to be questioned."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * Ray Pelton and Doug Yetsko had their heads out an open window on the right side of the cab of the 'copter truck; Ray was pointing down.
Chapter 5 of Null-ABC by H. Beam Piper holds 471 sentences, grouped into 95 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 5 holds 471 sentences of Null-ABC, unabridged, divided into 95 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 5 of Null-ABC by H. Beam Piper exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 471 sentences, grouped into 95 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 95 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 95 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 5 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 Null-ABC by H. Beam Piper on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2350 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #18346 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #18346, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 195 minutes of reading across 470 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Null-ABC section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 5 chapters of Null-ABC 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 Null-ABC, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
