Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Operation R.S.V.P.
Operation R.S.V.P.

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Operation R.S.V.P. is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Operation R.S.V.P.
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
OPERATION R.S.V.P.
_Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.
The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.
In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.
My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.
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.

Operation R.S.V.P.

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Operation R.S.V.P. is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
OPERATION R.S.V.P.
Line 2
_Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.
Line 3
The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.
Line 4
In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.
Line 5
My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.

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.

Marxist adjective US /ˈmɑːrksəst/

following the ideas of Marx and Engels

Nanking noun US /ˈnæŋkɪŋ/

a city in eastern China on the Yangtze River; a former capital of China; the scene of a Japanese massacre in the 1930s

From this reading “In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.”

percent noun US /pərˈsent/

a proportion in relation to a whole (which is usually the amount per hundred)

From this reading “In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.”

Pursuant adjective US /pərˈsuːənt/

(followed by “to”) in conformance to or agreement with

From this reading “_Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.”

Republics noun US /riˈpʌblɪks/

plural of “republic” — a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

From this reading “_Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.”

revise verb US /rɪˈvaɪz/

make revisions in

From this reading “My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.”

Soviet adjective US /ˈsoʊviət/

of or relating to or characteristic of the former Soviet Union or its people

From this reading “_Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.”

Tung noun US /tʌŋ/

Chinese tree bearing seeds that yield tung oil

From this reading “_Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.”

All words in this reading · 101

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.

50

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

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

announcingverbUS /əˈnaʊnsɪŋ/

-ing form of “announce” — make known; make an announcement

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

appreciatingverbUS /əˈpriːʃieɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “appreciate” — recognize with gratitude; be grateful for

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

AsianounUS /ˈeɪʒə/

the largest continent with 60% of the earth's population; it is joined to Europe on the west to form Eurasia; it is the site of some of the world's earliest civilizations

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

assistverbUS /əˈsɪst/

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

Balkash

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

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

capitalnounUS /ˈkæpətəl/

assets available for use in the production of further assets

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

completelyadverbUS /kəmˈpliːtli/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

disputeverbUS /dɪsˈpjuːt/

take exception to

From this reading My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.

distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

Dzhoubinsky

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

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

EastnounUS /iːst/

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

EuropeannounUS /ˌjʊrəˈpiːən/

a native or inhabitant of Europe

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

exchangingverbUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/

-ing form of “exchange” — give to, and receive from, one another

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

finaladjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/

occurring at or forming an end or termination

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

ForeignadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrən/

of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

friendlyadjectiveUS /ˈfrendli/

characteristic of or befitting a friend

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

Fung

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

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

GovernmentnounUS /ˈɡʌvərmənt/

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

greateradjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtər/

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

guidedadjectiveUS /ˈɡaɪdəd/

subject to guidance or control especially after launching

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

hopefuladjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpfəl/

having or manifesting hope

From this reading My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

informationnounUS /ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən/

a message received and understood

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

intransigeant

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

From this reading My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.

Khakum

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

From this reading My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

LakenounUS /leɪk/

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

launchingnounUS /ˈlɔːntʃɪŋ/

the act of moving a newly built vessel into the water for the first time

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

launching-site

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

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

locatedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkeɪtəd/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

MarxistadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrksəst/

following the ideas of Marx and Engels

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

militaryadjectiveUS /ˈmɪləteri/

of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

MinisternounUS /ˈmɪnəstər/

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

missilenounUS /ˈmɪsəl/

a rocket carrying a warhead of conventional or nuclear explosives; may be ballistic or directed by remote control

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

NnounUS /en/

a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

NankingnounUS /ˈnæŋkɪŋ/

a city in eastern China on the Yangtze River; a former capital of China; the scene of a Japanese massacre in the 1930s

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

nuclear-rocket

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

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.

OPERATIONnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/

the state of being in effect or being operative

From this reading OPERATION R.S.V.P.

ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

PnounUS /piː/

a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms

From this reading OPERATION R.S.V.P.

PeoplesnounUS /ˈpiːpəlz/

the human beings of a particular nation or community or ethnic group

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

percentnounUS /pərˈsent/

a proportion in relation to a whole (which is usually the amount per hundred)

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

policynounUS /ˈpɑːləsi/

a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

PowersnounUS /ˈpaʊərz/

plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.

PursuantadjectiveUS /pərˈsuːənt/

(followed by “to”) in conformance to or agreement with

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

RnounUS /ɑːr/

a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air

From this reading OPERATION R.S.V.P.

rangenounUS /reɪndʒ/

an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

RepublicsnounUS /riˈpʌblɪks/

plural of “republic” — a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

reviseverbUS /rɪˈvaɪz/

make revisions in

From this reading My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.

RivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.

SnounUS /es/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading OPERATION R.S.V.P.

scientificadjectiveUS /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/

of or relating to the practice of science

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

SeanounUS /siː/

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

SiberiannounUS /saɪˈbɪriən/

a native or inhabitant of Siberia

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

somewhatadverbUS /ˈsʌmˈwʌt/

to a small degree or extent

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

southnounUS /saʊθ/

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

SovietadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊviət/

of or relating to or characteristic of the former Soviet Union or its people

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.

successfuladjectiveUS /səkˈsesfəl/

having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

takesnounUS /teɪks/

plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

targetnounUS /ˈtɑːrɡət/

a reference point to shoot at

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

testnounUS /test/

trying something to find out about it

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

testsnounUS /tests/

plural of “test” — trying something to find out about it

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

TungnounUS /tʌŋ/

Chinese tree bearing seeds that yield tung oil

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

UnionnounUS /ˈjuːnjən/

an organization of employees formed to bargain with the employer

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

VnounUS /viː/

a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt

From this reading OPERATION R.S.V.P.

VictorynounUS /ˈvɪktəri/

a successful ending of a struggle or contest

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

Vladmir

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

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The test launching was made from a position south of Lake Balkash; the target was located in the East Siberian Sea.

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 _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading My Government is still hopeful that your Government will revise its present intransigeant position on the Khakum River dispute.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

WunounUS /wuː/

a dialect of Chinese spoken in the Yangtze delta

From this reading _Vladmir N. Dzhoubinsky, Foreign Minister, Union of East European Soviet Republics, to Wu Fung Tung, Foreign Minister, United Peoples' Republics of East Asia_: Pursuant to our well known policy of exchanging military and scientific information with the Government, of friendly Powers, my Government takes great pleasure in announcing the completely successful final tests of our new nuclear-rocket guided missile _Marxist Victory_.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading In order to assist you in appreciating the range of the new guided missile _Marxist Victory_, let me point out that the distance from launching-site to target is somewhat over 50 percent greater than the distance from launching-site to your capital, Nanking.

Chapter 1 of Operation R.S.V.P. by H. Beam Piper holds 89 sentences, grouped into 18 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 Operation R.S.V.P. contain?

Chapter 1 holds 89 sentences of Operation R.S.V.P., unabridged, divided into 18 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Operation R.S.V.P. by H. Beam Piper exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 89 sentences, grouped into 18 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 Operation R.S.V.P.?

Work through the 18 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 18 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 Operation R.S.V.P.

Common questions about reading Operation R.S.V.P. by H. Beam Piper on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Operation R.S.V.P.?

Yes. All 89 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #18261 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Operation R.S.V.P. is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #18261, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Operation R.S.V.P. take to read?

About 7 minutes of reading across 18 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Operation R.S.V.P. section by section

How to work through Operation R.S.V.P. section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of Operation R.S.V.P. 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 Operation R.S.V.P.

Words and structures a reader meets early in Operation R.S.V.P., each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Operation
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Operation R.S.V.P.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Vladmir
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Operation R.S.V.P.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dzhoubinsky
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Operation R.S.V.P.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Foreign
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Operation R.S.V.P.; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.