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Star Surgeon
Star Surgeon

Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of Star Surgeon is here in full — 196 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Star Surgeon
Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.
The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.
Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.
"Coronary," Jack said grimly.
Dal nodded.
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.

Star Surgeon

Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of Star Surgeon is here in full — 196 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.
Line 2
The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.
/ðə blæk ˈdɑːktər slʌmpt bæk ɪn hɪz siːt ˈɡæspɪŋ fɔːr er hɪz feɪs ˈtwɪstɪd ɪn peɪn æz hiː ˈleɪbərd dʒʌst tuː kiːp ɑːn ˈbriːðɪŋ/
Line 3
Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.
/ˈtaɪɡər ənd dʒæk bɜːrst ˈɪntuː ðə ruːm ənd dæl kʊd tel ðæt ðeɪ nuː ˈɪnstəntli wʌt hæd ˈhæpənd/
Line 4
"Coronary," Jack said grimly.
/ˈkɔːrəneri dʒæk sed ˈɡrɪmli/
Line 5
Dal nodded.
/dæl ˈnɑːdəd/

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.

Coronary noun US /ˈkɔːrəneri/

obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery by a blood clot

From this reading “"Coronary," Jack said grimly.”

Dal noun US /dæl/

a metric unit of volume or capacity equal to 10 liters

From this reading “THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.”

diagnosis noun US /ˌdaɪəɡˈnoʊsəs/

identifying the nature or cause of some phenomenon

From this reading “THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.”

gasping verb US /ˈɡæspɪŋ/

-ing form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted

From this reading “The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.”

grimly adverb US /ˈɡrɪmli/

in a grim implacable manner

From this reading “"Coronary," Jack said grimly.”

labored adjective US /ˈleɪbərd/

lacking natural ease

From this reading “The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.”

slumped verb US /slʌmpt/

past form of “slump” — assume a drooping posture or carriage

From this reading “The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.”

Tiger noun US /ˈtaɪɡər/

a fierce or audacious person

From this reading “Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.”

All words in this reading · 54

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.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

BlackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

breathingnounUS /ˈbriːðɪŋ/

the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

burstverbUS /bɜːrst/

come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.

CoronarynounUS /ˈkɔːrəneri/

obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery by a blood clot

From this reading "Coronary," Jack said grimly.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.

DalnounUS /dæl/

a metric unit of volume or capacity equal to 10 liters

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

diagnosisnounUS /ˌdaɪəɡˈnoʊsəs/

identifying the nature or cause of some phenomenon

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

DoctornounUS /ˈdɑːktər/

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

gaspingverbUS /ˈɡæspɪŋ/

-ing form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

grimlyadverbUS /ˈɡrɪmli/

in a grim implacable manner

From this reading "Coronary," Jack said grimly.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.

happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

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

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

instantlyadverbUS /ˈɪnstəntli/

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.

JacknounUS /dʒæk/

a small worthless amount

From this reading Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

laboredadjectiveUS /ˈleɪbərd/

lacking natural ease

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

noddedverbUS /ˈnɑːdəd/

inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding

From this reading Dal nodded.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

painnounUS /peɪn/

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

RednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Coronary," Jack said grimly.

seatnounUS /siːt/

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

slumpedverbUS /slʌmpt/

past form of “slump” — assume a drooping posture or carriage

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.

TigernounUS /ˈtaɪɡər/

a fierce or audacious person

From this reading Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.

Timgar

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

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

TRIALnounUS /ˈtraɪəl/

the act of testing something

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/

having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented

From this reading The Black Doctor slumped back in his seat, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain as he labored just to keep on breathing.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Tiger and Jack burst into the room, and Dal could tell that they knew instantly what had happened.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading THE TRIAL Red Doctor Dal Timgar knew at once that there would be no problem in diagnosis here.

Chapter 13 of Star Surgeon by Alan Edward Nourse holds 196 sentences, grouped into 40 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 13 of Star Surgeon contain?

Chapter 13 holds 196 sentences of Star Surgeon, unabridged, divided into 40 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 13 of Star Surgeon by Alan Edward Nourse exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 196 sentences, grouped into 40 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 13 of Star Surgeon?

Work through the 40 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 40 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 13 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 13 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 Star Surgeon

Common questions about reading Star Surgeon by Alan Edward Nourse on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Star Surgeon?

Yes. All 3424 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #18492 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Star Surgeon is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #18492, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Star Surgeon take to read?

About 285 minutes of reading across 685 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Star Surgeon section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 14 chapters of Star Surgeon 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 Star Surgeon

Words and structures a reader meets early in Star Surgeon, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

David
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Star Surgeon; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mckay
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Star Surgeon; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Company
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Star Surgeon; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Manufactured
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Star Surgeon; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.