Chapter 5 of Starman's Quest is here in full — 405 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
Chapter 5 of Starman's Quest is here in full — 405 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank. "This system," Alan said. "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter." "You can't do that, though. Strictly illegal.
Chapter 5 of Starman's Quest is here in full — 405 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose
From this reading “He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.”
a set of rules or principles or laws (especially written ones)
From this reading “He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.”
prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules
From this reading “Strictly illegal.”
inflected form of “jot” — write briefly or hurriedly; write a short note of
From this reading “He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.”
plural of “remove” — degree of figurative distance or separation
From this reading “"It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."”
restricted to something
From this reading “Strictly illegal.”
inflected form of “transfer” — transfer somebody to a different position or location of work
From this reading “He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.”
someone who transmits a message
From this reading “"It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."”
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This system," Alan said.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
at or in or to any place
From this reading "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."
the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You can't do that, though.
a set of rules or principles or laws (especially written ones)
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "You can't do that, though.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."
prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules
From this reading Strictly illegal.
a message received and understood
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."
inflected form of “jot” — write briefly or hurriedly; write a short note of
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."
not any; not one
From this reading "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
by chance
From this reading "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."
plural of “remove” — degree of figurative distance or separation
From this reading "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "This system," Alan said.
move stealthily
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
restricted to something
From this reading Strictly illegal.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading "This system," Alan said.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "You can't do that, though.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This system," Alan said.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "You can't do that, though.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
inflected form of “transfer” — transfer somebody to a different position or location of work
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
someone who transmits a message
From this reading "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."
except if; if not
From this reading "It means no one can possibly hide anywhere on Earth unless he removes his televector transmitter."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He took out the slip of paper on which he had jotted down Steve's televector code number and transferred the information to an application blank.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You can't do that, though.
Chapter 5 of Starman's Quest by Robert Silverberg holds 405 sentences, grouped into 81 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 405 sentences of Starman's Quest, unabridged, divided into 81 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 5 of Starman's Quest by Robert Silverberg exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 405 sentences, grouped into 81 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 81 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 81 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 Starman's Quest by Robert Silverberg on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4025 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #27444 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #27444, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 335 minutes of reading across 805 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Starman's Quest section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 10 chapters of Starman's Quest 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 Starman's Quest, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
