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Talents, Incorporated
Talents, Incorporated

Chapter II

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Context Illustration Reading 1/94 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.
He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.
A fire burned there, and already there were many ashes.
The carpet and the chairs of the cabinet officer's sanctum were coated with fine white dust.
As the communicator buzzed again, Captain Bors took a fireplace tool and stirred the close-packed papers to looseness.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Talents, Incorporated

Chapter II

Reading 1/94 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.
Line 2
He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.
Line 3
A fire burned there, and already there were many ashes.
Line 4
The carpet and the chairs of the cabinet officer's sanctum were coated with fine white dust.
Line 5
As the communicator buzzed again, Captain Bors took a fireplace tool and stirred the close-packed papers to looseness.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As the communicator buzzed again, Captain Bors took a fireplace tool and stirred the close-packed papers to looseness.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A fire burned there, and already there were many ashes.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.”

Ashes noun US /ˈæʃ.ɪz/

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading “A fire burned there, and already there were many ashes.”

Captain noun US /ˈcaptain/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.”

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The carpet and the chairs of the cabinet officer's sanctum were coated with fine white dust.”

Strangely noun US /ˈstrangely/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As the communicator buzzed again, Captain Bors took a fireplace tool and stirred the close-packed papers to looseness.”

All words in this reading · 63

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

Affairs

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As the communicator buzzed again, Captain Bors took a fireplace tool and stirred the close-packed papers to looseness.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A fire burned there, and already there were many ashes.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As the communicator buzzed again, Captain Bors took a fireplace tool and stirred the close-packed papers to looseness.

ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading A fire burned there, and already there were many ashes.

away

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

Bors

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

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

burned

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

From this reading A fire burned there, and already there were many ashes.

buzzed

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

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

cabinet

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

From this reading The carpet and the chairs of the cabinet officer's sanctum were coated with fine white dust.

called

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

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

carpet

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

From this reading The carpet and the chairs of the cabinet officer's sanctum were coated with fine white dust.

chairs

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

From this reading The carpet and the chairs of the cabinet officer's sanctum were coated with fine white dust.

close-packed

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

From this reading As the communicator buzzed again, Captain Bors took a fireplace tool and stirred the close-packed papers to looseness.

coated

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

From this reading The carpet and the chairs of the cabinet officer's sanctum were coated with fine white dust.

communicator

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

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

cord

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

Diplomatic

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

documents

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

dust

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

From this reading The carpet and the chairs of the cabinet officer's sanctum were coated with fine white dust.

else

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

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The carpet and the chairs of the cabinet officer's sanctum were coated with fine white dust.

fire

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

From this reading A fire burned there, and already there were many ashes.

fireplace

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

He'd

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

heaved

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

impatiently

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

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

looseness

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

From this reading As the communicator buzzed again, Captain Bors took a fireplace tool and stirred the close-packed papers to looseness.

many

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

From this reading A fire burned there, and already there were many ashes.

Minister

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

occupied

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

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

office

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

officer's

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

From this reading The carpet and the chairs of the cabinet officer's sanctum were coated with fine white dust.

papers

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

From this reading As the communicator buzzed again, Captain Bors took a fireplace tool and stirred the close-packed papers to looseness.

parcel

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

refused

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

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

ripped

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

sanctum

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

From this reading The carpet and the chairs of the cabinet officer's sanctum were coated with fine white dust.

stirred

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

From this reading As the communicator buzzed again, Captain Bors took a fireplace tool and stirred the close-packed papers to looseness.

strangelynounUS /ˈstrangely/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

there

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

From this reading A fire burned there, and already there were many ashes.

thick

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

From this reading He'd ripped away the cord about a thick parcel of documents and heaved them into the fireplace of the office of the Minister for Diplomatic Affairs.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As the communicator buzzed again, Captain Bors took a fireplace tool and stirred the close-packed papers to looseness.

tool

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

From this reading As the communicator buzzed again, Captain Bors took a fireplace tool and stirred the close-packed papers to looseness.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading A fire burned there, and already there were many ashes.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

white

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

From this reading The carpet and the chairs of the cabinet officer's sanctum were coated with fine white dust.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The carpet and the chairs of the cabinet officer's sanctum were coated with fine white dust.

Young

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

From this reading Young Captain Bors--who impatiently refused to be called anything else--was strangely occupied when the communicator buzzed.