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The alien intelligence
The alien intelligence

Chapter V

Cover illustration for The alien intelligence
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.
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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.

The alien intelligence

Chapter V

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
Line 2
I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
Line 3
The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
Line 4
Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
Line 5
But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.

Learner Dictionary

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

Anyone pronoun US /ˈeniwʌn/

any person at all

From this reading “Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.”

Glowing noun US /ˈglowing/

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

From this reading “The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.”

Precious adjective US /ˈpreʃəs/

rare and worth a great deal

From this reading “I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.”

Silver noun US /silver/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.”

All words in this reading · 88

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 Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

any

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

From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.

anyonepronounUS /ˈeniwʌn/

any person at all

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

Astran

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

Astranians

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

From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

bright

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

brush

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

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

buildings

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

came

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

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

City

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

cold

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

color

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

creep

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

crimson

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

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

Crystal

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.

direction

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

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

dropped

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

dusk

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

eminences

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

energy

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

From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.

equipment

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

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

flashed

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

floor

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.

gems

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

glowingnounUS /ˈglowing/

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

improving

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

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

indicate

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

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

kind

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

From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.

Lake

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

Melvar

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

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

mountain

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

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

much

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

From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

off

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

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

often

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

path

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

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

paving

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

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/

rare and worth a great deal

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

Presently

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

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

public

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

From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.

purple

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

red

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

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

rim

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

rolling

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

saw

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

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

scrub

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

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

seem

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

From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.

sight

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

Silver

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

soft

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

strange

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

sun

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

surface

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

thicken

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

up

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

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

valley

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

From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.

vast

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

walked

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

From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

well-worn

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

From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.

work

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

From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.