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The Dope on Mars
The Dope on Mars

Chapter I

Cover illustration for The Dope on Mars
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.
He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.
If he didn't sell much of my stuff, at least he sold _me_.
"It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.
"Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."
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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 Dope on Mars

Chapter I

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.
Line 2
He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.
Line 3
If he didn't sell much of my stuff, at least he sold _me_.
Line 4
"It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.
Line 5
"Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."

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 “_Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “_Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “"It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “_Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If he didn't sell much of my stuff, at least he sold _me_.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “_Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.”

Somebody pronoun US /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 "It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

agent

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

always

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

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.

angle

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

appearances

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

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading If he didn't sell much of my stuff, at least he sold _me_.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.

biggest

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

From this reading "It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.

blastoff

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

From this reading "It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.

break

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

From this reading "It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

days

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

From this reading "It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.

didn't

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

From this reading If he didn't sell much of my stuff, at least he sold _me_.

doesn't

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

From this reading "Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

get

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

getting

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

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.

going

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

got

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.

human

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

humane

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If he didn't sell much of my stuff, at least he sold _me_.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.

It'll

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

From this reading "It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.

job

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If he didn't sell much of my stuff, at least he sold _me_.

like

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

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.

magazines

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

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.

Mars

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

mentions

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

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.

much

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

From this reading If he didn't sell much of my stuff, at least he sold _me_.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

Oh

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

From this reading "Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.

public

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

From this reading "Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."

reports

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

From this reading "Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."

scientific

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

From this reading "Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."

sell

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

From this reading If he didn't sell much of my stuff, at least he sold _me_.

sending

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

shows

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

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.

slant

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

From this reading "Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."

sold

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

From this reading If he didn't sell much of my stuff, at least he sold _me_.

SomebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

stuff

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

From this reading If he didn't sell much of my stuff, at least he sold _me_.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading "Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."

there'll

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

From this reading "Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading "Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."

things

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

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.

trip

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

TV

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

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.

two

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

From this reading "It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.

up

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

want

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

From this reading "Oh, sure there'll be scientific reports on the trip, but the public doesn't want them; they want the _human_ slant on things."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

write

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

From this reading _Somebody had to get the human angle on this trip ... but what was humane about sending me?_ My agent was the one who got me the job of going along to write up the first trip to Mars.

writer

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

From this reading "It'll be the biggest break a writer ever got," he told me, two days before blastoff.

writers

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

From this reading He was always getting me things like that--appearances on TV shows, or mentions in writers' magazines.