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The planet of shame
The planet of shame

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The planet of shame is here in full — 154 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Bruce Elliott • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The planet of shame
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.
Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.
There had been maximum security prisons in the past.
But this was the ultimate maximum.
When the ship took off, the prisoners were isolated as no human beings ever had been in the recorded history of men.
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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 planet of shame

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The planet of shame is here in full — 154 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.
Line 2
Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.
/nɑːt ˈiːvɪn ðə ˌɪnˈtɜːrmənəbəl ˈbɔːrdəm ʌv ðə rɪˈtɜːrn trɪp wɑːz ɪˈnʌf tuː meɪk ðem wɑːnt tuː steɪ ɪn ˈeniθɪŋ laɪk prɑːkˈsɪməti wɪð ðə ˈθɜːrdiː men ənd ˈθɜːrdiː ˈwɪmən huː hæd bɪn ˈsentənst tuː biː mərˈuːnd æz fɑːr frʌm ɜːrθ æz wɑːz ˈhjuːmənli ˈpɑːsəbli/
Line 3
There had been maximum security prisons in the past.
/ðer hæd bɪn ˈmæksəməm sɪˈkjʊrəti ˈprɪzənz ɪn ðə pæst/
Line 4
But this was the ultimate maximum.
/bʌt ðɪs wɑːz ðə ˈʌltəmət ˈmæksəməm/
Line 5
When the ship took off, the prisoners were isolated as no human beings ever had been in the recorded history of men.
/wen ðə ʃɪp tʊk ɔːf ðə ˈprɪzənərz wɜːr ˈaɪsəleɪtəd æz noʊ ˈhjuːmən ˈbiːɪŋz ˈevər hæd bɪn ɪn ðə rəˈkɔːrdɪd ˈhɪstəri ʌv men/

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.

Alpha noun US /ˈælfə/

the 1st letter of the Greek alphabet

From this reading “When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
boredom noun US /ˈbɔːrdəm/

the feeling of being bored by something tedious

From this reading “Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
humanly adverb US /ˈhjuːmənli/

in the manner of human beings

From this reading “Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
marooned adjective US /mərˈuːnd/

cut off or left behind

From this reading “Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
maximum noun US /ˈmæksəməm/

the largest possible quantity

From this reading “There had been maximum security prisons in the past.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
prisons noun US /ˈprɪzənz/

plural of “prison” — a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment

From this reading “There had been maximum security prisons in the past.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
proximity noun US /prɑːkˈsɪməti/

the property of being close together

From this reading “Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sentenced verb US /ˈsentənst/

past form of “sentence” — pronounce a sentence on (somebody) in a court of law

From this reading “Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

return trip verb + noun

In this reading “Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.”

727 times in 426,211 chapters
rid of verb + particle

do away with

In this reading “When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.”

24,988 times in 426,211 chapters
took off verb + particle counted as “take off”

leave

In this reading “When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.”

22,559 times in 426,211 chapters
thirty men noun + noun

In this reading “Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.”

959 times in 426,211 chapters
stay in verb + particle

In this reading “Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.”

18,803 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 79

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.

AlphanounUS /ˈælfə/

the 1st letter of the Greek alphabet

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/

plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing

From this reading When the ship took off, the prisoners were isolated as no human beings ever had been in the recorded history of men.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
boastverbUS /boʊst/

show off

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
boredomnounUS /ˈbɔːrdəm/

the feeling of being bored by something tedious

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But this was the ultimate maximum.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Centauri

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

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

Pending verification
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
crewnounUS /kruː/

the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading When the ship took off, the prisoners were isolated as no human beings ever had been in the recorded history of men.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
historynounUS /ˈhɪstəri/

the aggregate of past events

From this reading When the ship took off, the prisoners were isolated as no human beings ever had been in the recorded history of men.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading When the ship took off, the prisoners were isolated as no human beings ever had been in the recorded history of men.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
humanlyadverbUS /ˈhjuːmənli/

in the manner of human beings

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
interminableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrmənəbəl/

tiresomely long; seemingly without end

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
isolatedadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsəleɪtəd/

not close together in time

From this reading When the ship took off, the prisoners were isolated as no human beings ever had been in the recorded history of men.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
landedadjectiveUS /ˈlændəd/

owning or consisting of land or real estate

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
maroonedadjectiveUS /mərˈuːnd/

cut off or left behind

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
maximumnounUS /ˈmæksəməm/

the largest possible quantity

From this reading There had been maximum security prisons in the past.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading When the ship took off, the prisoners were isolated as no human beings ever had been in the recorded history of men.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
passengersnounUS /ˈpæsəndʒərz/

plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading There had been maximum security prisons in the past.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
planetnounUS /ˈplænət/

(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pleasantadjectiveUS /ˈplezənt/

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
possiblyadverbUS /ˈpɑːsəbli/

by chance

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
prisonersnounUS /ˈprɪzənərz/

plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading When the ship took off, the prisoners were isolated as no human beings ever had been in the recorded history of men.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
prisonsnounUS /ˈprɪzənz/

plural of “prison” — a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment

From this reading There had been maximum security prisons in the past.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
proximitynounUS /prɑːkˈsɪməti/

the property of being close together

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
recordedadjectiveUS /rəˈkɔːrdɪd/

set down or registered in a permanent form especially on film or tape for reproduction

From this reading When the ship took off, the prisoners were isolated as no human beings ever had been in the recorded history of men.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ridverbUS /rɪd/

relieve from

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
securitynounUS /sɪˈkjʊrəti/

the state of being free from danger or injury

From this reading There had been maximum security prisons in the past.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sentencedverbUS /ˈsentənst/

past form of “sentence” — pronounce a sentence on (somebody) in a court of law

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shipverbUS /ʃɪp/

transport commercially

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
spacenounUS /speɪs/

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stayverbUS /steɪ/

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There had been maximum security prisons in the past.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thirtynounUS /ˈθɜːrdiː/

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading But this was the ultimate maximum.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tripnounUS /trɪp/

a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ultimateadjectiveUS /ˈʌltəmət/

furthest or highest in degree or order; utmost or extreme

From this reading But this was the ultimate maximum.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading When the ship took off, the prisoners were isolated as no human beings ever had been in the recorded history of men.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Not even the interminable boredom of the return trip was enough to make them want to stay in anything like proximity with the thirty men and thirty women who had been sentenced to be marooned as far from earth as was humanly possibly.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading When the first space ship landed on that pleasant world (the only pleasant planet of which Alpha Centauri could boast) the crew was so happy to get rid of the passengers that they took off the moment they could.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 2 of The planet of shame by Bruce Elliott holds 154 sentences, grouped into 31 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 2 of The planet of shame contain?

Chapter 2 holds 154 sentences of The planet of shame, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The planet of shame by Bruce Elliott exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 154 sentences, grouped into 31 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 2 of The planet of shame?

Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 31 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 The planet of shame

Common questions about reading The planet of shame by Bruce Elliott on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The planet of shame?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The planet of shame is used?

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

How long does The planet of shame take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The planet of shame section by section

How to work through The planet of shame section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The planet of shame

Words and structures a reader meets early in The planet of shame, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The planet of shame, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of The planet of shame, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The planet of shame, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.