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The Space Pioneers
The Space Pioneers

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Space Pioneers is here in full — 296 sentences across 60 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Space Pioneers
Context Illustration Reading 1/59 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Jeff, look!" she cried.
"Isn't that Captain Strong?"
The enlisted spaceman slowed the car and followed the direction of Jane's pointing finger.
He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Space Pioneers

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Space Pioneers is here in full — 296 sentences across 60 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/59 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.
Line 2
"Jeff, look!" she cried.
Line 3
"Isn't that Captain Strong?"
Line 4
The enlisted spaceman slowed the car and followed the direction of Jane's pointing finger.
Line 5
He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.
/hiː sɔː strɔːŋ step ərˈaʊnd ðə ˈkɔːrnər ʌv ðə ædˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃən ˈbɪldɪŋ stɑːp ðen ˈskɜːri bæk ərˈaʊnd tuː ðə saɪd/

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.

Administration noun US /ædˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃən/

a method of tending to or managing the affairs of a some group of people (especially the group's business affairs)

From this reading “Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.”

enlisted verb US /ˌenˈlɪstɪd/

past form of “enlist” — join the military

From this reading “The enlisted spaceman slowed the car and followed the direction of Jane's pointing finger.”

grabbed verb US /ɡræbd/

inflected form of “grab” — take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of

From this reading “Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.”

jet noun US /dʒet/

an airplane powered by one or more jet engines

From this reading “Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.”

Marshall noun US /ˈmɑːrʃəl/

United States actor (1914-1998)

From this reading “Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.”

Plaza noun US /ˈplɑːzə/

a public square with room for pedestrians

From this reading “Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.”

scurry verb US /ˈskɜːri/

to move about or proceed hurriedly

From this reading “He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.”

slowed verb US /sloʊd/

past form of “slow” — lose velocity; move more slowly

From this reading “The enlisted spaceman slowed the car and followed the direction of Jane's pointing finger.”

All words in this reading · 48

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.

AdministrationnounUS /ædˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃən/

a method of tending to or managing the affairs of a some group of people (especially the group's business affairs)

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The enlisted spaceman slowed the car and followed the direction of Jane's pointing finger.

armnounUS /ɑːrm/

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.

BuildingnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋ/

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading "Isn't that Captain Strong?"

carnounUS /kɑːr/

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.

criedverbUS /kraɪd/

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "Jeff, look!" she cried.

directionnounUS /dərˈekʃən/

a line leading to a place or point

From this reading The enlisted spaceman slowed the car and followed the direction of Jane's pointing finger.

enlistedverbUS /ˌenˈlɪstɪd/

past form of “enlist” — join the military

From this reading The enlisted spaceman slowed the car and followed the direction of Jane's pointing finger.

fingerverbUS /ˈfɪŋɡər/

feel or handle with the fingers

From this reading The enlisted spaceman slowed the car and followed the direction of Jane's pointing finger.

followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading The enlisted spaceman slowed the car and followed the direction of Jane's pointing finger.

frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

grabbedverbUS /ɡræbd/

inflected form of “grab” — take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

Isn't

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

From this reading "Isn't that Captain Strong?"

Jane

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

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

Jane's

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

From this reading The enlisted spaceman slowed the car and followed the direction of Jane's pointing finger.

Jeff

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

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

jetnounUS /dʒet/

an airplane powered by one or more jet engines

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading "Jeff, look!" she cried.

MarshallnounUS /ˈmɑːrʃəl/

United States actor (1914-1998)

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

PlazanounUS /ˈplɑːzə/

a public square with room for pedestrians

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

pointingverbUS /ˈpɔɪntɪŋ/

-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively

From this reading The enlisted spaceman slowed the car and followed the direction of Jane's pointing finger.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.

scurryverbUS /ˈskɜːri/

to move about or proceed hurriedly

From this reading He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "Jeff, look!" she cried.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.

slowedverbUS /sloʊd/

past form of “slow” — lose velocity; move more slowly

From this reading The enlisted spaceman slowed the car and followed the direction of Jane's pointing finger.

spacemannoun

a person trained to travel in a spacecraft

From this reading The enlisted spaceman slowed the car and followed the direction of Jane's pointing finger.

stepnounUS /step/

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.

stopverbUS /stɑːp/

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.

StrongadjectiveUS /strɔːŋ/

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading "Isn't that Captain Strong?"

suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/

happening unexpectedly

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Isn't that Captain Strong?"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He saw Strong step around the corner of the Administration Building, stop, then scurry back around to the side.

turningnounUS /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Jeff Marshall was just turning the jet car into the Plaza in front of the Administration Building when Jane suddenly grabbed his arm.

Chapter 20 of The Space Pioneers by Carey Rockwell holds 296 sentences, grouped into 60 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 20 of The Space Pioneers contain?

Chapter 20 holds 296 sentences of The Space Pioneers, unabridged, divided into 60 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of The Space Pioneers by Carey Rockwell exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 296 sentences, grouped into 60 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 20 of The Space Pioneers?

Work through the 60 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 60 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Space Pioneers

Common questions about reading The Space Pioneers by Carey Rockwell on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Space Pioneers?

Yes. All 4400 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #18753 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Space Pioneers is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #18753, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Space Pioneers take to read?

About 366 minutes of reading across 880 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Space Pioneers section by section

How to work through The Space Pioneers section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 21 chapters of The Space Pioneers to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in The Space Pioneers

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Space Pioneers, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Astro
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Space Pioneers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shouted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Space Pioneers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Young
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Space Pioneers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Space
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Space Pioneers; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.