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The Very Secret Agent
The Very Secret Agent

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Very Secret Agent is here in full — 641 sentences across 129 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Very Secret Agent
Context Illustration Reading 1/128 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
_Poor Riuku!...
Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.
"No," Riuku said.
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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 Very Secret Agent

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Very Secret Agent is here in full — 641 sentences across 129 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/128 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.
Line 2
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Line 3
_Poor Riuku!...
Line 4
Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.
Line 5
"No," Riuku said.

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.

aliens noun US /ˈeɪliənz/

plural of “alien” — a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country

From this reading “Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.”

copyright noun US /ˈkɑːpiraɪt/

a document granting exclusive right to publish and sell literary or musical or artistic work

From this reading “Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.”

Mars noun US /mɑːrz/

a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color

From this reading “Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.”

orbit noun US /ˈɔːrbət/

the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another

From this reading “Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.”

publication noun US /ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃən/

a copy of a printed work offered for distribution

From this reading “Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.”

research noun US /riˈsɜːrtʃ/

systematic investigation to establish facts

From this reading “Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.”

uncover verb US /ənˈkʌvər/

remove all or part of one's clothes to show one's body

From this reading “Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.”

Worlds noun US /wɜːrldz/

plural of “world” — everything that exists anywhere

From this reading “This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.”

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.

human race adjective + noun

all of the living human inhabitants of the earth

In this reading “Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.”

same species adjective + noun

In this reading “Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.”

sat looking noun + noun

In this reading “Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.”

goes on verb + particle counted as “go on”

continue a certain state, condition, or activity

In this reading “Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.”

any evidence adjective + noun

In this reading “Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.”

produced from verb + particle counted as “produce from”

In this reading “This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.”

All words in this reading · 66

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.

1954

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

From this reading This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

aliensnounUS /ˈeɪliənz/

plural of “alien” — a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

copyrightnounUS /ˈkɑːpiraɪt/

a document granting exclusive right to publish and sell literary or musical or artistic work

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

didn't

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

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

etext

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

From this reading This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

evidencenounUS /ˈevədəns/

your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

ExtensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstensɪv/

large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

FictionnounUS /ˈfɪkʃən/

a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact

From this reading This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.

goesnounUS /ɡoʊz/

plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

how

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

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

malenounUS /meɪl/

an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

MarsnounUS /mɑːrz/

a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

membernounUS /ˈmembər/

one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "No," Riuku said.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

orbitnounUS /ˈɔːrbət/

the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

PooradjectiveUS /puːr/

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading _Poor Riuku!...

producedverbUS /prəˈduːst/

past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield

From this reading This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.

publicationnounUS /ˌpʌblɪˈkeɪʃən/

a copy of a printed work offered for distribution

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

racenounUS /reɪs/

any competition

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

renewedadjectiveUS /rɪˈnuːd/

restored to a new condition

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

researchnounUS /riˈsɜːrtʃ/

systematic investigation to establish facts

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

Riuku

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

From this reading _Poor Riuku!...

SnounUS /es/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "No," Riuku said.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

SciencenounUS /ˈsaɪəns/

a particular branch of scientific knowledge

From this reading This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.

shipverbUS /ʃɪp/

transport commercially

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

speciesnounUS /ˈspiːʃiz/

(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

supposedadjectiveUS /səˈpoʊzd/

required or under orders

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

UnounUS /juː/

a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

uncoververbUS /ənˈkʌvər/

remove all or part of one's clothes to show one's body

From this reading Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/

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

From this reading Not being a member of the human race, how was he supposed to understand what goes on in a woman's mind when the male of the same species didn't even know?_ In their ship just beyond the orbit of Mars the two aliens sat looking at each other.

WorldsnounUS /wɜːrldz/

plural of “world” — everything that exists anywhere

From this reading This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction November 1954.

Chapter 1 of The Very Secret Agent by Mari Wolf holds 641 sentences, grouped into 129 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 1 of The Very Secret Agent contain?

Chapter 1 holds 641 sentences of The Very Secret Agent, unabridged, divided into 129 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Very Secret Agent by Mari Wolf exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 641 sentences, grouped into 129 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 1 of The Very Secret Agent?

Work through the 129 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 129 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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.

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Vocabulary met early in The Very Secret Agent

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Very Secret Agent, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The Very Secret Agent, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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