Unborn Tomorrow

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Unborn Tomorrow is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mack Reynolds • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

_Unfortunately, there was only one thing he could bring back from the wonderful future ... and though he didn't want to ... nevertheless he did...._ Betty looked up from her magazine.

She said mildly, "You're late."

"Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her.

He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation."

Narrator

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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.

Chapter I Reading 1/83

Unborn Tomorrow

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Unborn Tomorrow is here in full — 415 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

_Unfortunately, there was only one thing he could bring back from the wonderful future ... and though he didn't want to ... nevertheless he did...._ Betty looked up from her magazine.

Line 2

She said mildly, "You're late."

Line 3

"Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her.

Line 4

He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

/hiː sæt daʊn æt hɪz desk pæst hɪz tʌŋ ˈoʊvər hɪz tiːθ ɪn dɪˈsteɪst ɡroʊnd ˈfʌmbəld ɪn ə drɔːr fɔːr ðə ˈæsprɪn ˈbɑːtəl/

Line 5

He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation."

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.

aspirin noun US /ˈæsprɪn/

the acetylated derivative of salicylic acid; used as an analgesic anti-inflammatory drug (trade names Bayer, Empirin, and St. Joseph) usually taken in tablet form; used as an antipyretic; slows clotting of the blood by poisoning platelets

From this reading “He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.”

distaste noun US /dɪˈsteɪst/

a feeling of intense dislike

From this reading “He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.”

drawer noun US /drɔːr/

a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out

From this reading “He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.”

fumbled verb US /ˈfʌmbəld/

past form of “fumble” — feel about uncertainly or blindly

From this reading “He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.”

mildly adverb US /ˈmaɪldli/

to a moderate degree

From this reading “She said mildly, "You're late."”

reciting verb US /riˈsaɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “recite” — recite in elocution

From this reading “He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation."”

vacation noun US /veɪˈkeɪʃən/

leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading “He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation."”

yell noun US /jel/

a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition

From this reading “"Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her.”

All words in this reading · 64

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _Unfortunately, there was only one thing he could bring back from the wonderful future ... and though he didn't want to ... nevertheless he did...._ Betty looked up from her magazine.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation."

aspirinnounUS /ˈæsprɪn/

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her.

awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/

exceptionally bad or displeasing

From this reading "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

Betty

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

bottlenounUS /ˈbɑːtəl/

a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

bringverbUS /brɪŋ/

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

desknounUS /desk/

a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

didn't

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

distastenounUS /dɪˈsteɪst/

a feeling of intense dislike

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

Don't

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

From this reading "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

drawernounUS /drɔːr/

a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

fumbledverbUS /ˈfʌmbəld/

past form of “fumble” — feel about uncertainly or blindly

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/

yet to be or coming

groanedverbUS /ɡroʊnd/

past form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation."

lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading She said mildly, "You're late."

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

magazinenounUS /ˈmæɡəziːn/

a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her.

mildlyadverbUS /ˈmaɪldli/

to a moderate degree

From this reading She said mildly, "You're late."

neednounUS /niːd/

a condition requiring relief

From this reading He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation."

neverthelessadverbUS /ˌnevərðəˈles/

in spite of what has just been said

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

recitingverbUS /riˈsaɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “recite” — recite in elocution

From this reading He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation."

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading She said mildly, "You're late."

satnounUS /sæt/

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

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She said mildly, "You're late."

SimonnounUS /ˈsaɪmən/

one of the twelve Apostles (first century)

From this reading "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her.

teethnounUS /tiːθ/

the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her.

tonguenounUS /tʌŋ/

a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading He sat down at his desk, passed his tongue over his teeth in distaste, groaned, fumbled in a drawer for the aspirin bottle.

UnfortunatelyadverbUS /ənˈfɔːrtʃənətli/

by bad luck

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

vacationnounUS /veɪˈkeɪʃən/

leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation."

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He looked over at Betty and said, almost as though reciting, "What I need is a vacation."

wonderfuladjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərfəl/

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

yellnounUS /jel/

a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition

From this reading "Don't yell at me, I feel awful," Simon told her.

You're

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

From this reading She said mildly, "You're late."

Chapter 1 of Unborn Tomorrow by Mack Reynolds holds 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Unborn Tomorrow contain?

Chapter 1 holds 415 sentences of Unborn Tomorrow, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Unborn Tomorrow by Mack Reynolds exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 415 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Unborn Tomorrow?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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.

Questions about reading Unborn Tomorrow

Common questions about reading Unborn Tomorrow by Mack Reynolds on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Unborn Tomorrow?

Yes. All 415 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #23942 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Unborn Tomorrow is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #23942, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Unborn Tomorrow take to read?

About 34 minutes of reading across 83 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Unborn Tomorrow section by section

How to work through Unborn Tomorrow section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 1 chapters of Unborn Tomorrow to begin.
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Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in Unborn Tomorrow

Words and structures a reader meets early in Unborn Tomorrow, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Unfortunately: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Unborn Tomorrow; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Thing: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Unborn Tomorrow; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bring: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Unborn Tomorrow; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wonderful: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Unborn Tomorrow; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter I · Chapter 1

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Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Questions about reading Unborn Tomorrow

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Vocabulary met early in Unborn Tomorrow