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When the atoms failed
When the atoms failed

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of When the atoms failed is here in full — 438 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for When the atoms failed
Context Illustration Reading 1/87 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Good Lord Steve, haven't you thought of enough?"
"Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.
In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."
"Yes, that's true, too.
But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.
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.

When the atoms failed

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of When the atoms failed is here in full — 438 sentences across 88 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/87 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Good Lord Steve, haven't you thought of enough?"
Line 2
"Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.
Line 3
In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."
/ɪn fækt ɪt ɪz ˈhaɪli ˈprɑːbəbəl ðæt ɪf hiː dʌz juː wɪl ɡet ə nuː fɔːrm wʌn mɔːr əˈdæptɪd tuː ˈeriəl ˈtrænzɪt/
Line 4
"Yes, that's true, too.
Line 5
But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.

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.

adapted adjective US /əˈdæptɪd/

changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose

From this reading “In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."”

aerial noun US /ˈeriəl/

a pass to a receiver downfield from the passer

From this reading “In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."”

highly adverb US /ˈhaɪli/

to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

From this reading “In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."”

invisible adjective US /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/

impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye

From this reading “But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.”

permit noun US /pərˈmɪt/

a legal document giving official permission to do something

From this reading “"Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.”

probable adjective US /ˈprɑːbəbəl/

likely but not certain to be or become true or real

From this reading “In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."”

proceedings noun US /proʊˈsiːdɪŋz/

(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked

From this reading “"Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.”

transit noun US /ˈtrænzɪt/

a surveying instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical angles, consisting of a small telescope mounted on a tripod

From this reading “In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."”

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.

highly probable adverb + adjective

In this reading “In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."”

In fact preposition + noun

in reality or actuality

In this reading “In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."”

All words in this reading · 56

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 In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

adaptedadjectiveUS /əˈdæptɪd/

changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

aerialnounUS /ˈeriəl/

a pass to a receiver downfield from the passer

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.

bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

consideredadjectiveUS /kənˈsɪdərd/

carefully weighed

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

dangerousadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/

involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm

From this reading But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.

Dave

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

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

enemynounUS /ˈenəmi/

an opposing military force

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

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

From this reading "Good Lord Steve, haven't you thought of enough?"

factnounUS /fækt/

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

formnounUS /fɔːrm/

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

GoodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading "Good Lord Steve, haven't you thought of enough?"

haven't

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

From this reading "Good Lord Steve, haven't you thought of enough?"

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

highlyadverbUS /ˈhaɪli/

to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/

impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye

From this reading But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

isn't

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

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.

LordnounUS /lɔːrd/

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading "Good Lord Steve, haven't you thought of enough?"

militaryadjectiveUS /ˈmɪləteri/

of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Good Lord Steve, haven't you thought of enough?"

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

permitnounUS /pərˈmɪt/

a legal document giving official permission to do something

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

PlentynounUS /ˈplenti/

a full supply

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

probableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːbəbəl/

likely but not certain to be or become true or real

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

proceedingsnounUS /proʊˈsiːdɪŋz/

(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

readingnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋ/

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.

Steve

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

From this reading "Good Lord Steve, haven't you thought of enough?"

surprisenounUS /sərˈpraɪz/

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

that's

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

From this reading "Yes, that's true, too.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading "Good Lord Steve, haven't you thought of enough?"

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Plenty, Dave, but it isn't considered good form in military proceedings to permit the enemy to surprise you.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading "Yes, that's true, too.

transitnounUS /ˈtrænzɪt/

a surveying instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical angles, consisting of a small telescope mounted on a tripod

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading "Yes, that's true, too.

ultra-violet

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

From this reading But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But I remember reading once that ultra-violet light was invisible, and very dangerous to the body.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading In fact, it is highly probable that if he does, you will get a new form, one more adapted to aerial transit."

YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading "Yes, that's true, too.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Good Lord Steve, haven't you thought of enough?"

Chapter 2 of When the atoms failed by John W., Jr. (John Wood) Campbell holds 438 sentences, grouped into 88 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 When the atoms failed contain?

Chapter 2 holds 438 sentences of When the atoms failed, unabridged, divided into 88 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of When the atoms failed by John W., Jr. (John Wood) Campbell exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 438 sentences, grouped into 88 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 When the atoms failed?

Work through the 88 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 88 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 When the atoms failed

Common questions about reading When the atoms failed by John W., Jr. (John Wood) Campbell on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of When the atoms failed?

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

Which edition of When the atoms failed is used?

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

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

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Vocabulary met early in When the atoms failed

Words and structures a reader meets early in When the atoms failed, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of When the atoms failed, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of When the atoms failed, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of When the atoms failed, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.