The Star by H.G. Wells (Pre-Intermediate)

Pre-Intermediate

story

Once upon a time, on the first day of the New Year, a wonderful announcement was made almost simultaneously from three great observatories around the world. They declared that the motion of the planet Neptune, the furthest planet from the Sun, had become very strange and erratic. Ogilvy, a wise astronomer, had already noticed something odd about Neptune in December.

Although most people didn't know much about Neptune, scientists were intrigued. Soon, they discovered a faint, distant speck of light near Neptune. At first, this didn't cause much excitement outside the scientific community. But as days passed, the new body grew larger and brighter. Its motion was quite different from the orderly progress of the planets, and Neptune was being affected in an unprecedented way.

Few people without a training in science can realize the vast emptiness of space. Beyond Neptune lies a great void without warmth or light, for twenty million times a million miles. Until early in the twentieth century, no matter had ever crossed this gulf of space, until this strange visitor appeared. It was a vast mass, bulky and heavy, rushing from the black sky into the radiance of the Sun.

By the second day, it was visible with a good telescope as a tiny speck in the constellation Leo, near the bright star Regulus. On the third day of the new year, the newspapers around the world reported the importance of this new star. "A Planetary Collision!" one headline read, proclaiming that the new planet might collide with Neptune.

As the night followed the sunset, people around the world looked up to see the familiar stars and, to their surprise, a new bright star in the west. It was brighter than any star they had ever seen, even brighter than the evening star. This great white star shone brightly, causing fear and wonder among those who saw it. People whispered about wars and pestilences foreshadowed by fiery signs in the heavens.

In observatories, scientists watched in amazement as the two remote bodies rushed together. A new planet from outer space had struck Neptune, creating a vast mass of incandescence. For two hours before dawn, the great white star shone across the world, fading only as it sank westward and the Sun rose above it. Sailors at sea, who had heard nothing of its coming, saw it rise like a small moon and climb overhead before sinking westward with the night.

The next night, people crowded on hills, rooftops, and open spaces to see the rising of the new star. It was brighter and larger than before, causing scientists to say, "It is nearer."

The news spread quickly, and people everywhere wondered what this meant. Some feared the worst, while others dismissed it as a mere comet or a false alarm. But as the star grew larger and brighter each night, it became clear that something extraordinary was happening.

The master mathematician, a wise and dedicated scientist, spent days calculating the star's path. On the fifth day, he finished his work and looked out at the star with a determined gaze. "You may kill me," he said, "but I can hold you and all the universe in the grip of this little brain."

That day, he told his students, "Circumstances beyond my control will prevent me from completing our course. Man has lived in vain." His words puzzled the students, but they listened as he explained his calculations.

The star continued to approach, causing great changes on Earth. The frost in Europe began to thaw, and rivers overflowed. Earthquakes shook the land, and the seas rose higher than ever before. The heat grew intense, melting ice and snow, causing floods and destruction.

As the star neared its closest point to Earth, it became clear that it would miss our planet but pass very close. The master mathematician had predicted earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and a rise in temperature, and his predictions were coming true.

For a moment, it seemed the world would be destroyed. But then, the Moon came between the star and the Earth, casting a shadow and giving people a moment of relief. The star and the Sun rose together, creating a single glare of flame in the sky.

Finally, the star began to recede, moving away from Earth and towards the Sun. The clouds gathered, and a great rain fell, cooling the land and washing away the debris. The Earth was left scarred but alive.

In the end, the star passed, and people began to rebuild their lives. The world had changed, with warmer climates and new landscapes. Far away on Mars, astronomers watched and marveled at the events, noting how small the vastest of human catastrophes seemed from a distance.

And so, the tale of the star that came and passed into history, leaving behind a changed world and a lesson in the vastness of the universe.

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Words and Idioms

Study it with Flashcard

https://quizlet.com/kr/929622136/the-star-by-hg-wells-flash-cards/?i=3en6ue&x=1qqt

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observatories (n.) - buildings or places equipped for observing celestial events

motion (n.) - the action or process of moving

astronomer (n.) - a scientist who studies celestial bodies

distant (adj.) - far away in space or time

orderly (adj.) - neatly and methodically arranged

affected (v.) - influenced or changed by something

visible (adj.) - able to be seen

telescope (n.) - an instrument used to observe distant objects

collision (n.) - an instance of one moving object striking another

whispered (v.) - spoke very softly

incandescence (n.) - the emission of visible light from a hot object

sank (v.) - went down below the surface of water or another substance

mathematician (n.) - an expert or specialist in mathematics

determined (adj.) - having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it

circumstances (n.) - facts or conditions connected with an event or action

predicted (v.) - said or estimated that a specific thing would happen in the future

earthquakes (n.) - sudden and violent shaking of the ground

volcanic (adj.) - relating to or produced by a volcano

eruption (n.) - a sudden outbreak of something, typically something unwelcome or noisy

flame (n.) - the visible, gaseous part of a fire

recede (v.) - go or move back or further away from a previous position

debris (n.) - scattered fragments, typically of something wrecked or destroyed

rebuilt (v.) - built something again after it has been damaged or destroyed

marveled (v.) - was filled with wonder or astonishment

erratic (adj.) - not even or regular in pattern or movement

intrigued (adj.) - aroused the curiosity or interest of

unprecedented (adj.) - never done or known before

radiance (n.) - light or heat as emitted or reflected by something

proclaiming (v.) - announcing officially or publicly

perturbed (adj.) - anxious or unsettled; upset

remarkable (adj.) - worthy of attention; striking

deflection (n.) - the action or process of deflecting or being deflected

immensity (n.) - the extremely large size, scale, or extent of something

gulf (n.) - a large difference or division between two people, groups, or things

vast (adj.) - of very great extent or quantity; immense

calculation (n.) - a mathematical determination of the size or number of something

convulsion (n.) - a sudden, violent, irregular movement of a limb or of the body

destruction (n.) - the action or process of causing so much damage to something that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired

catastrophes (n.) - events causing great and often sudden damage or suffering

dazzling (adj.) - extremely bright, especially so as to blind the eyes temporarily

phenomenon (n.) - a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or explanation is in question

scarred (adj.) - marked with a scar or scars

catastrophe (n.) - an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering

deterministic (adj.) - relating to the philosophical doctrine that all events are determined completely by previously existing causes

insistence (n.) - the fact or quality of insisting that something is the case or should be done

eloquently (adv.) - in a fluent or persuasive manner

beyond the Sun - farther than the Sun

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Questions

1. What did the observatories announce about Neptune on the first day of the New Year?

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A. Neptune had disappeared.

B. Neptune's motion had become very strange and erratic.

C. Neptune had become larger.

D. Neptune had collided with the Moon.

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2. What caused people to start paying attention to the new star?

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A. It was brighter and larger than any star they had ever seen.

B. It made strange noises.

C. It changed colors every night.

D. It appeared during the day.

Comprehension Questions:

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3. Why were the scientists so amazed by the new star?

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A. Because it was a new planet that appeared out of nowhere.

B. Because it was singing a song.

C. Because it was very close to Earth.

D. Because it was causing plants to grow faster.

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4. What did the master mathematician do to understand the star's path?

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A. He used a magical spell.

B. He spent days calculating its path.

C. He asked his students to guess.

D. He took a spaceship to visit the star.

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5. What does the new star in the story make people feel?

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A. Happiness and joy.

B. Fear and wonder.

C. Sleepy and tired.

D. Hungry and thirsty.

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6. How does the story show that space is very vast and empty?

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A. By mentioning the great void beyond Neptune.

B. By describing the colorful stars.

C. By talking about the planets singing songs.

D. By showing how crowded space is with planets.

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Short Writing Topics

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1. Imagine you are one of the people looking up at the new star. Describe what you see and how you feel.

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2. Explain why the master mathematician was important in the story and what he discovered about the new star.

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3. Write about how the world changed after the new star appeared and how people started to rebuild their lives.

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Answer Keys

1. B. Neptune's motion had become very strange and erratic.

2. A. It was brighter and larger than any star they had ever seen.

3. A. Because it was a new planet that appeared out of nowhere.

4. B. He spent days calculating its path.

5. B. Fear and wonder.

6. A. By mentioning the great void beyond Neptune.

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Sample Writing

1. As I look up at the night sky, I see a new star shining brighter than any star I have ever seen before. It’s much bigger and more radiant than the evening star, and it fills me with a mix of awe and fear. The star glows with a white light that makes me feel both excited and a little scared because I’ve never seen anything like it. The streets are filled with people pointing at the sky and whispering about what this new star might mean. I wonder if it will bring good or bad changes to our world.

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2. The master mathematician played a crucial role in the story because he was dedicated to understanding the new star's path. He spent days and nights working hard to calculate where the star was heading and what effects it would have on Earth. His determination and intelligence helped him discover that the star would come very close to Earth, causing natural disasters like earthquakes and floods. His findings were important because they helped people understand the seriousness of the situation and prepare for the changes that were coming. The mathematician's work showed how science can help us understand and face challenges in our world.

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3. After the new star appeared, the world went through significant changes. The heat from the star caused the ice and snow to melt, leading to floods and earthquakes that destroyed many homes and cities. People were frightened, but they came together to help each other. Once the star began to move away, the rains came and helped cool down the Earth. Gradually, people started to rebuild their lives. They worked to fix their homes, clear the debris, and plant new crops. The climate became warmer, and the landscapes changed, making some places more livable than before. People learned to appreciate their planet more and worked together to make their world a better place to live.

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