Weird Sentences by Carl Sagan [on hold]
I am reading a book titled Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan. But I can hardly understand the following sentences. Would anyone help me with simpler and easier sentences so that I can understand? Quote:
The problem, Steven Ostro of JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and I have suggested, is that if you can reliably deflect a threatening worldlet so it does not collide with the Earth, you can also reliably deflect a harmless worldlet so it does collide with the Earth.
meaning
put on hold as off-topic by Kris, Andrew Leach♦ 5 mins ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Andrew Leach
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |
I am reading a book titled Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan. But I can hardly understand the following sentences. Would anyone help me with simpler and easier sentences so that I can understand? Quote:
The problem, Steven Ostro of JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and I have suggested, is that if you can reliably deflect a threatening worldlet so it does not collide with the Earth, you can also reliably deflect a harmless worldlet so it does collide with the Earth.
meaning
put on hold as off-topic by Kris, Andrew Leach♦ 5 mins ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Andrew Leach
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
The sentence seems perfectly straightforward and clear. Just what is it about the sentence that you find weird?
– bof
1 hour ago
Voting to close the Q as a NARQ.
– Kris
40 mins ago
Bof, many thanks! Now It became clear what this sentence means.I couldn't figure out the following : you can also reliably deflect a harmless worldlet so it does collide with the Earth.". If I rephrase it, it is ' you can also control a harmless worldlet so that it collides with the Earth.' In fact, I use an English-Korean dictionary so if you look up the defintion of 'deflect', it says that you make something deviated from some point. That definition does equal the meaning of control.
– handrick hong
21 mins ago
add a comment |
I am reading a book titled Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan. But I can hardly understand the following sentences. Would anyone help me with simpler and easier sentences so that I can understand? Quote:
The problem, Steven Ostro of JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and I have suggested, is that if you can reliably deflect a threatening worldlet so it does not collide with the Earth, you can also reliably deflect a harmless worldlet so it does collide with the Earth.
meaning
I am reading a book titled Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan. But I can hardly understand the following sentences. Would anyone help me with simpler and easier sentences so that I can understand? Quote:
The problem, Steven Ostro of JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and I have suggested, is that if you can reliably deflect a threatening worldlet so it does not collide with the Earth, you can also reliably deflect a harmless worldlet so it does collide with the Earth.
meaning
meaning
edited 5 mins ago
Andrew Leach♦
79.8k8151256
79.8k8151256
asked 1 hour ago
handrick honghandrick hong
51
51
put on hold as off-topic by Kris, Andrew Leach♦ 5 mins ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Andrew Leach
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
put on hold as off-topic by Kris, Andrew Leach♦ 5 mins ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Andrew Leach
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
The sentence seems perfectly straightforward and clear. Just what is it about the sentence that you find weird?
– bof
1 hour ago
Voting to close the Q as a NARQ.
– Kris
40 mins ago
Bof, many thanks! Now It became clear what this sentence means.I couldn't figure out the following : you can also reliably deflect a harmless worldlet so it does collide with the Earth.". If I rephrase it, it is ' you can also control a harmless worldlet so that it collides with the Earth.' In fact, I use an English-Korean dictionary so if you look up the defintion of 'deflect', it says that you make something deviated from some point. That definition does equal the meaning of control.
– handrick hong
21 mins ago
add a comment |
1
The sentence seems perfectly straightforward and clear. Just what is it about the sentence that you find weird?
– bof
1 hour ago
Voting to close the Q as a NARQ.
– Kris
40 mins ago
Bof, many thanks! Now It became clear what this sentence means.I couldn't figure out the following : you can also reliably deflect a harmless worldlet so it does collide with the Earth.". If I rephrase it, it is ' you can also control a harmless worldlet so that it collides with the Earth.' In fact, I use an English-Korean dictionary so if you look up the defintion of 'deflect', it says that you make something deviated from some point. That definition does equal the meaning of control.
– handrick hong
21 mins ago
1
1
The sentence seems perfectly straightforward and clear. Just what is it about the sentence that you find weird?
– bof
1 hour ago
The sentence seems perfectly straightforward and clear. Just what is it about the sentence that you find weird?
– bof
1 hour ago
Voting to close the Q as a NARQ.
– Kris
40 mins ago
Voting to close the Q as a NARQ.
– Kris
40 mins ago
Bof, many thanks! Now It became clear what this sentence means.I couldn't figure out the following : you can also reliably deflect a harmless worldlet so it does collide with the Earth.". If I rephrase it, it is ' you can also control a harmless worldlet so that it collides with the Earth.' In fact, I use an English-Korean dictionary so if you look up the defintion of 'deflect', it says that you make something deviated from some point. That definition does equal the meaning of control.
– handrick hong
21 mins ago
Bof, many thanks! Now It became clear what this sentence means.I couldn't figure out the following : you can also reliably deflect a harmless worldlet so it does collide with the Earth.". If I rephrase it, it is ' you can also control a harmless worldlet so that it collides with the Earth.' In fact, I use an English-Korean dictionary so if you look up the defintion of 'deflect', it says that you make something deviated from some point. That definition does equal the meaning of control.
– handrick hong
21 mins ago
add a comment |
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1
The sentence seems perfectly straightforward and clear. Just what is it about the sentence that you find weird?
– bof
1 hour ago
Voting to close the Q as a NARQ.
– Kris
40 mins ago
Bof, many thanks! Now It became clear what this sentence means.I couldn't figure out the following : you can also reliably deflect a harmless worldlet so it does collide with the Earth.". If I rephrase it, it is ' you can also control a harmless worldlet so that it collides with the Earth.' In fact, I use an English-Korean dictionary so if you look up the defintion of 'deflect', it says that you make something deviated from some point. That definition does equal the meaning of control.
– handrick hong
21 mins ago