Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll- page 20

It sounded an excellent plan, no doubt, and very neatly and simply arranged; the only difficulty was, that she had not the smallest idea how to set about it; and while she was peering about anxiously among the trees, a little sharp bark just over her head made her look up in a great hurry.

• It sounded: It seemed or appeared [ɪt ˈsaʊndɪd]
• an excellent plan: a very good and effective idea [ən ˈɛksələnt plæn]
• no doubt: certainly; without question [noʊ daʊt]
• and: connecting two related ideas [ənd]
• very neatly: in a tidy and organized manner [ˈvɛri ˈnitli]
• and simply: in a straightforward and uncomplicated manner [ənd ˈsɪmpli]
• arranged: organized or planned [əreɪnʤd]
• the only difficulty: the single problem or challenge [ðə ˈoʊnli ˈdɪfɪˌkəlti]
• was: past tense of 'to be', linking the subject to the predicate [wɑz]
• that: introducing a clause stating the content of the difficulty [ðət]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• had not: did not have [hæd nɑt]
• the smallest idea: no understanding or knowledge [ðə sˈmɔləst aɪˈdiə]
• how to set about it: how to begin or approach the task [haʊ tɪ sɛt əˈbaʊt ɪt]
• and: connecting two related ideas [ənd]
• while: during the time that [waɪl]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• was peering: looking closely or carefully [wɑz ˈpirɪŋ]
• about: around; in various places [əˈbaʊt]
• anxiously: in a worried or nervous manner [ˈæŋkʃəsli]
• among the trees: surrounded by trees [əˈməŋ ðə triz]
• a little sharp bark: a short, high-pitched sound made by a dog or similar animal [ə ˈlɪtəl ʃɑrp bɑrk]
• just over her head: directly above her [ʤɪst ˈoʊvər hər hɛd]
• made her: caused her to [meɪd hər]
• look up: raise her eyes to see something above [lʊk əp]
• in a great hurry: very quickly; with haste [ɪn ə greɪt ˈhəri]

An enormous puppy was looking down at her with large round eyes, and feebly stretching out one paw, trying to touch her. 'Poor little thing!' said Alice, in a coaxing tone, and she tried hard to whistle to it; but she was terribly frightened all the time at the thought that it might be hungry, in which case it would be very likely to eat her up in spite of all her coaxing.

• An enormous puppy: A very large young dog [ən ɪˈnɔrmɪs ˈpəpi]
• was looking down: past continuous tense of 'look down', meaning to direct one's gaze downwards [wɑz ˈlʊkɪŋ daʊn]
• at her: referring to Alice, the subject of the story [æt hər]
• with large round eyes: describing the puppy's eyes as big and circular [wɪθ lɑrʤ raʊnd aɪz]
• and feebly stretching out: weakly extending [ənd ˈfibli ˈstrɛʧɪŋ aʊt]
• one paw: one of the puppy's feet [wən pɔ]
• trying to touch her: attempting to make contact with Alice [traɪɪŋ tɪ təʧ hər]
• Poor little thing: an expression of sympathy for the puppy [pur ˈlɪtəl θɪŋ]
• said Alice: identifies Alice as the speaker [sɛd ˈælɪs]
• in a coaxing tone: speaking in a gentle and persuasive manner [ɪn ə ˈkoʊksɪŋ toʊn]
• and she tried hard: she made a strong effort [ənd ʃi traɪd hɑrd]
• to whistle to it: to produce a whistling sound to attract the puppy's attention [tɪ ˈwɪsəl tɪ ɪt]
• but she was terribly frightened: she felt extremely scared [bət ʃi wɑz ˈtɛrəbli ˈfraɪtənd]
• all the time: throughout the entire duration [ɔl ðə taɪm]
• at the thought: considering the possibility [æt ðə θɔt]
• that it might be hungry: that the puppy could be in need of food [ðət ɪt maɪt bi ˈhəŋgri]
• in which case: if that were to happen [ɪn wɪʧ keɪs]
• it would be very likely: it would probably [ɪt wʊd bi ˈvɛri ˈlaɪkli]
• to eat her up: to consume her entirely [tɪ it hər əp]
• in spite of: despite; regardless of [ɪn spaɪt əv]
• all her coaxing: all of her gentle persuasion and attempts to soothe the puppy [ɔl hər ˈkoʊksɪŋ]

Hardly knowing what she did, she picked up a little bit of stick, and held it out to the puppy; whereupon the puppy jumped into the air off all its feet at once, with a yelp of delight, and rushed at the stick, and made believe to worry it; then Alice dodged behind a great thistle, to keep herself from being run over; and the moment she appeared on the other side, the puppy made another rush at the stick, and tumbled head over heels in its hurry to get hold of it; then Alice, thinking it was very like having a game of play with a cart-horse, and expecting every moment to be trampled under its feet, ran round the thistle again; then the puppy began a series of short charges at the stick, running a very little way forwards each time and a long way back, and barking hoarsely all the while, till at last it sat down a good way off, panting, with its tongue hanging out of its mouth, and its great eyes half shut.

• Hardly knowing: barely aware [ˈhɑrdli noʊɪŋ]
• what she did: of her actions [wət ʃi dɪd]
• she picked up: she took hold of [ʃi pɪkt əp]
• a little bit of stick: a small piece of wood [ə ˈlɪtəl bɪt əv stɪk]
• and held it out: and extended it [ənd hɛld ɪt aʊt]
• to the puppy: towards the young dog [tɪ ðə ˈpəpi]
• whereupon: at which point [ˈwɛrəˈpɑn]
• the puppy jumped: the puppy leaped [ðə ˈpəpi ʤəmpt]
• into the air: off the ground [ˈɪntu ðə ɛr]
• off all its feet: using all four paws to propel itself upwards [ɔf ɔl ɪts fit]
• at once: simultaneously [æt wəns]
• with a yelp of delight: expressing happiness with a short, sharp bark [wɪθ ə jɛlp əv dɪˈlaɪt]
• and rushed at: and charged towards [ənd rəʃt æt]
• the stick: the piece of wood [ðə stɪk]
• and made believe: pretended [ənd meɪd bɪˈliv]
• to worry it: to playfully attack it [tɪ ˈwəri ɪt]
• then Alice dodged: then Alice moved quickly to avoid something [ðɛn ˈælɪs dɑʤd]
• behind a great thistle: behind a large, prickly plant [bɪˈhaɪnd ə greɪt ˈθɪsəl]
• to keep herself: in order to protect herself [tɪ kip hərˈsɛlf]
• from being run over: from being trampled by the puppy [frəm biɪŋ rən ˈoʊvər]
• and the moment: as soon as [ənd ðə ˈmoʊmənt]
• she appeared: she became visible [ʃi əˈpɪrd]
• on the other side: on the opposite side of the thistle [ɔn ðə ˈəðər saɪd]
• the puppy made: the puppy performed [ðə ˈpəpi meɪd]
• another rush: another charge [əˈnəðər rəʃ]
• at the stick: towards the piece of wood [æt ðə stɪk]
• and tumbled head over heels: and fell forward, rolling completely over [ənd ˈtəmbəld hɛd ˈoʊvər hilz]
• in its hurry: because it was moving so quickly [ɪn ɪts ˈhəri]
• to get hold of it: to grab the stick [tɪ gɪt hoʊld əv ɪt]
• then Alice: at that point, Alice [ðɛn ˈælɪs]
• thinking it was: believing that the situation was [ˈθɪŋkɪŋ ɪt wɑz]
• very like: similar to [ˈvɛri laɪk]
• having a game of play: engaging in a playful activity [ˈhævɪŋ ə geɪm əv pleɪ]
• with a cart-horse: with a large, strong horse used for pulling heavy loads [wɪθ ə cart-horse]
• and expecting: anticipating [ənd ɪkˈspɛktɪŋ]
• every moment: at any second [ˈɛvəri ˈmoʊmənt]
• to be trampled: to be stepped on heavily [tɪ bi ˈtræmpəld]
• under its feet: beneath the puppy's paws [ˈəndər ɪts fit]
• ran round: moved quickly around [ræn raʊnd]
• the thistle again: the prickly plant once more [ðə ˈθɪsəl əˈgɛn]
• then the puppy began: at that point, the puppy started [ðɛn ðə ˈpəpi bɪˈgæn]
• a series of short charges: a sequence of brief rushes [ə ˈsɪriz əv ʃɔrt ˈʧɑrʤɪz]
• at the stick: towards the piece of wood [æt ðə stɪk]
• running a very little way forwards: moving a short distance ahead [ˈrənɪŋ ə ˈvɛri ˈlɪtəl weɪ ˈfɔrwərdz]
• each time: on every occasion [iʧ taɪm]
• and a long way back: and a significant distance backwards [ənd ə lɔŋ weɪ bæk]
• and barking hoarsely: and making rough, strained barking sounds [ənd ˈbɑrkɪŋ hoarsely]
• all the while: during the entire time [ɔl ðə waɪl]
• till at last: until finally [tɪl æt læst]
• it sat down: it lowered itself to a sitting position [ɪt sæt daʊn]
• a good way off: a considerable distance away [ə gʊd weɪ ɔf]
• panting: breathing heavily [ˈpæntɪŋ]
• with its tongue: with its lingual organ [wɪθ ɪts təŋ]
• hanging out: protruding [ˈhæŋɪŋ aʊt]
• of its mouth: from its oral cavity [əv ɪts maʊθ]
• and its great eyes: and its large eyes [ənd ɪts greɪt aɪz]
• half shut: partially closed [hæf ʃət]

This seemed to Alice a good opportunity for making her escape; so she set off at once, and ran till she was quite tired and out of breath, and till the puppy's bark sounded quite faint in the distance.

• This: refers to a previously mentioned or understood situation or event [ðɪs]
• seemed: appeared to be; gave the impression of being [simd]
• to Alice: in Alice's opinion or perception [tɪ ˈælɪs]
• a good opportunity: a favorable chance or occasion [ə gʊd ˌɑpərˈtunəti]
• for making her escape: to successfully run away or get free from a situation [fər ˈmeɪkɪŋ hər ɪˈskeɪp]
• so: therefore; as a result [soʊ]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• set off: began to move or travel; started a journey [sɛt ɔf]
• at once: immediately; without delay [æt wəns]
• and ran: and moved quickly on foot [ənd ræn]
• till: until; up to the point in time when [tɪl]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• was: past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]
• quite tired: completely exhausted [kwaɪt taɪərd]
• and out of breath: unable to breathe easily due to exertion [ənd aʊt əv brɛθ]
• and till: and until; up to the point in time when [ənd tɪl]
• the puppy's bark: the sound made by the puppy [ðə puppys bɑrk]
• sounded: was heard [ˈsaʊndɪd]
• quite faint: very quiet and distant [kwaɪt feɪnt]
• in the distance: far away [ɪn ðə ˈdɪstəns]

'And yet what a dear little puppy it was!' said Alice, as she leant against a buttercup to rest herself, and fanned herself with one of the leaves: 'I should have liked teaching it tricks very much, if—if I'd only been the right size to do it!

• And yet: Despite what has been said; nevertheless [ənd jɛt]
• what a dear: how adorable or lovely [wət ə dɪr]
• little puppy: a young dog [ˈlɪtəl ˈpəpi]
• it was: exclamation expressing affection or fondness [ɪt wɑz]
• said Alice: Alice spoke [sɛd ˈælɪs]
• as: while; at the same time as [ɛz]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• leant: past tense of 'lean'; rested or supported herself [ˈliənt]
• against: in physical contact with [əˈgɛnst]
• a buttercup: a yellow flower [ə ˈbətərˌkəp]
• to rest herself: in order to relax and recover [tɪ rɛst hərˈsɛlf]
• and fanned: moved something back and forth to create a breeze [ənd fænd]
• herself: referring to Alice [hərˈsɛlf]
• with one of the leaves: using a leaf to create a breeze [wɪθ wən əv ðə livz]
• I: Alice speaking about herself [aɪ]
• should have liked: would have enjoyed [ʃʊd hæv laɪkt]
• teaching it tricks: showing the puppy how to perform actions [ˈtiʧɪŋ ɪt trɪks]
• very much: a great deal; greatly [ˈvɛri məʧ]
• if—if: expressing a condition or possibility, repeated for emphasis [if-if]
• I'd: contraction of 'I had' or 'I would' [aɪd]
• only been: only have been [ˈoʊnli bɪn]
• the right size: the appropriate height or dimensions [ðə raɪt saɪz]
• to do it: to perform the teaching of tricks [tɪ du ɪt]

Oh dear!

• Oh dear: an expression of dismay or concern [oʊ dɪr]

I'd nearly forgotten that I've got to grow up again!

• I'd: contraction of 'I had' [aɪd]
• nearly forgotten: almost not remembered [ˈnɪrli fərˈgɑtən]
• that: introducing a clause [ðət]
• I've got to: I have to; I must [aɪv gɑt tɪ]
• grow up: become an adult [groʊ əp]
• again: once more; returning to a previous state [əˈgɛn]

Let me see—how IS it to be managed?

• Let me see: an expression used when thinking or trying to remember something [lɛt mi si]
• how: in what way; by what method [haʊ]
• IS it: is it really [ɪz ɪt]
• to be managed: to be accomplished or done [tɪ bi ˈmænɪʤd]