Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll- page 4

There seemed to be no use in waiting by the little door, so she went back to the table, half hoping she might find another key on it, or at any rate a book of rules for shutting people up like telescopes: this time she found a little bottle on it, ('which certainly was not here before,' said Alice,) and round the neck of the bottle was a paper label, with the words 'DRINK ME' beautifully printed on it in large letters.

• There seemed to be: It appeared or gave the impression that [ðɛr simd tɪ bi]
• no use: no benefit or purpose [noʊ juz]
• in waiting: the act of remaining in a place until a particular time or event [ɪn ˈweɪtɪŋ]
• by the little door: near or next to a small entrance [baɪ ðə ˈlɪtəl dɔr]
• so she went back: therefore, she returned [soʊ ʃi wɛnt bæk]
• to the table: to the piece of furniture [tɪ ðə ˈteɪbəl]
• half hoping: partially expecting or wishing [hæf ˈhoʊpɪŋ]
• she might find: she could possibly discover [ʃi maɪt faɪnd]
• another key: a different key [əˈnəðər ki]
• on it: on the table [ɔn ɪt]
• or at any rate: or at the very least; in any case [ər æt ˈɛni reɪt]
• a book of rules: a set of guidelines or instructions [ə bʊk əv rulz]
• for shutting people up: regarding confining or enclosing individuals [fər ˈʃətɪŋ ˈpipəl əp]
• like telescopes: in a manner similar to how telescopes are collapsed [laɪk ˈtɛləˌskoʊps]
• this time: on this occasion [ðɪs taɪm]
• she found: she discovered [ʃi faʊnd]
• a little bottle: a small container [ə ˈlɪtəl ˈbɑtəl]
• on it: on the table [ɔn ɪt]
• which certainly was not here before,' said Alice: a parenthetical statement indicating Alice's observation that the bottle was not present earlier [(wɪʧ ˈsərtənli wɑz nɑt hir ˌbiˈfɔr sɛd ˈælɪs)]
• and round the neck of the bottle: encircling the narrow part of the bottle near the opening [ənd raʊnd ðə nɛk əv ðə ˈbɑtəl]
• was a paper label: there existed a small piece of paper attached to the bottle [wɑz ə ˈpeɪpər ˈleɪbəl]
• with the words: displaying the text [wɪθ ðə wərdz]
• DRINK ME: an instruction to consume the contents of the bottle [drɪŋk mi]
• beautifully printed: attractively displayed in print [ˈbjutəfli ˈprɪnɪd]
• on it: on the label [ɔn ɪt]
• in large letters: in a big font size [ɪn lɑrʤ ˈlɛtərz]

It was all very well to say 'Drink me,' but the wise little Alice was not going to do THAT in a hurry. 'No, I'll look first,' she said, 'and see whether it's marked "poison" or not'; for she had read several nice little histories about children who had got burnt, and eaten up by wild beasts and other unpleasant things, all because they WOULD not remember the simple rules their friends had taught them: such as, that a red-hot poker will burn you if you hold it too long; and that if you cut your finger VERY deeply with a knife, it usually bleeds; and she had never forgotten that, if you drink much from a bottle marked 'poison,' it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later.

• It was all very well: It might seem acceptable or reasonable [ɪt wɑz ɔl ˈvɛri wɛl]
• but the wise little Alice: however, the intelligent young Alice [bət ðə waɪz ˈlɪtəl ˈælɪs]
• was not going to do THAT: was not intending to perform that action [wɑz nɑt goʊɪŋ tɪ du ðət]
• in a hurry: without careful consideration or quickly [ɪn ə ˈhəri]
• No, I'll look first,' she said: She stated that she would examine the bottle before drinking [noʊ aɪl lʊk fərst ʃi sɛd]
• and see whether it's marked "poison" or not: to determine if the bottle is labeled as containing a toxic substance [ənd si ˈwɛðər ɪts mɑrkt ˈpɔɪzən ər nɑt]
• for she had read: because she had previously encountered [fər ʃi hæd rɛd]
• several nice little histories: a number of pleasant short stories [ˈsɛvərəl nis ˈlɪtəl ˈhɪstəriz]
• about children: concerning young individuals [əˈbaʊt ˈʧɪldrən]
• who had got burnt: who had suffered burns [hu hæd gɑt bərnt]
• and eaten up: and been consumed [ənd ˈitən əp]
• by wild beasts: by undomesticated animals [baɪ waɪld bists]
• and other unpleasant things: and other undesirable occurrences [ənd ˈəðər ənˈplɛzənt θɪŋz]
• all because: entirely due to the fact that [ɔl bɪˈkəz]
• they WOULD not remember: they refused to recall [ðeɪ wʊd nɑt rɪˈmɛmbər]
• the simple rules: the basic guidelines [ðə ˈsɪmpəl rulz]
• their friends had taught them: that their acquaintances had instructed them [ðɛr frɛndz hæd tɔt ðɛm]
• such as: for example [səʧ ɛz]
• that a red-hot poker: that a metal rod heated to a high temperature [ðət ə red-hot ˈpoʊkər]
• will burn you: will cause a burn injury [wɪl bərn ju]
• if you hold it too long: if you grasp it for an extended period [ɪf ju hoʊld ɪt tu lɔŋ]
• and that if you cut your finger: and that if you injure your finger [ənd ðət ɪf ju kət jʊr ˈfɪŋgər]
• VERY deeply: to a significant extent [ˈvɛri ˈdipli]
• with a knife: using a sharp-edged tool [wɪθ ə naɪf]
• it usually bleeds: it typically results in blood loss [ɪt ˈjuʒəwəli blidz]
• and she had never forgotten: and she had always remembered [ənd ʃi hæd ˈnɛvər fərˈgɑtən]
• that, if you drink much: that, if you consume a large quantity [ðət ɪf ju drɪŋk məʧ]
• it is almost certain: it is highly likely [ɪt ɪz ˈɔlˌmoʊst ˈsərtən]
• to disagree with you: to cause an adverse reaction in your body [tɪ dɪsəˈgri wɪθ ju]
• sooner or later: at some point in the future [ˈsunər ər ˈleɪtər]

However, this bottle was NOT marked 'poison,' so Alice ventured to taste it, and finding it very nice, (it had, in fact, a sort of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast turkey, toffee, and hot buttered toast,) she very soon finished it off.

• However: used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or seems to contradict something that has been said previously [ˌhaʊˈɛvər]
• this bottle: refers to a specific bottle that has been mentioned or is understood in the context [ðɪs ˈbɑtəl]
• was NOT marked: indicates that the bottle did not have a label or sign indicating that its contents were poisonous [wɑz nɑt mɑrkt]
• poison: the word 'poison' indicating a toxic or harmful substance [ˈpɔɪzən]
• so: therefore; as a result [soʊ]
• Alice: the name of the character in the story [ˈælɪs]
• ventured: dared to do something or go somewhere that may be dangerous or unpleasant [ˈvɛnʧərd]
• to taste it: to try the flavor of the contents of the bottle [tɪ teɪst ɪt]
• and finding it very nice: after tasting it, Alice discovered that she liked the flavor very much [ənd ˈfaɪndɪŋ ɪt ˈvɛri nis]
• it had: referring back to the bottle's contents [ɪt hæd]
• in fact: used to emphasize the truth of a statement, often surprising [ɪn fækt]
• a sort of mixed flavour: a combination of different tastes [ə sɔrt əv mɪkst flavour]
• of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast turkey, toffee, and hot buttered toast: listing the various flavors that Alice perceived in the bottle's contents [əv cherry-tart ˈkəstərd pine-apple roʊst ˈtərki ˈtɑfi ənd hɑt ˈbətərd toʊst]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• very soon: quickly; in a short amount of time [ˈvɛri sun]
• finished it off: consumed the entire contents of the bottle [ˈfɪnɪʃt ɪt ɔf]

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'What a curious feeling!' said Alice; 'I must be shutting up like a telescope.'

• What a curious feeling: An exclamation expressing surprise and interest in a strange sensation. [wət ə ˈkjʊriəs ˈfilɪŋ]
• said: The verb indicating who is speaking. [sɛd]
• Alice: The name of the character speaking. [ˈælɪs]
• I must be shutting up: Expressing the belief that she is shrinking or compressing. [aɪ məst bi ˈʃətɪŋ əp]
• like a telescope: Comparing her shrinking to the collapsing action of a telescope. [laɪk ə ˈtɛləˌskoʊp]

And so it was indeed: she was now only ten inches high, and her face brightened up at the thought that she was now the right size for going through the little door into that lovely garden.

• And so it was indeed: Confirms that what Alice thought was happening was actually true. [ənd soʊ ɪt wɑz ˌɪnˈdid]
• she: Referring to Alice. [ʃi]
• was now only ten inches high: States Alice's current height. [wɑz naʊ ˈoʊnli tɛn ˈɪnʧɪz haɪ]
• and her face brightened up: Her expression became happier or more hopeful. [ənd hər feɪs ˈbraɪtənd əp]
• at the thought: Because she realized. [æt ðə θɔt]
• that she was now the right size: She was now the appropriate height. [ðət ʃi wɑz naʊ ðə raɪt saɪz]
• for going through the little door: To pass through the small entrance. [fər goʊɪŋ θru ðə ˈlɪtəl dɔr]
• into that lovely garden: To enter the beautiful garden. [ˈɪntu ðət ˈləvli ˈgɑrdən]

First, however, she waited for a few minutes to see if she was going to shrink any further: she felt a little nervous about this; 'for it might end, you know,' said Alice to herself, 'in my going out altogether, like a candle.

• First, however: Before doing anything else. [fərst ˌhaʊˈɛvər]
• she waited: She paused. [ʃi ˈweɪtɪd]
• for a few minutes: For a short period of time. [fər ə fju ˈmɪnəts]
• to see if she was going to shrink any further: To observe if she would continue to get smaller. [tɪ si ɪf ʃi wɑz goʊɪŋ tɪ ʃrɪŋk ˈɛni ˈfərðər]
• she felt a little nervous: She experienced slight anxiety. [ʃi fɛlt ə ˈlɪtəl ˈnərvəs]
• about this: Regarding the possibility of shrinking more. [əˈbaʊt ðɪs]
• for it might end, you know: Explaining the reason for her nervousness. [fər ɪt maɪt ɛnd ju noʊ]
• said Alice to herself: Alice spoke silently to herself. [sɛd ˈælɪs tɪ hərˈsɛlf]
• in my going out altogether, like a candle: She might disappear completely, similar to a candle flame being extinguished. [ɪn maɪ goʊɪŋ aʊt ˌɔltəˈgɛðər laɪk ə ˈkændəl]

I wonder what I should be like then?' And she tried to fancy what the flame of a candle is like after the candle is blown out, for she could not remember ever having seen such a thing.

• I wonder what I should be like then: She is curious about what would happen if she disappeared. [aɪ ˈwəndər wət aɪ ʃʊd bi laɪk ðɛn]
• And she tried to fancy: She attempted to imagine. [ənd ʃi traɪd tɪ ˈfænsi]
• what the flame of a candle is like: The appearance of a candle's flame. [wət ðə fleɪm əv ə ˈkændəl ɪz laɪk]
• after the candle is blown out: Once the candle has been extinguished. [ˈæftər ðə ˈkændəl ɪz bloʊn aʊt]
• for she could not remember: Because she did not recall. [fər ʃi kʊd nɑt rɪˈmɛmbər]
• ever having seen such a thing: Ever witnessing the flame after a candle is blown out. [ˈɛvər ˈhævɪŋ sin səʧ ə θɪŋ]