Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll- page 5

After a while, finding that nothing more happened, she decided on going into the garden at once; but, alas for poor Alice!

• After a while: after some time has passed [ˈæftər ə waɪl]
• finding: discovering or realizing [ˈfaɪndɪŋ]
• that nothing more happened: that no further events occurred [ðət ˈnəθɪŋ mɔr ˈhæpənd]
• she decided on going: she made the decision to go [ʃi ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd ɔn goʊɪŋ]
• into the garden: to the area outside, typically with plants and flowers [ˈɪntu ðə ˈgɑrdən]
• at once: immediately; without delay [æt wəns]
• but: a conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something preceding [bət]
• alas: an expression of grief, pity, or concern [əˈlæs]
• for poor Alice: expressing sympathy for Alice's unfortunate situation [fər pur ˈælɪs]

when she got to the door, she found she had forgotten the little golden key, and when she went back to the table for it, she found she could not possibly reach it: she could see it quite plainly through the glass, and she tried her best to climb up one of the legs of the table, but it was too slippery; and when she had tired herself out with trying, the poor little thing sat down and cried.

• when she got to the door: upon arriving at the entrance [wɪn ʃi gɑt tɪ ðə dɔr]
• she found: she discovered [ʃi faʊnd]
• she had forgotten: she had failed to remember [ʃi hæd fərˈgɑtən]
• the little golden key: a small key made of gold [ðə ˈlɪtəl ˈgoʊldən ki]
• and when she went back: returning to the previous location [ənd wɪn ʃi wɛnt bæk]
• to the table: specifically, to the table [tɪ ðə ˈteɪbəl]
• for it: in order to retrieve the key [fər ɪt]
• she found: she discovered [ʃi faʊnd]
• she could not possibly reach it: it was impossible for her to get to it [ʃi kʊd nɑt ˈpɑsəbli riʧ ɪt]
• she could see it: she was able to observe it [ʃi kʊd si ɪt]
• quite plainly: very clearly [kwaɪt ˈpleɪnli]
• through the glass: visible through the glass surface [θru ðə glæs]
• and she tried her best: she made a strong effort [ənd ʃi traɪd hər bɛst]
• to climb up: to ascend [tɪ klaɪm əp]
• one of the legs of the table: one of the supporting structures of the table [wən əv ðə lɛgz əv ðə ˈteɪbəl]
• but it was too slippery: the surface was too smooth to grip [bət ɪt wɑz tu sˈlɪpəri]
• and when she had tired herself out: after she had exhausted herself [ənd wɪn ʃi hæd taɪərd hərˈsɛlf aʊt]
• with trying: by attempting to do something [wɪθ traɪɪŋ]
• the poor little thing: an expression of sympathy for the small creature [ðə pur ˈlɪtəl θɪŋ]
• sat down: took a seated position [sæt daʊn]
• and cried: shed tears as an expression of sadness [ənd kraɪd]

'Come, there's no use in crying like that!' said Alice to herself, rather sharply; 'I advise you to leave off this minute!' She generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very seldom followed it), and sometimes she scolded herself so severely as to bring tears into her eyes; and once she remembered trying to box her own ears for having cheated herself in a game of croquet she was playing against herself, for this curious child was very fond of pretending to be two people. 'But it's no use now,' thought poor Alice, 'to pretend to be two people!

• Come: an invitation or encouragement to do something [kəm]
• there's: contraction of 'there is' [ðɛrz]
• no use: not useful; futile [noʊ juz]
• in crying: the act of shedding tears, often due to sadness or pain [ɪn kraɪɪŋ]
• like that: in that manner; to that extent [laɪk ðət]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating speech [sɛd]
• Alice: the name of the character speaking [ˈælɪs]
• to herself: speaking to one's own self [tɪ hərˈsɛlf]
• rather sharply: somewhat sternly or critically [ˈrəðər ˈʃɑrpli]
• I advise: I recommend; I suggest [aɪ ədˈvaɪz]
• you: the person being addressed (in this case, herself [ju]
• to leave off: to stop; to cease [tɪ liv ɔf]
• this minute: immediately; right now! [ðɪs ˈmɪnət]
• She: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• generally: usually; in most cases [ˈʤɛnərəli]
• gave: past tense of 'give', meaning to provide or offer [geɪv]
• herself: referring to Alice [hərˈsɛlf]
• very good advice: helpful and wise suggestions [ˈvɛri gʊd ədˈvaɪs]
• though: despite the fact that; although [ðoʊ]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• very seldom: rarely; almost never [ˈvɛri ˈsɛldəm]
• followed: past tense of 'follow', meaning to act according to [ˈfɑloʊd]
• it: referring to the advice [ɪt]
• and: used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]
• sometimes: occasionally; now and then [ˈsəmˌtaɪmz]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• scolded: past tense of 'scold', meaning to reprimand or criticize harshly [ˈskoʊldɪd]
• herself: referring to Alice [hərˈsɛlf]
• so severely: to such a great extent; very harshly [soʊ səˈvɪrli]
• as to: to the point that [ɛz tɪ]
• bring tears: to cause tears to form [brɪŋ tɪrz]
• into her eyes: in her eyes [ˈɪntu hər aɪz]
• and: used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]
• once: on one occasion [wəns]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• remembered: past tense of 'remember', meaning to recall [rɪˈmɛmbərd]
• trying: making an attempt [traɪɪŋ]
• to box: to hit with a closed fist [tɪ bɑks]
• her own ears: her own ears [hər oʊn ɪrz]
• for having cheated: because she had acted dishonestly [fər ˈhævɪŋ ˈʧitɪd]
• herself: referring to Alice [hərˈsɛlf]
• in a game: during a game [ɪn ə geɪm]
• of croquet: a lawn game played with mallets and balls [əv kroʊˈkeɪ]
• she was playing: she was participating in [ʃi wɑz pleɪɪŋ]
• against herself: playing alone [əˈgɛnst hərˈsɛlf]
• for: because [fər]
• this curious child: this strange or unusual child (Alice [ðɪs ˈkjʊriəs ʧaɪld]
• was: past tense of 'be' [wɑz]
• very fond: to like something very much [ˈvɛri fɑnd]
• of pretending: of acting as if something is true when it is not [əv priˈtɛndɪŋ]
• to be: to exist as [tɪ bi]
• two people: two separate individuals [tu ˈpipəl]
• But: however; nevertheless [bət]
• it's: contraction of 'it is' [ɪts]
• no use: not useful; futile [noʊ juz]
• now: at the present time [naʊ]
• thought: past tense of 'think', indicating a thought [θɔt]
• poor Alice: Alice, deserving of sympathy [pur ˈælɪs]
• to pretend: to act as if something is true when it is not [tɪ priˈtɛnd]
• to be: to exist as [tɪ bi]
• two people: two separate individuals [tu ˈpipəl]

Soon her eye fell on a little glass box that was lying under the table: she opened it, and found in it a very small cake, on which the words 'EAT ME' were beautifully marked in currants. 'Well, I'll eat it,' said Alice, 'and if it makes me grow larger, I can reach the key; and if it makes me grow smaller, I can creep under the door; so either way I'll get into the garden, and I don't care which happens!'

• Soon: in or after a short time [sun]
• her: belonging to or associated with the girl or woman previously mentioned [hər]
• eye: the organ of sight [aɪ]
• fell on: to direct one's gaze or attention to something [fɛl ɔn]
• a little glass box: a small container made of glass [ə ˈlɪtəl glæs bɑks]
• that was lying: that was in a horizontal position on a surface [ðət wɑz laɪɪŋ]
• under the table: beneath the surface of the table [ˈəndər ðə ˈteɪbəl]
• she opened it: she manipulated the box to gain access to the inside [ʃi ˈoʊpənd ɪt]
• and found in it: and discovered inside the box [ənd faʊnd ɪn ɪt]
• a very small cake: an extremely diminutive baked good [ə ˈvɛri smɔl keɪk]
• on which: referring to the cake [ɔn wɪʧ]
• the words: the specific combination of letters [ðə wərdz]
• EAT ME: an imperative instruction to consume the cake [it mi]
• were beautifully marked: were attractively inscribed [wər ˈbjutəfli mɑrkt]
• in currants: using small dried fruits [ɪn currants]
• Well: an expression of mild surprise, resignation, or agreement [wɛl]
• I'll eat it: I will consume the cake [aɪl it ɪt]
• said Alice: Alice spoke [sɛd ˈælɪs]
• and if it makes me grow larger: if consuming the cake causes me to increase in size [ənd ɪf ɪt meɪks mi groʊ ˈlɑrʤər]
• I can reach the key: I will be tall enough to grab the key [aɪ kən riʧ ðə ki]
• and if it makes me grow smaller: if consuming the cake causes me to decrease in size [ənd ɪf ɪt meɪks mi groʊ sˈmɔlər]
• I can creep under the door: I will be small enough to crawl beneath the door [aɪ kən krip ˈəndər ðə dɔr]
• so either way: therefore, regardless of the outcome [soʊ ˈiðər weɪ]
• I'll get into the garden: I will gain access to the garden [aɪl gɪt ˈɪntu ðə ˈgɑrdən]
• and I don't care: I am indifferent [ənd aɪ doʊnt kɛr]
• which happens: which outcome occurs [wɪʧ ˈhæpənz]

She ate a little bit, and said anxiously to herself, 'Which way? Which way?', holding her hand on the top of her head to feel which way it was growing, and she was quite surprised to find that she remained the same size: to be sure, this generally happens when one eats cake, but Alice had got so much into the way of expecting nothing but out-of-the-way things to happen, that it seemed quite dull and stupid for life to go on in the common way.

• She ate: She consumed [ʃi eɪt]
• a little bit: a small portion [ə ˈlɪtəl bɪt]
• and said anxiously: and spoke with worry [ənd sɛd ˈæŋkʃəsli]
• to herself: speaking quietly so only she could hear [tɪ hərˈsɛlf]
• Which way? Which way: Expressing uncertainty about the direction of change [wɪʧ weɪ wɪʧ weɪ]
• holding her hand: placing her hand [ˈhoʊldɪŋ hər hænd]
• on the top of her head: on the upper surface of her head [ɔn ðə tɔp əv hər hɛd]
• to feel: in order to sense [tɪ fil]
• which way it was growing: in which direction her head was changing size [wɪʧ weɪ ɪt wɑz groʊɪŋ]
• and she was quite surprised: and she experienced considerable astonishment [ənd ʃi wɑz kwaɪt səˈpraɪzd]
• to find: upon discovering [tɪ faɪnd]
• that she remained the same size: that her dimensions had not changed [ðət ʃi rɪˈmeɪnd ðə seɪm saɪz]
• to be sure: admittedly; certainly [tɪ bi ʃʊr]
• this generally happens: this is the typical occurrence [ðɪs ˈʤɛnərəli ˈhæpənz]
• when one eats cake: upon consuming cake [wɪn wən its keɪk]
• but Alice had got so much into the way of: but Alice had become accustomed to [bət ˈælɪs hæd gɑt soʊ məʧ ˈɪntu ðə weɪ əv]
• expecting nothing but out-of-the-way things to happen: anticipating only unusual or extraordinary events [ɪkˈspɛktɪŋ ˈnəθɪŋ bət out-of-the-way θɪŋz tɪ ˈhæpən]
• that it seemed quite dull and stupid: that it appeared uninteresting and foolish [ðət ɪt simd kwaɪt dəl ənd ˈstupɪd]
• for life to go on: for existence to continue [fər laɪf tɪ goʊ ɔn]
• in the common way: in the ordinary manner [ɪn ðə ˈkɑmən weɪ]